Awarepreneurs imterview - Manuela Guzman

Hi, this is Paul Zellizer and welcome to the Awarepreneurs podcast. On this show, we dive deep into wisdom from some of the world's leading social entrepreneurs. Our goal is to help you increase your positive impact, your profitability, and your Before we get into today's topic, I have one request. If you could hit subscribe and do a review on your favorite podcast app, it helps more people learn how to have positive impact through a values based business. Thank you so much. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Manuela Guzman. And our topic is building a network of investors and founders for positive impact. Manuela is the head of network at Top Tier Impact, TTI, a global ecosystem of 600 plus investors, founders, and corporates dedicated to solving the world's most pressing challenges.

She lead TTI's network strategy fostering high impact connections that drive investment, deal flow, and partnerships across key hubs like London, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Singapore, Bali, and Dubai. A systems thinker with a strategic and creative approach, she excels at simplifying complexity and enabling collaboration. Passionate about sustainability, regeneration, and conscious leadership, Manuela is committed to scaling solutions that create a more equitable and thriving world. Manuela, welcome to the Awapreneurs podcast.

Thanks for having me, Paul. It's great to be here.

I'm excited to have you here. TTI is doing such good work. I can't wait for our listeners to find out more about it. Before we get into TTI, that was a very impressive bio. If there was somebody that wanted to know just a little bit more about you and your background before we unpack the great work that TTI is doing, what would you want somebody to know about you that didn't come across in that bio?

Well, so I think I will start with a little bit more with my background. I think that that's also quite relevant. So I'm born and raised in Medellin, Colombia. I have always been very passionate as as you hear at the beginning about impact, sustainability, and now regeneration. I I would say that I have built my career in in in different ways pursuing that that passion and that goal. I'm a business manager from Purdue University. I didn't know what I wanted to study. I like so many things from environmental engineer to business management to international business to marketing and design.

But, of course, nature and environment has always been at the at the core of it. So I went for for that career path, and I just started a lot more in the how could I build businesses in in sustainability. And then I joined, like, sustainable tourism as a way of developing my country in a more impactful and sustainable way and just, of course, noticing all biodiversity and nature that is here on Colombia. So that was the the how it start how I started my career, but always pushed to to for a remote career. I really like diversity. I love visiting new places. I love working in intercultural and and global with a global perspective. So some years ago, I traveled to Valley with some of the organizations I work with.

I was a leading another online community called Nomads Giving Back and Nomads Skillshare. So that's how I talked into a remote role with people from all different cultures. I learned new skills. And I I guess that's how I started to build in a little bit more about my career that also led me to some years back to top tier impact, which I am very excited to share with you more today and the work that we would do there. So that's in very in a nutshell. If you want to, of course, focus a little bit more on some parts of my career, happy to to expand it a little bit more.

And let me just say I love Medellin and what's happening there. It's it's a real sustainability hub, and just love to shout it out as I mean, Colombia in general is just a gorgeous place, but Medellin in particular. There's just some very out of the box thinkers doing innovative work in the sustainability and impact space that impress the heck out of me. And and so I just wanna shout out what you're all doing there in the ecosystem that you find yourself in. It's just amazing humans doing incredible work. So

Thank you, Paul. I agree. And we're hoping to to even strengthen it even more, something that we are working on this side as well.

So let's dive into top tier impact. My understanding is you've been there for about three years now, Anuela. Is that fair to say?

Yes. Correct. It's gonna be three years in couple months. I started I met the founder, Alyssa, during my travels in Indonesia. And I was just that week, I I was decided to move into the impact space. It was reflecting, okay, what I want to do next with my my career. And I I did a brainstorming of a hundred career paths, and one of the the words that came out was impact investing. I never felt too much connected with the finance world.

