Podcast appearances and mentions of jake harriman

>Join Jocko Underground

Join host Paul Johnson on The Optimistic American as he engages in an inspiring discussion with Jake Harriman and Garrett Cathcart, co-founders of More Perfect Union. This veteran-led organization works tirelessly to bridge political divides, empower communities, and restore civic unity across the United States. Harriman and Cathcart share their remarkable journeys from military service to building a movement that fosters trust, collaboration, and the shared  American identity. Topics Discussed in the Video: - The Origins of More Perfect Union: Jake Harriman and Garrett Cathcart recount their military experiences and how witnessing divisions both abroad and at home inspired the creation of More Perfect Union. They discuss their transition from the battlefield to addressing domestic challenges, highlighting the potential of veterans to lead transformative civic initiatives. - Where Did America's Division Start From?: Paul, Jake, and Garrett explore the root causes of political polarization in the United States, including shifts in leadership, media influences, and the loss of community connections. They discuss the importance of servant leadership and veterans' unique ability to unify people across ideological divides. - How MPU is Addressing America's Division: More Perfect Union's innovative approach includes grassroots efforts to bring people together through community service projects, civic education, and meaningful conversations. Jake and Garrett share their vision for scaling Brickyards nationwide, emphasizing the importance of empowering local leaders to build unity and restore agency in their communities.

What happens when a Marine who battled Al-Qaeda in Iraq returns home to find his biggest enemy isn't a foreign power, but the division within his own country? And what if he teams up with an Army Cavalry officer who dodged IEDs in Baghdad to fight that enemy? This isn't a Tom Clancy thriller; this is the real-life story of Jake Harriman and Garrett Cathcart, the founders of +More Perfect Union. They're on a mission to bridge the political divide tearing America apart, one community at a time. Join us as we delve into their incredible journeys from combat zones to the front lines of a different kind of war – the battle to bring America together.Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/garrett-cathcart-and-jake-harriman/.Become a PathWise member today! Join at https://pathwise.io/join-now/

Jake Harriman and Garrett Cathcart are both distinguished Iraq War veterans that have turned their focus inward, tackling one of the most pressing battles on American soil: political divisiveness. They share the compelling story behind +More Perfect Union, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking down barriers and promoting unity across communities in a time of unprecedented polarization. Jake, a Marine Force Recon Platoon Commander and recipient of honors like the Unsung Hero of Compassion award from the Dalai Lama, and Garrett, a U.S. Army Cavalry Officer awarded three Bronze Stars for his service, reveal how their shared experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan forged a bond and a vision for a stronger America. They discuss their latest campaign, the "Coffee + Courage" challenge—a social media movement encouraging people from all walks of life to sit down, share a cup of coffee, and find common ground.

Send us a textWhat can be do to stop the spread of divisiveness? How can we understand one another and seek to empathize with people who don't look like us, act like us, or even think like us? I believe this understanding is vital. One amazing veteran has founded an organization that's on the front lines of healing our fractured communities through coffee, conversation and advocacy. Join us on the S.O.S. podcast as we kick off season 3 with what this show has always represented - our service to others by talking about our most pressing issues! Jake Harriman graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon. During his military service, Jake led four operational deployments, including two combat tours in Iraq. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to gain the business acumen he would need to follow this new direction. While at Stanford, Jake founded Nuru International to eradicate extreme poverty in the world's most unstable, vulnerable regions to help end violent extremism.Due to the desperate condition of the U.S. political system, Jake has now turned his attention to helping protect the American Democratic experiment, which he fears is on the brink of failure—a failure that would have terrible global consequences. Jake is the Founder of More Perfect Union, a veteran-led movement to heal the divide in the nation by creating meaningful connections through civics, service, and leadership. Jake has received several honors including the Unsung Hero of Compassion presented by The Dalai Lama (2014), White House Champion of Change (2014), Presidential Leadership Scholar (2015), and 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs presented by Goldman Sachs (2015). He is also a Council Member of NationSwell (2016), an Unusual VC Academy Partner (2018), and a Truman National Security Fellow (2018). Jake has been interviewed on ABC, BBC World Service, CNN, Fox Business and MSNBC's Morning Joe and received coverage in the Christian Science Monitor, Devex, Forbes, Huffington Post, The New York Times, Stanford Magazine, Fox News, and others. More Perfect Union - https://www.mpu.us/Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

