Podcasts about visionspring

Ella Gudwin, CEO of VisionSpring, offers an exploration of how access to affordable eyeglasses is not merely a matter of health but a transformative lever for economic development, productivity, and individual well-being. VisionSpring's innovative hybrid model exemplifies the intersection of philanthropy and social enterprise, as it tackles one of the most pervasive yet solvable challenges in global health: the lack of access to eyeglasses for over one billion people worldwide. Gudwin emphasises the cascading effects of impaired vision in low-income settings, where individuals struggle to perform basic tasks, pursue education, and sustain livelihoods. She describes how VisionSpring reframes eyeglasses not only as a health intervention but also as a vital tool for economic empowerment. The organisation's efforts focus on overcoming both supply- and demand-side barriers, ensuring glasses are accessible, affordable, and desirable.   Central to this mission are the findings from groundbreaking studies. For instance, a 2018 randomised control trial with tea pickers demonstrated a 22% increase in productivity (and 32% for those over 50) after receiving basic near-vision spectacles. More recently, the Thrive Study in Bangladesh revealed a 33% rise in median monthly income for first-time eyeglasses wearers across diverse occupations. These results highlight the immense return on investment in vision correction, with life-changing impacts achieved at minimal cost.   Gudwin underscores the importance of scaling solutions through partnerships, task-sharing frameworks, and global strategies like SPECS 2030 — a coordinated effort launched by the World Health Organization to close the clear vision gap. She outlines VisionSpring's role in training over 25,000 community health workers and embedding vision services into primary care systems, demonstrating that solutions need not rely exclusively on optometrists, who are in short supply globally.   Beyond accessibility, Gudwin stresses the critical task of generating demand. Misconceptions and stigma often deter people from using eyeglasses, especially in communities where glasses are seen as elitist or unnecessary. Addressing these cultural and psychological barriers, VisionSpring is working to normalise eyeglasses as essential tools, akin to sewing machines for tailors or seeds for farmers. The organisation's commitment to “no more poor glasses for poor people” is manifest in its recent launch of stylish, affordable frames that respect individual dignity and preferences.   Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 300 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.  

Joining us for a fascinating interview is Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, one of the most successful and innovative "disruptor brands" to emerge in the past two decades. Neil shares the brand's origin story, what makes Warby Parker remarkable, why they've aggressively invested in brick-and-mortar locations, the critical interplay between digital and physical, and a whole lot more.As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including a big change of leadership at Nike and fears over the impact of the dock strike. Then it's on to Amazon and Walmart joining in on the early holiday promotional fun, solid earnings from Costco, while H&M and Five Below suffer, and word that Amazon Fresh has reached 50 locations (yawn) while K-mart (finally) says "buh-bye." We wrap up celebrating Primark's 50th anniversary.Our interview with Primark US President Kevin Tulip. About NeilNeil Blumenthal is a co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, a transformative lifestyle brand that offers designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. In 2015, Fast Company named Warby Parker the most innovative company in the world.Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries.  He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He serves on the board of RxArt and on the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council. A native of New York City, Neil received his BA from Tufts University and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Neil lives in Greenwich Village with his wife, Rachel, the founder and CEO of Rockets of Awesome, and their two children. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

CEO Ella Gudwin talks about VisionSpring's mission to provide affordable eye care to low-income communities globally. Gudwin highlights the innovative approach of the organisations, which challenges traditional charitable models, and the positive effect that making clear vision accessible has on livelihoods and overall quality of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Possibility Club podcast: Practical Bravery - CLEAR-SIGHTED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE!   How is it possible to mastermind commercially earned revenue alongside philanthropy in a growing business? Nurturing a purpose-driven enterprise that is centred around social impact at scale in turbulent times...?   Our guest this week has been at the forefront of transforming lives through visionary healthcare strategies, with over two decades of experience in international development. Now leading an organization that has transformed the vision of over 10 million people, she has unlocked billions in household income potential as people start to see clearly again.   Where do we begin to unravel the complexities of creating global health equity and sustainable change? Enjoy our conversation with the CEO of VisionSpring, Ella Gudwin. ----------   Ella Gudwin via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-r-gudwin-20-20/   Ella Gudwin via Twitter / X @ellarain   Ella's ‘My Working Day' for Business Leader magazine https://www.businessleader.co.uk/my-working-day-ella-gudwin/   “Eyeglasses are a 700 year old technology that have failed to diffuse to the low income segment. They have been remarkably stuck as a luxury item, as a product for the learned and the elite.”   “VisionSpring was established in 2001 as a social enterprise, recognising that a problem this big is too big for charity to solve alone.”   Vision Spring https://visionspring.org/   “While the word ‘customer' could be a capitalist word, I think there's a really important element to the power dynamic when we stop using the word ‘beneficiary'.”   “We have to show up in a community with a product or service that is worth people's time and it has to be worth their limited discretionary income. We have to earn trust. We need to provide products that are stylish. We have to offer the dignity of choice. The power is in the hands of the customer. First. It's a real psychological shift.”   “There is an organisational culture of determination. We will throw ourselves at the wall again and again, until we get over it. The other one is revealing hard truths — being clear when things aren't working. Letting the data and the evidence drive our decision-making.”   Jordan Kassalow via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-kassalow-26726bb/   Ella Gudwin's page on VisionSpring https://visionspring.org/about-us/the-team/ella-gudwin   In some communities 30% of people think glasses make your eyesight weaker. Others don't want their girls to be in glasses, because it will make them less marriable and might increase their dowry. And there's just a lot of people who feel like, it makes me old!”   "We can all have a little bit of vanity about, am I going to have to wear my glasses?”   “The issues and the connections between foreign policy and international aid are ancient. The extraction mindset is real. There's a huge push in the international development space around decolonising international aid and making sure more funding is going into community based organisations, organisations with local leaders and local founders.”   ”It's important that we use our knowhow and our evidence to catalyse collaborative action.”   UN Friends of Vision https://www.iapb.org/advocate/eye-health-and-sdgs/un-friends-of-vision/   WHO's World report on vision https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516570   International Labour Organization https://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm   Myopia via Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myopia   “The world needs 500,000 points of distribution for prescription glasses, and 400,000 more points of distribution for reading glasses, in order to have durable, lasting supply. So we have to awaken the demand, get the supply in place and then we will be able to solve the problem globally.”   A.I. and digital health in global eye health, The Lancet https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(23)00323-6/fulltext   “It's a really exciting moment for us in the eyecare space, because the level of collaboration is at new heights.”    "I'm a firm believer than one plus one equals eleven.” ------   This episode was recorded in July 2023 Interviewer: Richard Freeman for always possible Editor: CJ Thorpe-Tracey for Lo Fi Arts   For more visit www.alwayspossible.co.uk

