Creating Work Opportunities for Refugees, with Aline Sara

Creating Work Opportunities for Refugees, with Aline Sara

What if one of the world's greatest untapped talent pools is hiding in plain sight? More than 120 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution and violence. Yet too often refugees are portrayed through the lens of crisis rather than capability. Their stories are reduced to statistics, while their skills, ambitions and entrepreneurial potential remain overlooked. Listen in as we mark World Refugee Month, and speak with one of the leading innovators challenging that narrative. Meet Social Impact Pioneer, Aline Sara, Co-Founder and CEO of NaTakallam, the award-winning social enterprise transforming how businesses and individuals engage with refugees and conflict-affected communities. Rather than treating displaced people as beneficiaries of aid, NaTakallam connects them with organisations and learners around the world as language tutors, translators, educators and public speakers, creating dignified work through the digital economy. Since its launch, the platform has enabled refugees and conflict-affected individuals to earn more than $5 million, working with over 37,000 users across 110 countries and supporting more than 350 organisations worldwide. Born to Lebanese parents and shaped by a childhood lived between New York and a homeland marked by conflict, Aline's personal story is inseparable from her professional mission. From journalism and human rights research to building a pioneering social enterprise, she has spent more than a decade working alongside displaced communities, proving that opportunity, not charity, is often the most powerful response to humanitarian crises. Together, we explore why the future of refugee inclusion lies beyond aid alone; how businesses can unlock talent that too often goes unseen; and why creating access to meaningful work is fundamental to restoring dignity, resilience and hope. Aline also shares candid reflections on scaling a mission-driven business, navigating the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, and balancing commercial sustainability with deep social impact. Perhaps most powerfully, we discuss why refugee issues should never be discussed without refugees themselves being part of the conversation. Through NaTakallam's Refugee Voices programme, people with lived experience are leading conversations that challenge stereotypes, build empathy and foster genuine human connection across borders. This is a conversation about displacement, entrepreneurship, inclusive business and the future of work, but above all, it is a reminder that behind every refugee statistic is a person with skills, ideas and aspirations waiting for the opportunity to contribute. Links: NaTakallam : https://natakallam.com/ Aline Sara : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinesara/ And if you liked this, try: Financing Solar Energy in the Global South with Lassor and Ruchir: https://businessfightspoverty.org/financing-solar-energy-in-the-global-south-with-lassor-and-ruchir/ and The Business of Coral Reefs with Sam Teicher: https://businessfightspoverty.org/the-business-of-coral-reefs-with-sam-teicher/

Brokering partnerships and collaboration with Ian Leader

Listen in to Ian Leader, Social Impact Pioneer, cross-sector strategist and founder of Local Works. Ian shares his experience in building partnerships that really work, between business, community and government. With more than 25 years of experience working across New Zealand’s business, charity, education, philanthropy and local government sectors, Ian has become one of the country’s leading voices on collaboration, systems change and social impact brokering. Remember that, social impact broker … a vital role so often over looked. From pioneering employee volunteering initiatives in the 1990s to designing purpose-driven community investment strategies and place-based partnerships, Ian has spent his career helping organisations move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) and towards genuine shared value creation. In this conversation, Ian shares why he believes “communities are jigsaws,” complex ecosystems made up of interconnected people, organisations and cultures, and why businesses must stop thinking about “giving back” and instead start actively participating as part of the community itself. We explore: • The evolution of CSR, corporate citizenship and conscious business • Why impact brokers are essential for successful partnerships and systems change • How businesses can build trust with communities and create authentic social impact • The shift from scarcity thinking to abundance and collaboration • Why employee volunteering and community engagement should be embedded into business strategy • What First Nations and Māori approaches to business can teach us about sustainability, purpose and long-term thinking • How social impact leaders can bridge the gap between intention and execution Ian also reflects on working in some of New Zealand’s most vibrant and challenged communities, where he learned that “work isn’t always the priority,” and why understanding people’s lived realities are critical for organisations that want to create lasting impact. Packed with practical insights, systems thinking, real-world examples and unforgettable quotes, this episode is a masterclass in collaborative leadership, social innovation and the future of business as a force for good. Whether you work in sustainability, ESG, CSR, philanthropy, social enterprise, community development or purpose-led business, this conversation will challenge how you think about partnerships, power and the role organisations play in society. Discover why the future of impact depends on learning how to work together. Links: Ian’s podcast 'CSR Aotearoa: Agents of Change': https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gjvg9TsTA74LKAGOQnBi6?si=4abea07503284fc3 Local Works: www.localworks.nz Local Works Resources : https://www.localworks.nz/resources More info about Hunter Lovins: https://natcapsolutions.org/ The Partnering Initiative: https://thepartneringinitiative.org And if you liked this, try: What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business, with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/