But after years working in sustainability, I guess I connected, like, I would love to see more capital flow into impactful and sustainable solutions and those who comply with more EOSU standards or or having better deal in its core strategy. So so yeah. That that decision led me to to met the founder and embark on this journey that we have been on for almost three years and and hopefully to continue and for for many other years.

And to understand top tier impact, I think it'd be really helpful. These 600 plus investors, founders, corporates that we referenced in your bio, like, so much a top tier impacts impact is the humans, is the is the organizations and the groups of humans that are in this network. So tell us a little bit about who are these 600 plus investors and founders and corporates.

Sure. So I think when when I joined DTI, it was just like, wow. This is the the the right place, and this is where I wanted to be because I find so much inspiration daily from builders and from investors. So we have a lot of different personalities. We have members, from different cities in the world, so they all focus on different solutions. We have some members, as you mentioned at the beginning, based in in different cities like London, Dubai, Bali, Bangkok, Sao Paulo, and across all Europe and US. So they have in they they have founded either the impactful companies. They are serial entrepreneurs.

They're working now in, let's say, a clean tech solutions or energy transition. Some of them are even nuclear energy, and some of them sustainable mobility, or even also some other social, like alternative education, inclusion. So we have strong variety of members that was mentioned there, either founders or investors in this space, and that they are very much aligned with TTI's vision and and and values as well. So so I I couldn't define them. I would say that we all are really striving to build a better world and support those ventures who are doing doing this from from a private sector perspective. And and, yeah, I find so much knowledge and insights from from them on a daily basis. So

And if you were gonna give an example of some of the outcomes. Right? So there's these 600, mostly either impact ambassadors or founders of companies in the impact space. If you were gonna give some examples of some of the things that members have collaborated, the outcomes of this network. I always find it helpful. Okay. That's a great vision, but, like, what actually gets done? What is this how is this network moving the needle? What would be an example of some of the things that have come out of TTI? You say, wow. I'm really proud that we've accomplished x, y, or z.

Yes. So so I think it also comes down to how we have built and structured the network and and, of course, how Alyssa started it from the beginning, the founder. So the network is really built as a platform so they could find each other easily and faster to find partnerships, deal flow, investment opportunities. So they share we have a WhatsApp community where they share opportunities on a daily basis. So our WhatsApp chat is very members are engaged. They share daily opportunities whether they are looking to fundraise for their funds, their companies. They are looking to invest money in in certain type of companies, and we have seen many connections happening from this network. I feel like the ones who it's it's very hard to track all the impacts that we have made, but we have a lot of success stories and testimonies.

We have had founders in the network finding aligned LPs and LPs and GPs to to invest in their companies. We had a a founder in the alternative education space, and he fundraised 10,000,000 for his venture, for example, from TTI investors. That's just one clear example that comes to mind. Our TTI Dubai ambassador, Oliver, he has now a company that focuses focuses in sustainability in the in the hospitality industry. So they they are looking for ways circular economy integrated in the the hospitality industry. He also met one of the the investors at Plain Tigger, which is his company through TTI. And we have investors saying all day everything has happened through the network, LPs, finding LPs, partnerships, clients. So, yeah, that's what we what we want to build, a network where these asks and offers are very clear and direct.

Like, we don't leave the WhatsApp chat community for for long discussions or personal topics. It's more this is an opportunity. If you know someone I can connect with, let me know. And members are supporting for connections there as well.

So I think what I hear you saying is one of the primary outcomes has been helping founders of impact organizations access capital, aligned capital. Listeners, I could put some blinks in the show notes of folks who can articulate how important that is. Don't just go chase any money, but money that's actually gonna be aligned with the vision you have and people who are gonna support what you're doing in a holistic way, not just write you a check and then micromanage what you do in your company from there on in. That's not the kind of capital we want here. And, also, folks who have the capital and want that sort of holistic relationship, find founders who are doing things in holistic ways and greasing the rails to help that happen more smoothly and more access to capital and also deploying capital in more values aligned ways. Is that fair to say?