This week: Charles Bedford, chief impact officer at Carbon Growth Partners, talks with Ian Welsh about what differentiates a good carbon project and, in particular, what buyers should look for in REDD+ forest projects. And, at Innovation Forum's recent sustainable apparel and textiles conference in New York, Toby Webb, Cotton Connect's Alison Ward and Visionspring's Ramona Hendel-Bejema reflect on some of the key discussions from the event's panel sessions. Plus: tropical deforestation up 10% in 2022 says Global Forest Watch; UK's Climate Change Committee calls for quadrupling of emissions reductions in non-electricity sectors; Nestlé and Earthworm partner on cocoa forest protection project in Côte d'Ivoire; and, long-awaited ISSB standards published, in the news digest. Host: Ian Welsh   

“Creating One VisionSpring is anchored in what we do, so our mission and our social enterprise models, and its anchored in how we do it, and that is in the values that are at the heart of our teamwork… I cant emphasise enough how much values are critical to our success.” There are over a billion people in the world who don't have the eye-glasses they need. VisionSpring is a non-profit that provides affordable eyeglasses to people in need. The organisation aims to improve the lives of people, particularly in low income settings, by increasing access to eyeglasses. With partnerships in over 43 countries they are on a mission to make the wonder of clear vision possible for everyone. My guest today is Ella Gudwin, CEO of VisionSpring. Under Ella's leadership, VisionSpring has tripled its impact, selling over 10 million affordable eyeglasses in emerging and frontier markets. Ella talks about how eyeglasses improve daily functioning, productivity and earning potential, creating a greater likelihood of a pathway out of poverty. We discuss hybrid business models, Board dynamics, mentoring and developing organisational values. Ella shares her insights on taking over from a Founder and what it means to have received a transformational $15m gift from Mackenzie Scott. Recorded February 2022.

Why is depression on the rise globally? We've all heard that social media is a big cause of depression, but what other factors might we have overlooked? Why are anxiety and depression so closely linked? What is group interpersonal therapy? How does it differ from cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatment modalities? Which languages lack an equivalent to the word "depression"?Sean Mayberry is a former diplomat and social marketer who believes that treating depression in women in Africa is the most simple and cost-effective way to address systemic poverty. Sean is the founder of StrongMinds, a social enterprise with the mission of improving women's mental health in Africa; and has served as a SOCAP Fellow, a Rainer Arnhold Fellow, a Cordes Foundation Fellow, and a GLG Fellow. In addition to that, in 2020, he won the Humanitarian Award from the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health. Prior to founding StrongMinds, Sean was the CEO of FXB International, an anti-poverty team active in Africa, and the COO for VisionSpring, which provides eyeglasses to low-income populations. Sean also worked for Population Services International as their Country Director in India and the Congo. For interest in partnering with StrongMinds or learning more, email Sean at sean@strongminds.org.[Read more]

Why is depression on the rise globally? We've all heard that social media is a big cause of depression, but what other factors might we have overlooked? Why are anxiety and depression so closely linked? What is group interpersonal therapy? How does it differ from cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatment modalities? Which languages lack an equivalent to the word "depression"?Sean Mayberry is a former diplomat and social marketer who believes that treating depression in women in Africa is the most simple and cost-effective way to address systemic poverty. Sean is the founder of StrongMinds, a social enterprise with the mission of improving women's mental health in Africa; and has served as a SOCAP Fellow, a Rainer Arnhold Fellow, a Cordes Foundation Fellow, and a GLG Fellow. In addition to that, in 2020, he won the Humanitarian Award from the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health. Prior to founding StrongMinds, Sean was the CEO of FXB International, an anti-poverty team active in Africa, and the COO for VisionSpring, which provides eyeglasses to low-income populations. Sean also worked for Population Services International as their Country Director in India and the Congo. For interest in partnering with StrongMinds or learning more, email Sean at sean@strongminds.org.

MacKenzie Scott's donation to VisionSpring is the largest single private donation helping to tackle the challenge of uncorrected blurry vision in the developing world. We look at VisionSpring's work and learn about the low levels of access to corrective eye glasses in the developing world and low-income segments. Ella Gudwin remarks: the market for eye glasses is broken. It's a 700-year-old technology; it has failed to disperse to the low income segment.   Uncorrected blurry vision isn't simply a health issue; it's also an economic issue. Much of VisionSpring's advocacy has been focused on raising awareness and quantifying the economic cost to national governments derived from workers who are unable to perform to full capacity due to their inability to see clearly.  This is a problem that impacts farmers, commercial truck drivers, artisans and many others. We learn the key stats underpinning the arguments for supporting this thematic area and hear of the alliance of diverse stakeholder organisations that have come together to advocate with one voice to ensure the United Nations and national governments across the globe address and tackle this problem. Thank you for downloading this episode of The Do One Better Podcast. Visit our website at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please leave us a rating and a review to help others find this show.  