What can business gain from cross cultural learning with Hesham Elzeftawi

Social Impact Pioneer Hesham Elzeftawi, Founder and CEO of EBRIIZ shares his journey from Egypt to the US and Mexico developing deep understanding and appreciation for cross-cultural learning, practical field experience, and emerging market realities. Hesham’s time in Arabic, English, and Spanish-speaking communities gives him a perspective we all need to hear. In this conversation, Hesham explores what businesses can gain from understanding different cultures, why overlooked markets hold untapped opportunities, and how inclusive growth can create wider economic opportunities, not only benefits for the few. Hesham’s career spans more than two decades across international development, cross-cultural learning, youth development, education, women’s economic empowerment, community engagement, and financial inclusion. He has worked with organisations including CARE, UNDP, GIZ, Soliya, ICA MENA, and the Science and Technology Development Fund, contributing to programmes that have reached hundreds of thousands of people across Egypt and the wider region. From managing a USD 2.4 million education programme reaching more than 40,000 students, to supporting financial and social inclusion work targeting women’s access to the formal financial system through savings and loan group methodologies, Hesham has seen first-hand how social impact succeeds when it is grounded in real local needs. He reflects on why strong project design does not always translate into local relevance, and why meaningful development must be shaped by the people, institutions, and markets it aims to serve. This is a conversation about turning misunderstanding into opportunity, seeing diversity as a way through change, and building links that are not only cultural, but practical, human, and economic. Through EBRIIZ, Hesham is now building on these experiences to explore how cultural difference can become a source of trust, collaboration, and business opportunity. His work focuses on turning misunderstanding into connection, and connection into practical economic value. He sees EBRIIZ as an evolving founder journey, shaped by both success and failure, rather than a completed success story. For anyone interested in cross-cultural leadership, youth development, emerging markets, inclusive business, financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, or the future of business with impact, this episode offers rich insights into how we can move through change with curiosity, courage, and collaboration. Hesham is part of the Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network: https://businessfightspoverty.org/global-expert-network/ Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heshamelzeftawi EBRIIZ: https://ebriiz.org/en/welcome-to-ebriiz/ If you like this, try: What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business, with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/

Effective Altruism, Career Change & High Impact Careers with Devon Fritz

In this episode, we’re joined by Devon Fritz, author of The High-Impact Professional’s Playbook and co-founder of High Impact Professionals. An experienced coach and strategic philanthropy adviser, Devon helps people bridge the gap between good intentions and measurable outcomes. Devon’s story begins in the private sector, where he worked as a software developer and achieved financial security early in his career. But instead of fulfilment, he found himself questioning his path. That turning point led him to explore what it really means to do good, and ultimately to the effective altruism movement, where he discovered a global community focused on maximising impact through evidence, data, and thoughtful decision-making. In this conversation, Devon shares practical insights on how to build a high-impact career, including why many professionals focus on the wrong goals, and how to shift from being “busy” to being truly effective. He explains the importance of thinking in terms of scale, how many people you’re helping, and why small changes in direction can lead to orders-of-magnitude greater impact. We also explore the power of effective giving, and how strategic donations can often achieve more than people expect. Devon challenges common assumptions about nonprofit work and highlights why some of the most impactful opportunities lie in overlooked or “neglected” areas. Thinking about a career change? Devon makes the case that transitioning into impact-focused work is less risky than it seems, and often more rewarding. He shares frameworks for identifying the best opportunities, including how to assess what problems are important, tractable, and neglected. Finally, we dive into what separates truly high-impact professionals from the rest: principled decision-making, a focus on outcomes over activity, and the courage to aim bigger. Whether you’re early in your career, considering a pivot, or looking to maximise your contribution, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to do more good, effectively. Links: Devon on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonfritz/ Devon's book: https://www.highimpactprofessionals.org/book And if you liked this take a listen to: Michelle Grogg from Mars: https://businessfightspoverty.org/inside-the-mars-impact-fund-with-michelle-grogg/

Inside the Mars Impact Fund with Michelle Grogg

Social Impact Pioneer Michelle Grogg is the Executive Director of the Mars Impact Fund. Listen in as Michelle shares her insights on why Mars can do more with an Impact Fund now. She shares her experiences on how businesses can drive meaningful social impact at scale and how delivering impact through both business operations and targeted investment is a vital way to make limited resources go further. Michelle has held senior leadership roles at Mars and Cargill, and her influence extends across major global platforms, including the World Economic Forum’s Food Action Alliance, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and the Munich Security Conference’s Global Food Security Task Force. Known for her systems thinking and collaborative leadership, she has spent years working at the intersection of business, sustainability, and social impact. With a career spanning corporate responsibility, global philanthropy, and international development, Michelle has deep expertise in building partnerships, shaping sustainable business strategies. This podcast conversation is recorded in the early days of the Mars Impact Fund, the innovative, LLC-structured fund designed to work alongside the business rather than separately from it. Michelle explains why Mars chose to create a dedicated impact fund now, despite its long history of embedding social impact into its operations, and how this new approach unlocks greater flexibility to partner with nonprofits, social enterprises, and for-profit organizations alike. We also explore why Mars prioritises building resilient communities in sourcing regions, supporting a pipeline of future scientists and improving access to veterinary care. Michelle shares insights into why strong supply chains depend on strong communities, and why businesses must take a systems-level approach to creating lasting change. Beyond strategy, Michelle reflects on her personal journey into purpose-driven work, the importance of collaboration, and why failure is an essential part of driving innovation and impact. She also discusses emerging trends in impact investing and corporate sustainability, including the growing need for long-term thinking, partnership-driven solutions, and intentional decision-making. Whether you’re interested in ESG, corporate responsibility, impact investing, or sustainable business strategy, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration. Tune in to learn how companies like Mars are rethinking their role in society, and what it takes to create impact that endures. Links: Mars Impact Fund: https://www.mars.com/about/mars-impact-fund And if you liked this episode do take a listen to: What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business — with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/ and Why Fairtrade Matters More Than Ever with Marike Runneboom de Peña: https://businessfightspoverty.org/why-fairtrade-matters-more-than-ever-with-marike-runneboom-de-pena/