Net Impact attends the Innovating Social Change Conference

On Saturday, October 15, UIC Liautaud Net Impact members and MBA students, Jocelyn Mohr, Jill Kozeluh, Lesley Cochran and Liz Peschges, attended Northwestern University’s 12^th Innovating Social Change Conference, “The Next Generation of Social Impact.”  This year’s conference welcomed business and nonprofit leaders who continue to use business to bring about positive social impact and lasting social change.  Seth Goldman, Founder and CEO of Honest Tea, provided insights on the challenges Honest Tea encountered in its national expansion when it was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 2011.  Keynote speaker Darell Hammond, CEO and Founder of KaBOOM!, discussed how corporate partnership has enabled KaBOOM! to generate wide scale social change.  Founded out in Hammond’s apartment in 1996, KaBOOM! works with communities and corporations to build playgrounds in all 50 states and has raised an impressive $200 million since its start.

The panel discussion on “Money vs. Talent: Achieving Scale in Social Impact” provided engaging dialogue on how to leverage both unique talents and resources to scale social impact.  The conference concluded with a keynote address by Lisa Hall, President and CEO of Calvert Foundation, who provided yet another strong example of the brave leadership needed to generate lasting positive change.

Special thanks to Jill Kozeluh and Jocelyn Mohr for their contributions to this post.