America's leadership is more politically divided and divisive than almost anytime in our nation's history. We sit at a generational and societal crossroad that will require leaders of courage, unity and vision to emerge and take charge in the best interest of the country; not for their own fame and fortune. +More Perfect Union Founder and CEO Jake Harriman spent years abroad solving world hunger and the effects of violent extremism, only to return home to a divided America; something this US Marine has vowed to change. Jake joins Fran Racioppi in the back of the 1944 Dodge live from Sandlot Jax & GORUCK Games 2023 for a conversation on the state of America today, and why he thinks military Veteran leadership in politics is the key to unifying the fabric of America. Fran and Jake dive deep into the driving factors for disunity, such as social media, generational change, and the loss of agency in our leaders who have too often become beholden to the extremes, forgetting about the 70% of the population who live in the center. Jake defines the perfect centrist leader and Fran presses him on how everyday Veterans with a passion for change can overcome the funding and support barriers to entry to jump into political races nationwide.Learn more about +More Perfect Union on the web and on social media. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.Highlights:0:00 Welcome to the Jedburgh workout2:23 Solving societal problems in the “Grey Zone”9:32 Jake fails in Kenya12:25 +More Perfect Union mission to close the divide in America17:28 Why we need Veterans in politics20:52 The role of social media in fueling political divide25:17 The role of regulation in social media vs the First Amendment31:52 How does a Veteran fund a campaign to get involved?35:27 What does a centrist leader look like today41:00 Jake's daily three foundations to successQuotes: “The aid groups could not reach people because in these gray zones it's too dangerous.” (3:28)“The best ideas I ever had when I was in these communities came from the leaders I worked with.” (8:14)“I didn't recognize the country we left to fight for.” (13:13)“Our political system is set up to incentivize the most extreme behavior to win.” (14:57)“We gotta do one more tour here at home to help save this country.” (18:02)“The algorithms that drive profits are the ones that fuel hate and fear.” (23:48)“70% of the country is in the middle…and they want change.” (34:40)This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike's, Compass Workforce Solutions and GORUCK.

Jake Harriman graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon. During his military service, Jake led four operational deployments, including two combat tours in Iraq. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, founded Nuru International, and founded More Perfect Union where he also serves as the CEO. www.mpu.us Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Jake Harriman

In this week's episode I had the pleasure of talking to Jake, former U.S. marine and current non-profit leader, entrepreneur, and a truly inspirational human being who is working tirelessly to create change for all of us. We talk about Jake's time as a marine and how what he witnessed on the battfield propelled him to set out on a mission to eradicate extreme poverty around the world. This led him to found his non-profit organization, Nuru International where he spent almost a decade developing the situation and delivering results in places like Kenya, Ethiopia, and other places in Africa. We also discuss Jake's new mission with his organization, More Perfect Union, where he is trying to help stop the divide between people in the U.S. by bringing people together, while leveraging the network of veterans and special operators he knows, to rally behind the cause to save America and dismantle the current political landscape. Learn More About Jake: Instagram: @jakeharriman More Perfect Union Website: www.mpu.us Instagram: @moreperfectunion.us Nuru International Website: https://nuruinternational.org/ Instagram: @nuruinternational

Our guest this week is Jake Harriman, founder and CEO of a +More Perfect Union, a citizen-led movement working to heal the divide in our nation and make our government work for the people. Join us in a rich discussion about how to cultivate a new, and deeply necessary, form of patriotism. More at: https://www.mpu.us/

This week, Stan and Chris speak with Jake Harriman, the Founder and CEO of More Perfect Union and former Infantry and Force Recon Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps. Jake has lived a life in service to others, focusing on international poverty, as well as the dangers of political extremism in the United States. After spending his childhood in West Virginia, Jake matriculated to the United States Naval Academy – and upon graduating, went on to serve in the Marine Corps as an Infantry and Force Recon Platoon Commander. He left the Marine Corps after seven and a half years of service, and received his MBA from Stanford in order to form Nuru International in 2007, which aims to eradicate poverty worldwide. Jake then pivoted his focus inward to the United States and the dangers of partisanship in American politics to found More Perfect Union, which aims to heal the divide in the country and build a center in American politics. Jake is a fascinating guest with much to say about the world we live in today, and how we can work together to make it better.

