Innovating for Social Good—From Lean Impact to Entrepreneurial Resilience | DisrupTV Ep. 128

In this compelling episode of DisrupTV, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar are joined by Nick Symmonds (Olympian and CEO of Run Gum), Ann Mei Chang (author of Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good), and Heather Clancy (Editorial Director at GreenBiz Group). The conversation focuses on building ventures with resilience and purpose, scaling social innovation, and how entrepreneurs can drive meaningful change. 

Guest Insights

Nick Symmonds discusses how his journey from professional athletics to being CEO of Run Gum gives him unique perspective on resilience, discipline, and branding. He shares how entrepreneurial ventures require stamina, adaptability, and commitment to values—even when scaling up. 

Ann Mei Chang brings in frameworks from her book Lean Impact that translate principles from Lean Startup to the social sector. She emphasizes experimentation, measurable impact, and continuous learning as key to achieving “radically greater social good” without waste. 

Heather Clancy provides insight on how purpose-driven business models are increasingly expected by consumers, investors, and regulators. She discusses trends in sustainability and how reporting, transparency, and environmental impact are becoming integral to how companies build trust and differentiate themselves.

Key Takeaways

  • Lean Principles for Social Impact: Social ventures can borrow from startup methodologies—rapid iteration, measurement, feedback loops—to increase efficiency and impact. (From Ann Mei Chang) 
  • Resilience & Purpose in Entrepreneurship: Building a business with a mission helps sustain momentum through challenges; discipline and clarity of values guide tough decisions. (Nick Symmonds’ experience)
  • Sustainability as Core Strategy: Purpose and sustainability aren’t just “nice to haves” but increasingly central to brand identity, investor expectations, and market success. (Heather Clancy) 
  • Transparency & Measurable Outcomes: For social good efforts especially, having clear metrics of impact, being honest about failures, and sharing results build credibility and amplify influence. 

Final Thoughts

Episode 128 reminds us that business and social good are no longer separate paths. Purpose-driven ventures that apply lean, measurement-oriented methods, embrace transparency, and persist through adversity tend to have greater long-term impact. For anyone building or leading in purpose sectors, the charge is clear: be resilient, be measurable, be principled.

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Business Research Themes

Future of Work, New C-Suite, Tech Optimization

Roles

Chief Digital Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer, Chief Technology Officer