Warby Parker co-founder and co-CEO Neil Blumenthal and VisionSpring CEO Ella Gudwin discuss the “buy a pair, give a pair” partnership that transformed the glasses industry and the widespread impact the organizations have had around the world. Diving into how the organizations work together, the duo pull back the curtain on how Warby’s glasses sales support VisionSpring’s efforts to bring glasses and vision education to emerging regions. Coming up with the idea for Warby Parker with some friends while at Wharton, Neil discusses how social impact is baked into the fabric of the company and why being a digital-native company allowed for a seamless pivot following the onset of COVID-19. Coming from a public health background, Ella offers her perspective on fighting misconceptions about glasses around the world and shares insight on how VisionSpring pivoted to providing PPE during the pandemic, thanks to the consistent support of partners like Warby. Listen in to hear their thoughts on leading during times of crisis, and learn more at warbyparker.com and visionspring.org.  Note: Due to technical difficulties, this episode was recorded in multiple parts in November and December 2020. Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Calvosa is the Vice President of Global Sales and Institutional Partnerships at VisionSpring, leading all sales and business development activities. Currently, he manages teams in seven countries to help provide affordable eyeglasses and optical accessories to people throughout the world. Chris has over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, branding, and business development, and has led teams to deliver brand growth, surpass revenue targets, and achieve strategic goals. In this episode… A leader’s role is to develop their teams and encourage them to reach their full potential. Chris Calvosa, the Vice President of Global Sales and Institutional Partnerships at VisionSpring, knows that the key to getting strong efforts from his team members is by building a culture of respect. Today, Chris talks about his early career experience and personal path to leadership. He opens up about working in a negative environment and how it influenced his beliefs as a leader. You’ll also hear about Chris’ current role leading teams in seven countries and the ways his company has pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Chris Calvosa, the Vice President of Global Sales and Institutional Partnerships at VisionSpring, and Dov Pollack in this episode of the Next Wave Leadership Podcast. Chris shares his experience working as an international leader and how he cultivates a culture of respect with his team. He also talks about how he defines failure, shares his approach to giving feedback, and provides his insights into staying disciplined.

Veteran singer-songwriter Patty Griffin returns to the eTown stage after a long absence. Also with us, talented British songwriter and performer John Smith. Plus, we'll hear a truly awesome eChievement Award story about the founder of an organization that each year provides the gift of sight to thousands of people around the world who've been misdiagnosed as blind, with something most of us here in the US take for granted: eyeglasses.   watch videos at: eTown.org

By bringing together governments, corporations and nongovernmental organizations, Jordan Kassalow, founder of VisionSpring and co-founder of EYElliance, is working to change the system and increase access to eyeglasses to people around the world. On this episode of CASE in Point, he gives advice about how to deepen your understanding of the problem you are trying […]

By bringing together governments, corporations and nongovernmental organizations, Jordan Kassalow, founder of VisionSpring and co-founder of EYElliance, is working to change the system and increase access to eyeglasses to people around the world. On this episode of CASE in Point, … The post Jordan Kassalow: Navigating Founder Transitions & Becoming a Systems Change Entrepreneur appeared first on CASE.

In this episode we interview Dr. Jordan Kassalow, the founder of VisionSpring. Their mission is to ensure that everyone in the developing world has access to eyeglasses. They provide affordable eyeglasses, vision screening and training so that non-profits, social entrepreneurs, government agencies, and corporate clients can bring the wonder of clear vision to their communities. We learn about Jordan’s journey and what led him to start VisionSpring. He details VisionSprings initiatives, and explains how they are changing people's lives by the millions. He opens up about what gave him the inspiration to write his book “Dare to Matter”, which was published in 2019. Jordan is a brilliant social entrepreneur and we really enjoyed our conversation with him. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/connectkindness/support

Robert Tuchman talks with Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, a transformative lifestyle brand that offers designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries.

Robert Tuchman talks with Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, a transformative lifestyle brand that offers designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries.

In this episode we explore a number of key questions at the heart of systems change: What is the motivation behind systems change? What are the differences and relationships between systems change and a direct service approach? Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, an organisation that works to provide affordable access to eyewear, everywhere, and eliminate poor vision, due to the lack of eyeglasses-- the largest disability in the world. VisionSpring's initial focus was on distributing ready-made, non-prescription reading glasses via a network of Vision Entrepreneurs… an on-the-ground sales team, later evolving a broader approach using sales through distribution partners, and an emerging “full service” model, providing affordable, high-quality prescription glasses By Autumn 2019, VisionSpring had reached 7 million people with eyeglasses and generated over $1.2 billion of economic impact for its customers. Notwithstanding VisionSpring's success, Jordan has been looking for ways to increase the scale of impact on this problem, for a more systems-based approach, and in 2016, he co-founded EYElliance, a system change, multi-sector alliance of over 60 organizations working together to eliminate poor vision due to the lack of eyeglasses.  For more information, please find the link to a detailed case study on VisionSpring https://bit.ly/2Xh9uf2

Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to offer designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. We’re lucky enough to have two of the founders with us in-studio as Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa join us on the latest show.  By circumventing traditional channels, designing glasses in-house, and engaging with customers directly, Warby Parker is able to provide higher-quality, better-looking prescription eyewear at a fraction of the going price. The team believes that buying glasses should be easy and fun. It should leave you happy and good-looking, with money in your pocket. They also believe that everyone has the right to see. Almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses, which means that 15% of the world’s population cannot effectively learn or work.  To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with nonprofits like VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. Have a money question? Email me here. Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts. "Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