Yes. That's super fair to say. I think that's what we focus on, and we have that part that is more about the effectiveness of the network that we are always striving to to to keep up with. But I think in this space, as you mentioned, it's also very important to say that we are here for the long term too. So a lot of members know that this is not a network where I'm just gonna go join and and pitch and get funds because we don't work on very those same values. Right? It's not about how much are you gonna bring me back, the profit and all that, but more like meeting like minded individuals that can support your journey in the long term. Then in the operational side of things, we have the the finance and the investments. So we combine those bold approaches.

What would you say one of your roles, as I understand it, Minhro, is to tend to this network, right, to to to service, to be thinking about people finding the resources they want, to provide value, and to scale this network so more good could happen for the members who are already there as well as attract new members. Is that a fair assessment of one of the reasons you've been brought on to TTI?

Correct. Yes. It started first as head of community, and then I have grown my role into head of network. So I would say that I hold the space for the community, and I support operationally too with all the impact investment events that we have. We have investor panels, for example, online. We have an ambassador program in 30 plus cities. So we're always looking to to grow the network and to grow those those success stories. So part of my my role day to day is interviewing new potential members.

They all have to go through an application process. We have a application call with all of them just to make sure that they are aligned. They're they're with what we are building at TTI. And, yeah, that's my main goal to keep building, like, keeping working on members, finding valuable the network, effectiveness as well, and and bringing on new high quality members that can add value to to each other and that are aligned in in our TTI values and goals as well.

Great. So listeners, I'll put a link if you're interested in finding out more information about those you know, what it would look like to join and how where that application is. I'll put a link to all of that in the show notes. So for a bunch of questions. I love community. It's one of my core values in terms of where I choose to invest my time as a social entrepreneur and as a leader. And I've been doing community long enough to know it's not always easy. Right? Community takes work and people who don't understand that or don't tend to that work are oftentimes surprised and find there's some suffering involved to not understanding that community takes work.

And I know at TTI, you've been building very intentionally for a long time. So I have a couple of questions about creating an effective community. One is, how the heck do you build a community with 600 members in 30 cities all around the world? Some of our listeners would like to get similar results or be part of a community like that. But in this age of polarization and many challenges on many fronts, it's not always easy to grow a community. What what have you learned at TTi about growing not just a large community, but also very diverse community and a global community?

Well, I think it's a very interesting question, and I and I and I love how you you phrase it because I agree. Building communities is just not a straightforward business in a way. Let's see if we wanna put it in a business. It's not always about growth and and all that. And, yeah, I think, of course, sometimes it's hard when when maybe you don't get to translate well to other what you're really building and how you can you're building that for them and how they can use it for themselves. But I think what I have learned is to combine, like, a clear I think we had two different things, isn't it? And it was like it had a very solid funded since the foundation of it. So Alyssa founded it with her private network of impact investors and founders. So we had a solid starting point.

And then we got to grow it because members keep finding value in the network, but not only because I provide them back them some value with events and the connections and some interest, but because they find value in each other. So they have seem like, similar visions, mission aligned opportunities. And for them, if they're founders, investors, the the match is easier. So I would say that is a combination of different different approaches and and and perspectives on how to build it. And I agree with you. I think our our work remain very, very important. And and I have been looking more at deep like, dipping like, going more deep down into what it really means to to be a network builder. And and I think it's that.

It's really really holding that space for a different perspective and more if we're talking about a local local network. We know that what I might say that applies to my reality and my context might not be the same in this person. So the b b being able to connect, learn from each other, learn insights, and then see I think it's a little bit of, like, wisdom embedded too. How we can keep ourselves open to learn from each other and keep building together even if when the world tells us we shouldn't get together and exchange these opinions. So it's like a a a work in progress, I will say. And, yes, I think sometimes it's isn't easy, but I try to when sometimes, sometimes because it's inevitable working with people, this will always happen. There is someone who who couldn't find something he was looking for or mention something. I try to remind as well some other good feedback that we have received and that really makes our our work valuable and done.