This week, Stan and Chris speak with Jake Harriman, the Founder, and CEO of More Perfect Union. Jake has lived a life in service to others, focusing on international poverty, as well as the dangers of political extremism in the United States. After spending his childhood in West Virginia, Jake matriculated to the United States Naval Academy – and upon graduating, he served in the Marine Corps as an Infantry and Special Operations Platoon Commander. He left the Army after seven and a half years of service and received his MBA from Stanford to form Nuru International in 2007 that aimed to eradicate poverty worldwide. Jake then pivoted his focus inward to the United States and the dangers of bipartisanship in American politics to found More Perfect Union, which aims to improve the American political climate. Jake is a fascinating guest with much to say about the world we live in today, and how we can work together to make it better.

Objectives: - Discuss elements leadership, building trust, and getting results- Explore how is leadership is lived out in a professional environment- Inspire listeners to take steps toward greater trust and greater resultsParticipant Bios:- Jake Harriman is the founder and CEO of Nuru International, a US-based social venture that empowers individuals living in remote and rural areas to combat extreme poverty in their communities.Jake was inspired to found Nuru after being faced with the effects of extreme poverty in war-torn regions of the world during four tours of duty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. There, Jake witnessed the most severe levels of poverty and developed a deeply-held belief that many 21st century ills including terrorism and occupation can only be eradicated by ending extreme poverty. A Bronze Star-recipient and Stanford University Graduate School of Business alum, Harriman has been honored as a White House as a “Champion of Change,” selected as a Dalai Lama “Unsung Hero of Compassion,” and featured in profile pieces by Forbes, The Huffington Post, ABC News, and more. Jake is a graduate of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Class of 2015 and discusses his inspiring journey to found Nuru, equipping leaders to take charge of their own destinies and communities, and unlocking innovative approaches to age-old problems.Born in rural West Virginia, Harriman attended the US Naval Academy before serving seven and a half years as an Infantry and Special Operations Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps. He led four operational deployments, including counter-terror operations in the Horn of Africa and two tours of Iraq. Jake’s experiences in combat convinced him that the “War on Terror” would not be won on the battlefield alone—and that the coordinates of someone’s birth place should not dictate the opportunities they are presented with throughout the course of their life. Jake left military life to enroll at Stanford where, with the assistance of roughly 30 peers and professors, investments from Silicon Valley, and donations from around the world, he moved to Kenya and founded Nuru International.Nuru operates in the poorest districts of Kenya and Ethiopia and focuses on four major areas of need: hunger, economic shocks, preventable diseases, and quality education. Based on thorough research of the successes and failures of the last 50 years of international aid relief, Nuru’s programs have to date enabled over 130,000 people to lift themselves out of extreme poverty through programs aimed at increasing crop yield, introducing entrepreneurs to new markets and capital, and counseling local leaders on modern educational and medicinal advancements. Nuru’s ultimate goal is to create a thorough roadmap to eradicating poverty that can be shared with NGOs worldwide. Nuru’s latest project is in far northeast Nigeria in former Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram caliphate territory.From 2017 to 2019, Jake helped draft, introduce, and work to pass groundbreaking new legislation called the Global Fragility Act of 2019, which will equip America with new authorities and resources to prevent conflict and stabilize some of the most fragile regions of the world that pose a growing threat to US and global security.- Phil DiPofi has served as President and CEO of Northwest Farm Credit Services since January 2011. Northwest FCS has over 700 employees in 45 locations serving more than 16,000 customer-members throughout Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He also serves as the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Farm Credit Financial Partners, Inc., and is a member of the Farm Credit System’s President’s Planning Committee.Phil formerly served as Chief Banking Officer at CoBank, where he was responsible for all of the bank’s strategic banking functions, including Agribusiness, Direct Lending with Farm Credit Associations, Rural Infrastructure, Leasing, and Banking Services. Prior to joining CoBank, Phil served in a variety of executive positions for two national commercial banks.Phil earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University College of New York at Buffalo, and his master’s in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Niagara University. As a lifetime learner, Phil continues to advance his learning and development. He is currently participating in Gonzaga’s Graduate Program in Organizational Leadership and in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Advanced Certificate for Executives. He also serves on Gonzaga University’s School of Leadership Studies Advisory Board.Phil and his wife, Jodi reside in Spokane, Washington and have three grown children and two grandchildren.- Scott Linklater is a native of rural Washington having grown up in the heart of apple and cherry country in Okanogan.  Scott has earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University, a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Idaho, and a doctorate degree in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.  Scott is a learning and development practitioner with experience directing training efforts at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and Red Lion Hotels Corporation. Currently, Scott is the Vice President – Learning Design at Northwest Farm Credit Services. Scott has published books and academic research with a focus on leadership, employment, organizational development and trust in business. Copyright © 2020 Northwest Farm Credit Services. All Rights Reserved.