When you are presented with a situation, big or small, where you can make a difference, immediately self-doubt and excuses as to why you shouldn’t even try come to the front of your mind. In this episode, Dr. Meg has a conversation with Rabbi Jen Krause and Dr. Jordan Kassalow about their book Dare To Matter. This is a book about how you can harness the desire to make a difference in the world by doing things in the here and now, in your own way. They explain how these small acts of kindness make a huge difference that you often don’t see the end results of. The main thing is, just do something! Dr. Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, the global phenomenon that has helped millions stay focused on a positive future, and he shares his own story of connecting his real life financial responsibilities with his true sense of calling, while also offering readers the tools to map out their own path. Dubbed “one of NYC’s Hippest Rabbis” and “the Jewish Katie Couric” by WNET’s MetroFocus, Rabbi Jennifer Krause has appeared as a frequent host and moderator at Manhattan’s 92Y, where she also served as the High Holidays rabbi–the first woman to hold that post in 92Y’s 140-year history. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to see if your question is featured next! 0:00 – WELCOME Dr. Meg introduces the topic “Making A Difference In The World”. She also introduces her guests, Dr. Jordan Kassalow and Rabbi Jen Krause and teases her points to ponder. 2:57 – A CONVERSATION WITH DR. JORDAN KASSALOW AND RABBI JEN KRAUSE (PART 1) Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Jordan Kassalow and Rabbi Jen Krause about how you can make a difference in your own household and in the world. 24:02 – AD – THIRD LOVE Using thousands of real women’s measurements, Third Love designs their bras with real sizes and shapes in mind! With their Fit Finder quiz, ThirdLove helps you identify your breast shape and find styles that fit your body in less than a minute! ThirdLove values comfort and quality with straps that don’t slip, ultra-soft smoothing fabrics, and lightweight memory foam. Go to thirdlove.com/meg now to find your perfect fitting bra and receive 15% off your first purchase! 25:23 – AD – BETTER HELP TeenCounseling.com connects your 13 to 19-year-old with a licensed professional counselor right where they spend most of their time, on their smartphone. Simply complete a short questionnaire and you'll be matched with a skilled therapist in TeenCounseling.com’s network of specialists. Then, once you review their credentials and approve, the counselor and your teen will begin communicating directly. Visit TeenCounseling.com/megand help your teen take charge of their mental health. Parenting Great Kids listeners can get 10% off your first month! 26:37 – A CONVERSATION WITH DR. JORDAN KASSALOW AND RABBI JEN KRAUSE (PART 2) Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Jordan Kassalow and Rabbi Jen Krause about how you can make a difference in your own household and in the world. 41:37 – POINTS TO PONDER Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder as you learn more about how to make an immediate difference in your household and in the world. 44:31 – PARENT PEP RALLY 44:56 – FROM THE PRODUCER Thanks for listening to Episode 98, Making a Difference In The World and for helping Dr. Meg’s parenting revolution reach more than FOUR MILLION downloads! Subscribe, rate, and leave a review for us on iTunes! Get Social with Dr. Meg on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @MegMeekerMD Have a parenting question? Write Dr. Meg at askmeg@megmeekermd.com and she could answer your question during the show or you can let us know what you’d like to hear about in a future episode! Dr. Meg’s parenting resources and tools are available at www.megmeekermd.com and click on “Parenting Resources”. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review for us on iTunes! 45:15 – END

Veteran singer/songwriter Patty Griffin returns to the eTown stage after a long absence, and talented Brit John Smith brings his brilliant songwriting and gifted singing and playing to share during his first visit to eTown. Plus, we'll hear a truly awesome eChievement Award story about the founder of an organization that provides glasses (and a new lease on life) for thousands of people around the world who've been misdiagnosed as blind. Watch videos at: eTown

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." - George Elliot Is that all there is?  Seriously!?  Is this it?  I thought there was going to be more.  Not that I'd be in the history books but, certainly, that there would be more than this.  Have any of these questions ever scampered through your mind?  I know they have mine and I know I'm not alone. On this episode I'm talking with reinvention strategist, Kirsten Bunch, about how to take a new look at your life and go a new direction.  It was an appropriate conversation at an appropriate time in my life.  Many of us want to step out into something new but don't know what that first step is....and Kirsten is here to help!  I know you're going to dig it as much as I did! CHEERS! More on Kirsten.. Kirsten Bunch is a coach, strategist, speaker and bestselling author. Kirsten helps mid-career professionals reinvent their careers to align with how they want to show up in the world. Her clients, which range from a neuroscientist to a celebrity stylist, start new careers and businesses that are good for them and good for the world. Before starting her own business in 2016, Kirsten spent 25 years traveling to over 50 countries for game-changing organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and VisionSpring. She helped fundraise over $20 million and designed and managed social change programs in 10 countries. Kirsten lives in New Jersey and works with clients all over the world. Connect with her at: https://www.kirstenbunch.com/

