sabrinadupre

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LEADING GOOD Podcast - Episode 9

Here I am speaking to LEADINGGOOD founder, Rod Arnold, on Episode 9 of his new and fantastic podcast series featuring nonprofit and private sector leaders. In the interview, Rod and I discuss at length the challenge of explaining a high-level, complex organization at a simple brand messaging level. Be sure to check out their other episodes, too, which include conversations with Scott Harrison (CEO of charity:water), Charles Best (CEO of DonorsChoose.org), Shaifali Puri (Executive Director of Global Innovation at Nike), and others.

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This is a recent post I wrote after visiting one of India’s most audacious social enterprises: LabourNet. Read it on Medium.com.

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Capital is great, but it’s not enough.

Someone recently asked me, “When in the venture lifecycle (and marketing function lifecycle) is the right time to invest in building one’s brand?” 

My short answer to them was that it depends on the company and how important Brand with a capital “B” is for their customers. For most startups, I’d say as early on as possible once their business model is relatively stable but before they’ve poured too many resources into trying to acquire customers without having their brand tightened up. 

My longer answer to them would be this. The most strategic asset a company can have is its brand. It serves as a guidepost for how a company is experienced in the world. A brand also helps manage audience perception (both internal and external); it creates value for its shareholders; and it attracts, engages and retains employees. Combine branding with marketing and growth strategy, and these become some of the most vital ingredients to a company’s success during its inaugural days. Yet too many startups fail to invest in them until it’s too difficult or, in the worst cases, too late. Those that do, however, will be far better equipped to control their destiny and, ultimately, build game-changing companies with lasting impact. 

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Leadership is turning chaos into a parade.

Richard Branson

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Six tips on investing for purpose while making a profit

While on a long flight recently, I was swirling around in my brain to come up with the right words to express an answer to a question I was struggling with: If it came down to it, could I succinctly and clearly articulate a set of beliefs or tips to guide why someone should see investing as a means to change and what they could expect if they opted in to take the risk. So I forced myself to just start writing, and here’s what came of it. It’s by no means perfect (not even close) and even further from capturing any real depth on the “why,” but maybe it’s a start to some kind of manifesto for a VC. And if nothing else, maybe someone somewhere can take something from it. Here goes....

Tip #1. 

Invest in the person and the innovation, rather than the company or the idea. Why? Because we all know most companies that triumph are likely to have pivoted their model several times en route to success. And knowing that 9 out of 10 startups will fail, without the right people to know how to fail fast, fail cheap, and navigate to quick recoveries, having a great idea simply isn’t enough. 

Tip #2. 

Don’t be afraid to fall in love with grand challenges and ventures that buck the status quo. And if you really care about “purpose,” ask yourself one simple question before you commit: “Will this fundamentally leave the world better off than how they found it?” 

Tip #3. 

It’s good to believe in breaking the rules and making serious profits—but never at the expense of people or the planet. The most exciting shift over the past decade in how companies operate has been the move toward embedding social purpose at the core of their business. Though it’s now a cliché, there’s still truth in the belief that when it comes to doing well by doing good, there are no trade-offs. It’s that simple.

Tip #4. 

Investing requires patience but innovation shouldn’t. When seeking a place to sink your money into, look for companies that can iterate rapidly so proof points and results are available quickly, helping minimize risks amidst ever-changing market landscapes.

Tip #5. 

It doesn’t always work. Outlooks can deteriorate. Markets may slide. CEOs might screw up. Products may fail to delight. Sometimes you might be too early to the game, other times you might be too late. But if you’re committed to being quick on your feet, scrupulously following your investments, and always keeping one eye on the larger world in which companies operate, you can consistently come out on top.

Tip #6. 

If you’re planning to stick with a company for the long-haul, don’t be afraid to hold hands. After all, it shouldn’t be a one-night stand.

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Sabrina Dupré Interview with Claudia Chan of SheSummit

I had the good fortune of being interviewed by Claudia Chan, one of NYC’s great entrepreneurs and supporters of strong women everywhere. Here’s how it went:

ON SELF CARE

Q: HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME AND MOVE THE NEEDLE WHEN THERE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH TO DO TODAY?