For more than seven years, Jake Harriman was a US Marine, serving as a platoon commander in the Infantry and in a Special Operations unit. He was deployed in Southwest and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and served two combat tours in Iraq. During the second tour, he earned the Bronze Star. Jake believed whole-heartedly in the mission of fighting terrorism. But in Iraq he started to question how that should be done. He came to see the greater enemy as extreme poverty: while terrorist leaders may be evil or insane, their foot soldiers are often motivated by desperation. So Jake left the Marine Corps and went to Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. There he gained the knowledge he needed to create Nuru International, a nonprofit dedicated to ridding the world of extreme poverty in our lifetime. There's more at dastardlycleverness.com.

Gary Sinise is an award-winning actor – most notably is his Oscar-nominated role of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. This role reshaped the trajectory of Gary’s life; not because of the acclaim for the film, but because it ignited a relentless drive in him to champion veterans’ sacrifices and ensure they’re never forgotten. Gary’s philanthropy has made him a beloved to countless and earned him prestigious awards including: Presidential Citizens Medal, Honorary Battalion Chief by New York City Fire Department, George Catlett Marshall Medal by US Army and Honorary Marine. Today, Gary joins us as part of his media tour for his book: Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service. It’s already a New York Times best seller and after hearing our conversation… you’ll understand why. Join us to for one of America’s favorite, heart-led leaders. You’ll get lessons on gratitude, service, celebrate America’s defenders, veterans, first responders and so much more. SHOW NOTES: His role as a gang member in his high school's production of West Side Story initiated his passion for acting. Steppenwolf Theatre Company was formed with his three friends in 1974, subsequently becoming the nation's premiere ensemble theatre. Of Mice and Men: Gary directed + starred in Of Mice and Men, fulfilling a life-long dream leading to his opportunity to audition for Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump: Gary had a deep affection to veterans his entire life and felt compelled to play Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. The scene with Lieutenant Dan shouting on top of the shrimp boat is pivotal because he's fighting his demons, overcoming guilt and PTSD from war, eventually allowing him to make peace. Making peace is something the Gary Sinise Foundation strives for all veterans. Turning point: The commitment to serve and honor veterans began before Forrest Gump. September 11th was an inflection point deepened that devotion. The Gary Sinise Foundation supports those who sacrifice on our behalf including active duty, veterans, first responders + their families. Learn more here. Get Gary Sinise’s New York Times bestselling book Grateful American. I shared my essay on my dear friend and former US Navy SEAL Scott Wirtz. Read it here. Listen to more Life Inspired Podcast episodes celebrating veterans with Rocky Sickmann from ep. #16 and Jim Lovell from ep. #90. LIVE INSPIRED 7 To shine light on veterans, Gary asked me to share responses to the  Live Inspired 7 from past guests who served our country. Enjoy Captain Charlie Plumb, Vietnam Navy veteran and Prison Of War, from ep. # 31 and Jake Harriman, Marine veteran, from ep. #114 answers. Charlie Plumb's Live Inspired 7 1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Bible, chapter of Job. Unbroken, it epitomizes your philosophy and mine on winning through adversity. 2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do?Bolder Crest supports vets with PTSD to expand their reach bc they’re doing a lot of good for veterans. 3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A tin cup with holes in it that I brought back from the prison camp. I keep that cup just to remind me of the challenges I face and the value of the challenge. 4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be?My mother. She endured so much while I was over there, but never placed blame. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone. The longer I live, the more I appreciate her approach to forgiveness. I’d love to talk to her about how to forgive the unforgivable. 5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A coach told me it wasn’t the things around me that would change my life, it’s the choices you make about the things around you. You can choose to be a loser or a winner or choose to give away that choice. 6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Believe in a purpose as the highest priority. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He was a servant. Jake Harriman Live Inspired 7 1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Bible. 2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Dreaming! I could dream big. I tried to do crazy stuff as a kid. We made a potion out of crayons and dirt to make me fly. Then, I put on a cape and jumped into cow manure! 3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A medallion that I carried in combat. It says: [Joshua 1:9] “Be strong, courageous and remember that the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” It sealed my faith + gave me courage. I gave it to the love of my life when we got engaged. When she has to go into dark places, I wanted her to have the same medallion with her. 4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Abraham Lincoln. I’d ask: How in the world did you get through that time? And hold everything together with a nation that was literally pulling itself a part? I think he’d say “Find commonality – there are threads and values that run through all of us. Get back to those basics.” I think that is what he did and succeeded. 5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Never say you can’t do something, you have to believe in yourself and those who love you. 6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? It’s going to be dark. You are going to have a lot of really horrific moments that you didn’t even know were possible. But in those moments, know that there is light coming. There is truth and love in people in this world. There is more light and hope than darkness. Never forget that. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He learned to love and learned to leave by serving others. *** If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday! Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.  