So so, yeah, that's what I try to to go back to and and just keep focusing on on really building and creating with people who understand all these things and want wants to be here because they agree on the mission. And I try to leave behind when people say, oh, this was x y z, and it should be x y z in a world that is so diverse and so the so diff like, with so many differences. Right?

Yeah. So you're talking about people who share similarities. What are the things that I think you all have thought a lot about, and I'm really curious to get your suggestions, Manuela, is vetting. Like, how do you select for a community like this such that let me let me give you an example of what I think doesn't work in today's economy. Hey. You're interested in impact. I'm interested in impact. We should be in a community together.

Not a very deep conversation. That may be true, but is that gonna lead to the best possible outcome? Another example of that is I see sometimes people will hire very quickly, and they haven't done a very deep dive in who they're hiring in their organization. And then it comes out later that we didn't mean the same thing when we talked about community or impact. We didn't define our terms. We didn't explore it, and now we're in a community together, or now I just hired somebody to work for my initiative. And I realized we're not actually that values aligned or we're not clear about the mission. And now it's very painful because we've already accepted them into the community. You all have thought about vetting and that process of how you explore is somebody a good fit for your community.

Tell us what have you learned about that, and what does that vetting process look like?

Sure. I think here, I think we all kind of hold the space for not having, let's say, the same idea on things, but that we want to get to that place. Right? So so we might sometimes not think exactly the same about a thing, but we are open to just kind of see, okay, how this could be better. And we are just trying to understand each other's perspective to make the best out of this concept. Let's just say concept because it it could be investing. It can be a profit versus impact and all these these regeneration, let's say, rejected investments is is a huge one here. For us to to bet the people, it's important. I think what makes also our community solid is that we are here with builders already.

So they're actively or building some something that solid, like, whether if they are serial entrepreneurs or or is there a pre seed with that's something that we like to to check their background and what they have done, that they have a a genuinely interest in this space. It doesn't really matter how old they are in the space, but that they have a genuinely interest in learning more and and exploring this this deeper. On on the investors also also active learning and investing in impact companies. So I think while we are with with builders, it makes us also there is a different mindset that that it's been it's been seen there. We had some professionals as well, but now it's more corporates because we see also that the match between corporates and maybe potential startups are are very, very powerful. So let's say they are looking to decarbonize some of the of the process that they have done so they can exchange some possible solutions and partner with with the network and all that. So, yeah, I think always having, like, living a space for for each others and, like, we we may might not be here to have all the solutions or concepts ready, but they are always evolving and it's always we're always looking to do best what's what's better in our hands and look for those solutions. So

In a moment, I wanna come back and talk to you. I know right now in the social entrepreneur and impact investing networks that I'm in, people are talking a lot about capital. Capital's getting harder to access. The economy's getting a little bit unpredictable. Can we say that? And getting the resources we need as impact focused people is getting a little more challenging for at least some folks. Right? And you all have been thinking about that, and I wanna get your suggestions on how you're navigating that. I also wanna put a pin in that very interesting thing about having corporates in the network. Right? It's very common or at least more common at founders and investors and trying to match make carefully there.

But how corporates fit into that, I wanna get into more of all that in just a second. I just wanna take a quick break, hear a word from our sponsor, and that's what we're gonna come back to. Are you passionate about making a difference but feeling stuck on how to take your mission driven business to the next level? You don't need a lengthy coaching program. You need targeted advice from someone who understands the unique challenges that social entrepreneurs face. With my strategy session package, we'll focus on your most pressing decisions, whether it's clarifying your value proposition, optimizing your marketing strategy, launching a new product or service, or adjusting your pricing to align with your mission. These sessions are perfect when you know the direction you wanna go, but you need someone with the experience to help you get there. If you're ready to unlock your potential and amplify your impact, book your strategy session now. The link is in the show notes.