A: There is always too much to do today. Which is why I constantly have to remind myself that it will all still be there tomorrow. It’s personally difficult for me to unplug, but when the pile is especially high, I try to break it up into manageable pieces and focus on simply tackling one thing at a time.  I also took up running a few years ago and I’ve fallen in love with it. I never thought I could become a “runner,” but I think the fact that it gets me outside and somewhat effortlessly clears my head is what’s kept me at it. It’s also on my runs that my ongoing inner dialogue finally “quiets” and I’m able to think through challenges thoughtfully and come up with solutions.

ON LEADERSHIP

Q: AS WOMEN MANAGE AND LEAD MORE TEAMS, CAN YOU SHARE ANY ADVICE ON 
BUILDING COMPANY/TEAM CULTURE THAT HAS WORKED WELL FOR YOU?

A: Managing people can be one of the most challenging and yet rewarding aspects of work. When I first started out overseeing a team, I spent a lot of time worrying if I was a good leader—was I too friendly or too firm, was my vision unrealistic or my expectations too high, did my team like me, and so on and so forth. I finally realized that I was where I was, because of who I was and that maybe just being me was the best route to take. Since that epiphany, I’ve come to trust myself and my judgment in an entirely new way. Whether in work or in life, I firmly believe that we each need to be the change we want to see. To me, that means first and foremost leading by example—trying to see the unique contributions that each individual can make, giving room for failure, constantly encouraging learning and not least of all, trying to be the best version yourself. Humor and passion are key ingredients to what I consider a recipe for a successful team culture—I couldn’t manage without them.

ON TAKING RISK

Q: FAILURE IS ….(PLEASE FILL IN THE BLANK).

A: Failure is…learning.

ON CONFIDENCE

Q: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS PRACTICING TO BUILD YOUR 
CONFIDENCE? HOW DO YOU BEST INFLUENCE OR NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE AS A LEADER? PLEASE SHARE ANY TACTICS.

A: I’ve always had some level of natural confidence—and I feel blessed to have it. But, of course, everyone has insecurities and I think women, even more than men, tend to second-guess their confidence all the time (whether we admit it or not). When I sense something that is triggering an insecurity or worse yet, a fear, I try to look at it and understand what’s really behind it, because oftentimes that can totally diffuse it. More than anything though, I try to maintain an adventurous heart. Not being afraid to pursue something even when the horizon is uncertain, and choosing to see the unknown as an adventure—with a “Who knows what’s on the other side!” kind of attitude—is key for me. Oh, and not forgetting to be spontaneous.

Q: LOOKING BACK AT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ACHIEVED, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

A: Being there for my mom when she was sick. I risked work, finances and my personal life to take the time I knew I needed to in order to be there for her—and I was. The person I was throughout that time, as her daughter (and her “rock” as she called me), was my proudest moment and it changed my life perspective and priorities entirely, and for the better.

ON STARTING OUT

Q: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU SHARE WITH YOUNG WOMEN COMING OUT OF COLLEGE?

A: Don’t be afraid of the unknown, and don’t stress out about your career. Life is unexpected—embrace it. Follow your own path and trust yourself along the way.

This interview originally appeared at ClaudiaChan.com on March 3, 2014.

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On January 15, my boss Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen, joined Wendy Kopp and the Teach For All community to discuss her path to founding Acumen and the organization's pioneering approach to tackling poverty using market-based methods. Acumen works with entrepreneurs, leaders, and investors to provide investment capital, talent and management support to early-stage companies aimed at creating sustainable, lasting change in the lives of low-income populations. Leadership is a core component of our organization’s approach to tackling poverty, which started with the Acumen Global and Regional Fellows programs.

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Moral imagination is the instinct we have to want to do something good with our lives.

David Brooks, NYTimes Columnist 

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The advancement of women and girls in every aspect of their societies is the great unfinished business of this century.

Hillary Clinton (at Women in the World, April 2015)

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I'm not sure how I ended up being the "cover" photo for this video, but nonetheless I was very grateful to SmartCEO for including me as one of their 2014 New York SmartCEO Executive Management Award winners. 