Wars cannot be won only on the battlefield. Jake Harriman realized this truth while completing 4 tours as a Marine. During his service in the Middle East, Africa + Asia, he saw how extreme poverty caused desperation which directly fueled the growth of terrorist groups. After completing his service, Jake started NURU International to address the extreme poverty in war-torn countries -- and in doing so, combat terrorist groups. Jake has been honored as the Unsung Hero of Compassion by the Dali Lama, the White House Champion of Change + named one of the top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs. Today, Jake joins us to share his passion for serving, entrepreneurial brilliance + genuine heart. Jake gives new depth to the idea of "living inspired." Join us.  SHOW NOTES: Learn more about Jake's work with NURU International here. "It's not fair that the GPS coordinates of someones birth place dictates what choices they have in this world." - Jake Harriman The humble leader will always be able to persevere. When the cause is just and right, there is no turning back. What is one way we can each choose to move towards unity in our country? Build a bridge to meet others where they are. Listen. Find someone who has the exact opposite political views that you do. Sit down with them. Have a cup of coffee. Listen and get to know them. Don't wait until they pause so you can make your point. Sometimes you are going to fail. Pick yourself up + get back in the fight. There is strength that comes from failure.  JAKE HARRIMAN'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Bible. 2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Dreaming! I could dream big. I tried to do crazy stuff as a kid. We made a potion out of crayons and dirt to make me fly. Then, I put on a cape and jumped into cow manure! 3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A medallion that I carried in combat. It says: [Joshua 1:9] "Be strong, courageous and remember that the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." It sealed my faith + gave me courage. I gave it to the love of my life when we got engaged. When she has to go into dark places, I wanted her to have the same medallion with her. 4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Abraham Lincoln. I'd ask: How in the world did you get through that time? And hold everything together with a nation that was literally pulling itself a part? I think he'd say "Find commonality - there are threads and values that run through all of us. Get back to those basics." I think that is what he did and succeeded. 5. What is the best advice you've ever received? Never say you can't do something, you have to believe in yourself and those who love you.  6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? It's going to be dark. You are going to have a lot of really horrific moments that you didn't even know were possible. But in those moments, know that there is light coming. There is truth and love in people in this world. There is more light and hope than darkness. Never forget that. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He learned to love and learned to leave by serving others. *** If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday! Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email. Get a John's #1 National Best-selling book ON FIRE here (use code podcast at checkout for 15% off).

  Jake Harriman is a former Force Recon Marine who started Nuru International during his time at Stanford.  His experiences deployed led him to see the devastating effects of extreme poverty, and how it was affecting the war on terror - and inspired him to start an organization to break the cycle.   In this episode we discuss:   The nexus of security and rural development His belief that only kinetic action will not win the war on terror The importance of removing isolation How to help yourself by helping others  

Jake Harriman is the CEO of Nuru International (www.nuruinternational.org), a non-profit organization that seeks to fight terrorism by ending extreme poverty. The boldness and scope of this mission is rooted in Jake’s experience in combat as a special forces operator where he witnessed how terrorist organizations were able to capitalize on the desperation of those they ruled over. In this podcast Jake recounts his tentative path to the US Naval Academy, the joys and challenges of being in the special forces, and a transition out of the military that included a few curve balls.