Why are glasses so expensive? Dave Gilboa could not stop asking himself that question. After leaving his $700 pair of eyeglasses on an airplane while returning from Southeast Asia, he could not wrap his head around why a technology that was so archaic could cost him more than his iPhone. Within his first weeks as an MBA student at the Wharton School of Business, he repeatedly brought this question up among some of his new peers. Gilboa, along with fellow students Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, and Jeff Raider, had all shared in the pain of losing or breaking glasses and had all agreed: the high markup made no sense. Inspired by Gilboa’s pricey misfortune, the four of them founded Warby Parker. Now led by co-CEOs Gilboa and Blumenthal, the billion-dollar empire with 2,000 employees is revolutionizing the prescription glasses industry by selling stylish eyewear online at affordable prices. The New York City-based company is also on a mission to combat the global problem of impaired vision through its charitable Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. Since the company’s start, the program has distributed over 5 million pairs of glasses to those in need by donating a pair of glasses for every one sold. But long before they could build an ecommerce giant, the team would first have to learn how to even build a website. A Moment of Clarity Prior to going to Wharton, all four co-founders had already spent some considerable time in the workforce. This allowed for each of them to gain valuable real-world experience, and it helped guide them to understanding if they had an actual problem to solve and a business to move forward with. However, it was Blumenthal’s experience while running the nonprofit VisionSpring that would become crucial to the early concept of Warby Parker. During his time with the company, they trained low-income women in the developing world to start their own businesses. Participants were to take their new skillsets back to their rural communities and administer vision screenings and sell glasses. But it was something else Blumenthal had witnessed that would have a lasting impression on him. “I had been to the factories,” Blumenthal says. “Here I was producing glasses for people who were making less than four dollars a day, but 10 feet away were factories that were producing…the $700 pair of glasses Dave had. So we knew something was awry.” A light bulb went off and the classmates soon pulled together $120,000 and went to work on developing Warby Parker in 2008. The problem they wanted to solve: How can we make glasses we want, but at a low cost? Eager to launch, but more focused on preparation and planning, the founders began sketching out all the main aspects of the company. With limited funding, they knew they’d have to really refine and plan each facet of their business before revealing it to the public. Their first steps were to design glasses that they’d want to wear and then find a manufacturer who could produce them for less, starting with Blumenthal’s connections. The next step would be trying to figure out how to sell their glasses directly to the consumer. The answer was simple. “This magical thing called the internet,” Blumenthal says. The founders all knew that ecommerce was an innovation they wanted to take advantage of for their direct-to-consumer brand. Had they come up with this idea 10 years prior, the company may not have gone any further than an idea. With a brick-and-mortar store requiring a lease, utilities, and other costs, they knew it would be hard to make their new dream a reality with limited capital. “If we did , we would have one location that we might be able to attract some local customers, but with the power of the internet, we were able to all of a sudden, launch a store to the entire US,” Gilboa says. But there was a small problem. None of them knew how to build an online store, nor did they understand the many other details that came with creating an online shopping experience. “We started talking to friends on how you build a website,” Blumenthal says. “And then we started visiting a bunch of websites that we would normally already go to. But now with a critical eye, we were understanding, okay, what’s the shopping flow?” Over the next year and a half, the four of them kept chipping away at all the details of Warby Parker. Nothing got overlooked. They spent countless hours going over the vision and mission of the company, and worked on all the brand architecture of what they wanted their company to be. In addition, the group constantly sought out feedback from friends and professors. Could something like this work? One glaring concern that kept surfacing was whether or not a person would actually buy a pair of glasses online. With fit being so important, it would be hard for a person to gauge on a computer screen if a pair of glasses would fit their face and feel comfortable. This forced them to reconsider their business model, and ever the problem solvers, the home try-on program was born. Breaking new ground, Warby Parker would allow a customer to select five pairs of glasses from the website and then ship them free of charge, allowing five days to test out the frames. This was a major ecommerce innovation that would get them past the biggest challenge facing the business’s core premise. But there was one other challenge that would prove nearly impossible to overcome—agreeing on a name. Thank You, Jack Prior to Warby Parker’s launch, brands had already started to emerge that were selling glasses online. Customers were able to purchase glasses from sites such as 39DollarGlasses.com and FramesDirect.com, but they were sacrificing other elements, such as quality and customer service, for their lower prices. The founders wanted to take a different approach with their company. They wanted to launch a fashion brand that not only offered great quality, prices, and service, but also one that made the world a better place. The company vision was clear and ambitious. But they could not come up with a name. “We wanted kind of a proper name and didn’t think Gilboa-Blumenthal, our last names, really rolled off the tongue,” Gilboa says. They sought out inspiration and ideas from historical authors and artists. People who represented the brand ideals that they were trying to carry out. One author that stood out to them was Jack Kerouac, the novelist and poet who was a pioneer of the beat generation. Coincidentally, the New York Public Library was holding an exhibit one afternoon with some of Kerouac’s private diaries and journals. Seeking inspiration, Gilboa made a visit to the exhibit and stumbled upon some of Kerouac’s unpublished works, finding some interesting character names. Two jumped off the page: Warby Pepper and Zagg Parker. “So I took those back and the four of us were discussing,” Gilboa says. “We all loved those names and were debating, do we pick one of those, and we decided to combine the two and make it our own. And the URL happened to be available for nine bucks.” After six months of debating and with over 2,000 names rejected, Warby Parker came to life. Getting Noticed The challenge for any new brand is figuring out how to gain exposure. With a small marketing budget, the co-founders had to be strategic about finding a cost-effective way to maximize their exposure in such a competitive industry. Realizing glasses are an accessory and that the fashion industry was an insider’s game, the team hired a fashion publicist to help set up meetings with editors and writers at major publications. In February of 2010, WarbyParker.com officially went live. Within days of launching the website, they were featured in GQ, where they were dubbed “the Netflix of eyewear.” Soon after, another profile appeared in Vogue. From there, things went viral. “We ended up hitting our first year’s sales targets in three weeks,” Blumenthal says. “Sold out of our top 15 styles in four weeks and it was just complete mayhem.” Soon, they found themselves sold out of all their inventory with a waitlist of over 20,000 new customers. Warby Parker was an overnight success, a year and a half in the making. Onward & Upward Today, Warby Parker is valued at over $1 billion and has cemented its place among the top glasses retailers in the world. Even after they made it to the big time, however, the team kept innovating. In 2013, Gilboa and Blumenthal began to expand their brand with more storefronts, having now opened close to 100 stores in the US and Canada. And within some of those stores, they’ve begun to employ their own optometrists where states allow it. On the technology side, they’ve found new ways to cater to the customer. Within the Warby Parker app, any customer with an iPhone X can now virtually try on any one of their frames. In addition, they’ve made a move into telemedicine by allowing eligible customers to take eye exams from their phones, allowing a licensed doctor to write them a prescription remotely. But no matter how large the company becomes, the team’s underlying values remain the same: they do whatever it takes to make customers happy. 3 Tips for Standing Out From the Crowd When Neil Blumenthal, Dave Gilboa, Andrew Hunt, and Jeff Raider founded Warby Parker in 2010, they knew it wouldn’t be easy. But with the right planning, execution, and maybe some good luck, they felt they could make the world a little better, one pair of glasses at a time. The founding team knew that in order to get any attention in the noisy fashion industry, they had to be different and they had to stand out. Here are Blumenthal and Gilboa’s tips for helping your new startup gain exposure. Be Novel From the beginning, the founders knew that it would be hard to get any immediate attention in the fashion industry without the help of insiders. They knew their service and product would be different from any other retailer before them, but if no one knew who they were, it wouldn’t matter. So the team hired a fashion publicist to get them meetings with top fashion publications. By being able to tell their story directly to their target audience, and through a medium that their audience trusted, it was a giant step in the right direction. And since Warby Parker was so different from its competitors, once it got on the insider crowd’s radar, it wasn’t hard for them to draw media attention. “There was a bunch of things that we were doing that were novel,” Blumenthal says. “Selling glasses online, in 2010, was pretty novel. Having this home try-on program was really novel. Providing a pair of glasses for every pair we sell, was really novel. Charging $95 instead of $500 was really novel. So they really wanted to write about us.” In today’s startup world, it’s never been more crowded and harder to stand out. Be different with your concept and separate yourself from the fray. Don’t Get Distracted  Although WarbyParker.com went live in February of 2010, the four co-founders spent over a year and a half focusing on their company’s mission, product, and business model. And after they found success, staying focused became an even more important priority. “We got some advice early on that if you’re walking down a path towards a giant pot of gold, you shouldn’t stop to get distracted by any shiny little coin that you see along the way,” Gilboa says. It would have been easy for Warby Parker to launch dozens of different products or to expand into new markets for monetary gain. However, that would’ve brought about great distractions that could have pulled them from their main goal, which is to solve their customers’ problems by offering them quality products and experiences. “We’ve just seen so many businesses that have failed due to lack of focus,” Gilboa says. “But it’s rare that you’ll see a business that fails for being too focused.” Remember the problems your business is trying to solve and stay focused on it. By always learning and iterating, you’re working towards providing the best service possible for your customers. Above All Else, Make the Customer Happy From the very beginning, the Warby Parker team knew they had to keep their customers happy. They understood that they had to not only provide a great product, but also provide superb customer service. In the beginning, all four co-founders were directly in touch with their customers. They each replied to customer emails and even set up an 800 number that would be sent to their personal cell phones until someone picked up. They were willing to do anything to make sure the customer was always satisfied. “Do whatever it takes to make customers happy and make them feel good,” Blumenthal says. “Smile, personal notes, whatever it takes.” Interview by Nathan Chan, feature article reprinted from Foundr Magazine, by Nick Allen Key Takeaways How losing a pair of $700 glasses led Blumenthal and Gilboa, along with fellow MBA students Andrew Hunt and Jeff Raider, to identify a major business problem How Blumenthal’s experience of running a nonprofit informed the early stages of Warby Parker A look into the 1.5 year process of bringing the co-founders’ business idea to life Why the team decided to merge eyewear and ecommerce The process of familiarizing themselves with the world of online shopping and websites How the name Warby Parker came to be, and why it took brainstorming over 2,000 names to get there The team’s cost-effective approach to marketing and launching the website How powerful press placement led to a sold-out inventory and a waitlist of over 20,000 new customers within weeks What’s in store (literally) for the future of Warby Parker The single piece of advice Gilboa and Blumenthal received that helped them be successful, and how other entrepreneurs can apply it to their own business