So welcome back, everybody. I am honored to be here with Manuel Guzman, and we are talking about building a network of investors and founders for positive impact. And before the break, I was hinting at we're gonna talk about capital because this is getting harder. Right? Overall, at least in The US, I know we're down. In 2024, last year, we were down over a third less capital compared to 2023, and that's a trend I'm hearing across the world. In general, it's getting harder to access capital, including but not limited to the impact space. What are you all doing to help capital flow in the impact space, and how does being part of this network help that happen?

Sure. So I think here it comes it comes down to something very, very, very important as well that because we are in the impact investing space. Like, we don't have of course, some members might have different hats, and they might have nonprofit activities as well. But we focus in private. So here, builders of companies, they're looking to improve the environment, leave a better social print as well, but they're building profitable companies. So I think, yes, the world is very unpredictable right now. But if we try to to to focus on those funders who are building solutions that are cheaper, more environmentally responsible, and socially responsible as well, then we have a win win here, and those are the ones who will be supported in the future. But I will be lying if I would say that that the profitable part here, it doesn't, yeah, it doesn't have as much importance as the other two.

Here, they have to have the same importance. And that's gonna and and this is what I guess impact founders need to be building as well. We have to to be realistic that we live in in a capitalistic world. I mean, there is so many ways we can try to to implement, like, systems design and systemic, thinking about this. But that's part of my also my overview. Like, if I really wanna change this, it will be how it is built from from from the core. So so a lot of members know that they have to build profitable companies because otherwise, they won't find investors Yeah. And capital.

Yeah.

I'm thinking of one of the hats I wear, Manuela, is I am honored to be the cofounder of something here in New Mexico called NM Climate. If you can hear in the name, it's about climate tech and sustainability startups. And because we're put our name out as NM Climate and people see that, you know, I talk about it on this podcast and other things, that VCs who are interested, people who have impact investors and venture capitalists who have a climate or clean tech or sustainability focus, they reach out to us. Right? Us, me, and my cofounders, and they say, hey. We wanna, like, let you know kinda what our impact thesis is, what we're looking for. And they're they're actually sometimes it's hard for social entrepreneurs and climate tech founders to realize that they're actually people who have money that are struggling to find the right fit to deploy it. Right? And I'm teasing you shaking your head. This is an audio only podcast.

Right? So I think you know what I mean. Right? That that sometimes people feel like, well, you know, they must be getting bombarded with they have they have resources. They must be getting bombarded with us. And sometimes there is a lot of inflow in terms of people who are interested, but finding the right fit isn't always easy when you're an impact investor or you're a climate focused VC or you have an impact thesis for your fund. Right? And just to help entrepreneurs and somebody who's maybe not swimming in those environments who've never had a VC saying, you know, I'm actually kinda struggling a little bit to find the right fit of companies to invest in that are further enough along in what they're building, and they are a good fit for our impact thesis. And that's actually something that they sometimes burn a lot of calories trying to find that fit. And if they're proactively a part of the networks that are attracting those kinds of entrepreneurs, in your case, TTi, in our case, NM Climate, there's actually a tremendous amount of value because we can reduce the amount of calories they need to burn to find people that are a good investment. I see you shaking your head, but I thought you might have some examples just to try to help social entrepreneurs understand why a network like this might be attractive on the fund on the investor side of things.

Is that at all kind of in the realm of experience that you all have had why a funder would wanna join something like TTI?

Yes. Definitely. I think they're they're getting they're becoming very aware of that, this, like, network building is so important because we really make all their work easily and faster, which was what I was saying at the beginning. We had had some family offices from a TTI parties who are it say this literally, you're doing my job easily because I'm finding here the companies I want to invest in in a in an easier way or the connections to find them. And so I think it is important, and I wouldn't say only for the founders, but for the aligned impact investors, this is very important as well. And something that I also wanted to share with you is as we see as time goes by, new generations also also get to to manage their own funds or they they're also new asset managers, but with a new mindset. And and this is gonna happen even more with the years. There is even more room and opportunity for for for those new investors into top to tap into different opportunities or wanting to do something different with everything they have a heritage from from their family offices, their fa their their businesses, and and all that.