"New York SmartCEO and over 300 and over 300 local business executives celebrated at the Executive Management Voltage Awards on April 30, 2014 at Capitale. The Executive Management Awards honor C-suite executives who have gone above and beyond to support and lead their organizations. SmartCEO recognizes executives in four categories: CFO, CIO/CTO, COO and CXO (other C-suite executives) who uphold the highest ethics, lead collaboratively and creatively, and enhance and support the organization's mission."

Thank you @smartceo!

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Social Media Week 2014 NYC Panel: Leading with Impact from Four Philanthropy Innovators

I was thrilled to join Sloane Davidson, Kristin Titus and Susan McPherson on Feb. 19th to discuss how best to incorporate data and metrics into storytelling so that you can have maximum impact in fundraising, visibility and brand building in a crowded philanthropy environment.

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2013 Internet Week New York panel, “Connecting Both Sides of the Digital Divide”

I participated as a panelist on May 20th that focused on the challenges we face with increasing noise and chatter in the Interwebs. Social good is everywhere – it’s being sung from NGOs, advocacy groups, brands and corporate boards. But is it reaching those who do not have "access"? We also explored how to change the following: How the people who have the most limited online connectivity have the least ability to characterize their own lives in public, in a way that other people can see and act on. 

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Fundraising For the Socially Savvy

I recently made the jump from the corporate world to a nonprofit and was asked if I had any insights on successful fundraising from a digitally plugged-in perspective. So, it got me thinking...in a sense, fundraising for the digitally-powered nonprofit is not so dissimilar from consumer product marketing.

The difference for a nonprofit is that instead of trying to sell a particular brand's product, you're selling your organizations cause, or it's mission, rather. And to do that, just like any good brand marketer, you have to know your consumer--what they're interests are and how they intersect with yours.

Today, technology and software have given us all the capabilities to mine limitless amounts of data, but unlike many consumer brands, nonprofits aren't always looking at that data closely enough and when they do, they don't always know what to do with it (not an uncommon predicament). As a nonprofit, especially those presently plugged in to the digital landscape,  knowing your consumer and understanding their interests, wants and behaviors is tantamount to keeping them engaged....and, ultimately, coming back with their pocketbooks.

Let's take the example of a marketing-savvy brand, such as a hip, global beauty brand, for example. One of the ways expert brands keep their consumers engaged is by co-creating the conversation with them. Many brands have shifted their marketing strategies to a more tuned in and plugged in model in which they're no longer just talking to their audience--telling them what to buy or what to say--they're now listening to their consumers more than ever and, as a result, they're learning more than ever. Moreover, they understanding how valuable that listening and learning is to tailoring their communications, their content and the tools they deliver to mobilize their audiences to action--in a brand's case, the purchasing of a  product.

Turning now to the nonprofit, I think it's worth looking at one of the best examples of successful fundraising efforts--and probably the example most nonprofits keep turning to--charity:water and, more specifically, their online portal, mycharity:water. What's more to be learned from them, aside from the convenience they provide their audiences for taking action (i.e donating), is that they clearly recognize the distinct value of this particular channel's fundraising potential. In the case of online, it is clear that they not only resource it appropriately internally but that they are also mining insights and data to continuously get to know their audiences better and adjust how they engage with them accordingly.

Knowing who it is that you're engaging, what their interests are (aside from sharing a passion for your nonprofit mission), and how they're engaging with you across all channels are all critical components to successful fundraising. Secondly, letting data help drive your decision-making is key, whether it's mixing up your content, changing your organization's tone or style, or injecting new creativity in your next campaign.

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Follow me @sabrinadupre as I live Tweet from this year's Social Good Summit. Watch it live at http://mashable.com/sgs/.

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Looking Forward to NYC's Social Good Summit

September 22-24

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Digital Disruptors Currently Ruling the World

Hot Off the Press from The Newsweek Daily Beast:

The Newsweek Daily Beast just published its Oscars-style, Digital Power 100 List. Or, as I re-titled it, "Another 100 amazing ideas I didn't think of."

Yet. Anyone have Jack Dorsey's number? I think I've got great idea #101.