Can you change your career to a more fulfilling one?  In this episode, we sit down with Kirsten Bunch (Best Selling Author & Career Transition Coach) to answer this question and more. She starts by telling us her origin story that led her to travel around the world. Next, Kirsten talks about how she prepares for public speaking engagements. Lastly, Kirsten shares her professional development routine.   After the break, she explains what a reinvention strategist is. Next, she shares the work her clients go through in order to make a successful transition. Lastly, she leaves us with words of motivation.  **More On Kirsten** Kirsten Bunch is the author of the international bestselling book, Next Act, Give Back: Discover Your Personal Path to Go From Being Charitable to Being a Changemaker. Kirsten works with creative and innovative women and men who want to use their experience, ideas, and networks to address some of today's most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. Her clients, which range from a neuroscientist to a celebrity stylist, have one thing in common: they have the power to change the world. Kirsten spent 25 years traveling to over 50 countries for game-changing organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and VisionSpring. She helped fundraise over $20 million and designed and managed social change programs in 10 countries. Her work has been featured in Forbes, O, The Oprah Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine.   Check out Kirsten's website to read her blog and purchase her book.  Follow The Startup Life Podcast Facebook Page Want exclusive content from The Startup Life Podcast? Sign up to be a patron on The Binge Podcast Network Patreon Page and Select The Startup Life All-Access Tier.  Want gear from The Startup Life? Check out our gear! Check out other great podcasts from The Binge Podcast Network.   Written by: Dominic Lawson Executive Producers: Dominic Lawson and Kenda Lawson Edited by: Alejandro Giron and Dominic Lawson   Music Credits: **Show Theme**  Behind Closed Doors - Otis McDonald  **Break Theme** Cielo - Huma-Huma 

Kirsten Bunch author of Next Act, Give Back: Discover Your Personal Path to Go From Being Charitable to Being a Changemaker.As the creator of the Women’s Changemaker Mentorship™ she is inspiring a generation of mid-career women to use their experience, ideas and networks to address some of today’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. Her clients, which range from a neuroscientist to a celebrity stylist, start new careers and businesses that create better communities.Kirsten spent 25 years traveling to over 50 countries for game-changing organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and VisionSpring. She helped fundraise over $20 million and designed and managed social change programs in 10 countries. During this time, many women told her that SOMEDAY they were going to give back by starting an organization or a business that did good in the world. When Kirsten sat down to design her own reinvention in 2016, she decided that it was time for women to stop saying someday and create powerful next acts TODAY.Learn More: www.kirstenbunch.comInfluential Influencers with Mike Saundershttp://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/

Kirsten Bunch author of Next Act, Give Back: Discover Your Personal Path to Go From Being Charitable to Being a Changemaker.As the creator of the Women’s Changemaker Mentorship™ she is inspiring a generation of mid-career women to use their experience, ideas and networks to address some of today’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. Her clients, which range from a neuroscientist to a celebrity stylist, start new careers and businesses that create better communities.Kirsten spent 25 years traveling to over 50 countries for game-changing organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and VisionSpring. She helped fundraise over $20 million and designed and managed social change programs in 10 countries. During this time, many women told her that SOMEDAY they were going to give back by starting an organization or a business that did good in the world. When Kirsten sat down to design her own reinvention in 2016, she decided that it was time for women to stop saying someday and create powerful next acts TODAY.Learn More: www.kirstenbunch.comInfluential Influencers with Mike Saundershttp://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/