The NFJS tour series has supported Nuru International for many years. This week I sit down with founder Jake Harriman and talk about his journey to start Nuru, what they're doing and discuss leadership lessons that can be learned. 

After he witnessed the War on Terror, Jake was overcome with the initiative. He wanted to combat what he saw as the largest source of terrorism, insurgency, and global instability: extreme poverty. While deployed in Iraq as an Infantry and Special Operations Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps, Jake Harriman was troubled by the inability of many civilians to direct their lives, due to extremely oppressive governments. To address this, Jake returned to business school and took on the challenge to alleviate extreme poverty. From this effort, Nuru was launched in 2008, aiming to implement an innovative sustainable and scalable model for ending extreme poverty. This model’s most unique attribute is in addressing the “who” instead of the “what” - rather than pouring economic aid into a targeted nation, Jake’s vision is to find and train leaders who will be able to make community decisions and problem solve as the district evolves. With a dedication to empowering people, Jake Harriman and Nuru hope to eradicate extreme poverty within this lifetime. Jake Harriman, MBA ‘08, graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy and served seven and a half years as an Infantry and Special Operations Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps. He led four operational deployments and was awarded the Bronze Star for actions in combat. From his experiences, Jake came to believe that the “War on Terror” won’t be won on the battlefield alone: the contributing causes of terrorism – disenfranchisement, lack of education, and extreme poverty – must also be eradicated. Jake left his military career and enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to build an organization focused on tackling extreme poverty. He graduated with an MBA in June 2008 and led a team to launch Nuru International in Kenya in the same year. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/from_the_marine_corps_to_kenya_ending_extreme_poverty

January 2, 2014 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1ixrlo2. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes. Jake Harriman told me he believes he can end extreme poverty around the world within the next 30 years. That got my attention. You may recall that I profiled Harriman and his company Nuru International in a piece I wrote in November 2013 after attending the Social Innovation Summit at Stanford where we met. As I wrote then, “Harriman’s Nuru has taken an integrated approach to ending poverty by lifting entire communities out of poverty. Nuru starts by identifying a local business led by quality people who have the potential to scale. With financial support and mentoring, the plan is to grow the business and plow the profits back into the community. The local business owners pledge a significant portion of profits into nonprofit entities that are also led by locals to address issues of poverty in the community.” On Friday, January 3, 2014, at noon Eastern, Harriman will join me for a live discussion about his plans to end poverty through his work with Nuru and more broadly about the role of social entrepreneurs in fighting extreme poverty. Harriman is a former marine who launched Nuru with the goal of ending extreme poverty specifically because of his military experience. He sees extreme poverty as a contributing factor in the proliferation of insurgency and terrorism. Battling poverty is for Harriman a better way to battle terrorism. He launched Nuru after leaving the marines to study at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. With the help of nearly 30 classmates, he organized and launched the nonprofit business to foster grassroots level economic development in Kenya. This interview is part of a series that will examine what can be accomplished in the fight to solve the world’s biggest challenges within the next thirty years. The solution to every big problem also presents opportunities entrepreneurs will exploit to change the world. From this series of interviews, a book, working title: Thirty Years to Peace, will emerge. Please help me continue this conversation below, on Twitter or on my personal website.

“Poverty is not just about an economic challenge. Extreme poverty is a condition where families cannot make meaningful choices to determine their own future.” The role of Nuru is to put those choices back on the table. In this audio interview, Jonathan Chang speaks with Jake Harriman, Founder and CEO of Nuru International. Nuru works to raise awareness of poverty in the developed world. At the same time they foster self-sufficiency in remote rural communities in East Africa. From combat operations in Iraq to Stanford Business to rural Ethiopia, Harriman traces his personal path towards sustainable solutions to poverty. This show was recorded as part of the Impact Innovators series, in which we speak with some of the most important players in the world of impact investments.   https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/new_models_to_end_extreme_poverty