Kirsten Bunch author of Next Act, Give Back: Discover Your Personal Path to Go From Being Charitable to Being a Changemaker.As the creator of the Women’s Changemaker Mentorship™ she is inspiring a generation of mid-career women to use their experience, ideas and networks to address some of today’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. Her clients, which range from a neuroscientist to a celebrity stylist, start new careers and businesses that create better communities.Kirsten spent 25 years traveling to over 50 countries for game-changing organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and VisionSpring. She helped fundraise over $20 million and designed and managed social change programs in 10 countries. During this time, many women told her that SOMEDAY they were going to give back by starting an organization or a business that did good in the world. When Kirsten sat down to design her own reinvention in 2016, she decided that it was time for women to stop saying someday and create powerful next acts TODAY.Learn More: www.kirstenbunch.comInfluential Influencers with Mike Saundershttp://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/

Vision isn’t just sight. It’s opportunity. VisionSpring brings it to millions around the globe each year. It started with Kassalow’s personal transformation -- one that may help you see your own mission in life.

Today on Welcome Home .. It’s time to PARTY! It’s our quasi-annual look at all things entertaining. We’ll talk all about the parties we’re planning, the best events we’ve attended, our very strong opinions on RSVPs, and why the neighborhood hardware store should be your first stop when shopping for party supplies. Plus, back-room deals with the Whole Foods Fish Monger, buying wine on the honor system, Graham’s inside track with Yeti Coolers. and why Burlington Coat Factory is so much more than great coats… or is it?!?! SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Blood Score: Bloodscore delivers medical grade, physician-authorized lab tests right to your door. You get the wellness labs you need from just a few drops of blood collected at home. Bloodscore makes HEALTHY easy because it lets us check in on our health from home. No appointments, lab visits, or hassle! Instead of getting the confusing black-and-white lab results that you and your doctor are used to seeing… you get color-coded, easy-to-understand charts and graphs on an interactive dashboard. Plus… Bloodscore gives you a PERSONALIZED list of supplements, diet changes, and exercise programs to improve your health— all based on your Bloodscore results and wellness goals. Check it out at Bloodscore.com and use the coupon code welcomehome to get 20% off an at home test kit! ZOLA: Zola, the wedding company that will do anything for love, is reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience to make the happiest moment in couples' lives even happier. Create a FREE wedding website at Zola in minutes. You can add photos, stories about how you two met, travel and accommodations info, and even recommend things to do for your guests while they’re in town for your wedding If you register at Zola, your Zola registry automatically integrates into your Zola wedding website, so guests can get all the details they need and buy you a wedding gift in one convenient place! Zola now has matching save-the-dates and invitations! Plus a FREE guest list manager: add your guests to Zola’s tool and they’ll help you collect missing addresses, format your addresses, and track RSVPs To start your free wedding website or registry on Zola, go to www.ZOLA.com/welcomehome Warby Parker Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty goal: to create boutique-quality eyewear at a revolutionary price point. A collaboration between four close friends, Warby Parker was conceived as an alternative to the overpriced and bland eyewear available today. By circumventing traditional channels and engaging with customers directly through their website and retail stores, Warby Parker is able to provide high-quality, good-looking prescription eyewear at a fraction of the price. Warby Parker is also eyewear with a purpose Almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses. Warby Parker partners with non-profits like VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. We believe that everyone has the right to see. Glasses start at $95, including prescription lenses. Lenses include anti-glare and anti-scratchcoatings. Blue light filtering lenses are also now available! "Have an iPhone X? Make sure to download Warby Parker's app, where you can use their brand-new Virtual Try-On, allowing you to try on eyeglasses – seeing the realistic color, texture, and size of each style, using just your phone!Free Want to see for yourself? Enjoy the FREE Home Try-On program. Order 5 pairs of glasses, and try them on for 5 days -- there is no obligation to buy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Compartilhei um case da VisionSpring, uma empresa que fabrica óculos de baixo custo com viés social focado em pessoas mais velhas e que moram em regiões periféricas. Seth conta como mudar a narrativa da comunicação do "desejo de ganhar" para o "medo de perder" foi chave para gerar resultados em vendas. Ainda, três grandes ideias desta live: 1. A broca e o buraco. As pessoas não querem comprar uma broca de 6mm, elas querem um buraco de 6mm. E, indo além, eles não querem o buraco de 6mm, mas querem uma prateleira na parede. Dando mais um passo, eles não querem a prateleira mas sim o status de ter colocado uma prateleira na parede com as próprias mãos. 2. As pessoas não querem o que você faz. As pessoas não querem o seu produto, mas o que você fará por elas, e concluindo a ideia da Broca e do Buraco: em última instância, as pessoas "compram" o que você fará elas sentirem. Histórias - Conexões - Experiências. 3. Quem está dirigindo o ônibus? Toda iniciativa é movida por uma força primária invisível que orientam e conduzem os rumos daquele projeto, como o talento do chef de cozinha de um restaurante ou a tecnologia de uma startup do Vale do Silício. Porém, a maioria é movida pelo marketing (pelas promoções, hacks, por aquele R$ 1 a mais ou a menos). Seth não recomenda esse tipo de posicionamento, mas sim tornar o MERCADO o motorista do ônibus. Assista: “Técnicas de copywriting que usamos na Empiricus” . ~ Fale comigo: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

Neil Blumenthal is co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, a lifestyle brand that offers designer eyewear at a low price with a focus on being socially conscious. Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries. In 2015, Fast Company named Warby Parker the most innovative company in the world. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. Neil received his BA from Tufts University and his MBA here at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Stew and Neil have a wide-ranging talk about his time at Wharton, the importance of honest conversations to build trust, why continual learning by employees is essential to a thriving company, and the ways in which parenthood changes our relationship to time and work. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Greg and Jeff are doing some amazing things to create social change in developing countries through the power of entrepreneurship. It was amazing to have them on the show and hear about their upcoming program, Career X and how YOU as a member of Successful Dropout can get involved.  If you are interested in entrepreneurship, looking for an adventure, and want to challenge yourself...how better to do it than going to Guatemala to build a business?? The adventure is 2.5 weeks long and you'll experience all the steps of launching a business: design thinking and prototyping, marketing, content creation, supply chain strategy, customer experience and more. You'll also be working with Jeff and Greg who have been building impactful businesses for over 15 years!  The first Guatemala program runs May 24 - June 10 so hurry and check it out here! This is your chance to gain unforgettable and invaluable entrepreneurial experience + have a crazy adventure you'll always remember.  About Greg Van Kirk & Jeff Hittner Greg Greg Van Kirk is an Ashoka Lemelson Fellow, Ashoka Globalizer and was recently recognized as Schwab Foundation "Social Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 (Latin America)" at the World Economic Forum. He is the co-founder of Career X and The New Development Solutions Group. This includes Community Empowerment Solutions, Social Entrepreneur Corps and Ultimiya Social Innovation Consulting. Greg's signature social innovation was the creation of the award winning MicroConsignment Model. He has served as a consultant for organizations such as Levi Strauss Foundation, USAID, Chemonics, VisionSpring, Soros Foundation, Church World Service, Inter American Development Bank, Water For People, Solutions Journalism Network and Fundacion Paraguaya in the US, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa. Greg began working in rural small business development as a Guatemala Peace Corps volunteer in 2001. Prior to the Peace Corps, Greg worked in investment banking in San Francisco and New York for five years. Two deals he led at UBS during this time won "Deal of the Year" honors from Structured Finance International magazine. Greg is a graduate of Miami University where he recently received the"Bishop Medal" . Greg lives with his family in New York City.  Jeff Jeff leads Your Project X, a social venture dedicated to helping people (re)discover their purpose to build careers they’ll love. He has more than 18 years experience as an entrepreneur, consultant, professor and changemaker. He is the founder of five social ventures, including IBM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) consulting practice. In 2011, he developed the curriculum for the first MBA in Sustainability on the East Coast, at Bard College, where he was the Leadership professor. He was also two-time Chairman of the Carnegie New Leaders at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. Resources Career X - go check it out!  THANK YOU! Thanks again for listening to the show! If it has helped you in any way, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the page. Additionally, reviews for the podcast on iTunes are extremelyhelpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show and I read each and every one of them. Join the Successful Dropout Nation! Subscribe to the Successful Dropout Podcast. Join our private Facebook Group! Follow @successfuldropout on Instagram!

How one social enterprise is making eyeglasses available to the bottom of the pyramid The post Making Eyeglasses Accessible to All: Jordan Kassalow of VisionSpring appeared first on SEE Change Magazine.

Warby Parker is an online eyeglass retailer that sells low cost vintage inspired glasses.  For each pair sold, Warby Parker provides a pair of glasses to low income people in more than 36 countries through non-profit partners like VisionSpring.  VisionSpring trains female entrepreneurs to give eye exams and sell glasses in their communities.  Neil co-founded […]

Bill Nye (@billnye) is a lifelong champion of science who is determined to teach you something today that you didn't know yesterday -- whether it's from a television screen or next to you at a dinner party. His latest series is Bill Nye Saves the World on Netflix, and his most recent book is Everything All at Once: How to Unleash Your Inner Nerd, Tap Into Radical Curiosity, and Solve Any Problem. The Cheat Sheet: Why denying proven science -- like climate change and the efficacy of vaccination -- is in nobody's best interest. On reinvention and pivoting: How Bill Nye went from Boeing engineer to television personality. Why episodes of Bill Nye The Science Guy are still being used to teach kids science two decades after they first aired. How to look at the world with radical curiosity. Why it's key to internalize our fears in order to move forward. And so much more... Full show notes at https://theartofcharm.com/637/ Find out more about the team who makes The Art of Charm podcast here! Betterment is the largest independent online financial advisor. For one low, transparent fee, Betterment gives you personalized advice and invests your money. For a limited time, you can get up to six months managed for free -- learn more here! Fair Trade Certified and #RefreshinglyHonest? That's Honest Tea. Check it out here -- every tweet tagged with #RefreshinglyHonest between now and August 3rd drums up $1 for VisionSpring! Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whopping 50% on new webhosting packages here with HostGator by using coupon code CHARM! With Business Platinum from American Express, it's not about where you are, it's about where you want to take your business next. Explore the Power of The Business Platinum Card here! Free yourself from typing notes, reports, and documents by going with the transcriptionists we trust here at AoC: TranscriptionOutsourcing.net -- 99% or higher accuracy guaranteed! HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dig the show, please subscribe in iTunes and write us a review! This is what helps us stand out from the crowd and help people find the credible advice they need. Review the show in iTunes! We rely on it! http://www.theartofcharm.com/mobilereview Stay Charming!

Blind seers aside, it's easier to see where you're going, on the road and in life, if you can actually see. More than half of Americans wear glasses; in poorer and more remote regions of the world, it's estimated that some two billion people need glasses but don't have access to them, cutting into their ability to learn, work and live a full life. A social entrepreneurial effort called VisionSpring has reached millions of such people in Asia and Africa, selling glasses at affordable prices to customers who earn less than $4 a day. Host Mary Kay Magistad talks with VisionSpring's founder Jordan Kassalow, and president Ella Gudwin.

Jordan Kassalow is founder of VisionSpring, a US social enterprise whose mission is to expand affordable access to eyewear, everywhere. To date, VisionSpring has distributed over 3.5 million eyeglasses to their target customers, who typically earns below $4 per day. They estimate their total economic impact to be over $756 million.  The World Health Organization...

Sean Mayberry is the CEO of Strong Minds an organisation that provide access to mental health services for impoverished Africans by helping people suffering from major depression return to becoming productive members of their communities. Previously Sean was the CEO for FXB International (2011-2013) and before that was also the Chief Operating Officer for VisionSpring...