So I think the places like these are are super important, and and they really are about about efficiency and and helping them find these things fasters. There are there are plenty of of communities, so I think exploring them in different ways, is the best way. And also finding the the one that it makes like, it's good for your current goals. And when I say do the DTI member interviews, I started for, yes, tell me a little bit more about your background, what are you building on right now, and what are your current impact goals this this year. So so I do also know how TTI could help you achieve them faster and easily, whether they're looking for talent or for capital or to deploy money. And and I I hold the space. Right? And that's what I would like to hear, and I facilitate connections. So if I've I met a founder in the seaweed space, then I know which investors have a blue economy in their investment test is they say, hey, guys.

You should take a coffee chat online and take it from there. That's where it let it led to to multiple opportunities as well. And one door opened another once, and and that's how they they start, like, building relationships in in those lines as well.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing that. So let's talk about some of the formal programs. So TTI, some of it is the opportunity to share and,

you know,

drop it into a WhatsApp where there are aligned people, and that gets the word out. Some of it is this kind of more higher touch matchmaking that you do. Hey. You're an entrepreneur, and this is the impact focus. And here is an impact investor or a family fund that has an impact thesis, and you're doing that kind of matchmaking. So if I'm listening to this, I'm like, okay. That makes sense. But earlier on, you referenced there's some formal programming that TTI does.

Tell us about some of the programs you offer.

Yes. So when a member get access to the network, they have a member directory that they kinda screen for connections. So I always tell them I have also check ins and coffee chats with them when they tell me I'm gonna I'm working on this project. So I also say, okay. You can screen at the member directory, which is on our table. And let me know with who you would like a warm introduction, and I will also facilitate that. If someone comes to mind, I will also do it. And then we touch base with the investor if this is relevant to them or not.

And I proceed with the with that. So I think one on one intros is is something important. And then and then what we do is also to curate the events. So we have the platform on WhatsApp is always active. That's also happening where they share opportunities there, exchange knowledge, and we have the global chat. And we have then the different cities, different events. So we have TTI London, TTI Lisbon, TTI Berlin, TTI Austin. So if you're traveling, you can join that WhatsApp group and connect with TTI members there as well.

And then we organize the programming through the year, which includes online events and in person events. So for the online events, we have investor panels, startup pitches. Let's say, for example, we hosted one time at tech busy panel yesterday where we get to hear some some insights from investors, and we always have the networking part. For us, it's important to spearhead and facilitate these connections. They are always welcome to introduce themselves and jump and make questions and connect deeper. And we have assorted pitches and we have sec working groups. We have, for example, the food systems is quite strong. We have a sector leader on that front.

He he hosts online roundtables in different, regenerative agriculture, food tech, ag tech. We have also, for example, one panel on mycelium tech happening soon for for food systems. So it's more like a specific, and these are led by by some ambassadors and members too. Then we have the three main events that happen in person. They are our TTI impact investment events during COP Climate Week in WAF. So we do these private gatherings. It's own it's by invitation only. Members have a priority access, so they get to know first.

And then we we always invite, yeah, like, high quality individuals that could add value to the room for networking and connections. So that's more about the official programming. And then we run an ambassador program that are either investors, founders that have been part of the network from some time, and they are really aligned with what we are building and they want to help us. Let's say that the core team, focus more on the top down strategy, but they build from the bottom up. So, for example, Dubai, Sydney, Paris, London, they do DTI impact investment, dinners, roundtables, investor panels, side events, and that's how that's how other new potential members get to to to learn more about what we do, and members get to join those as well.

Nice. So when was DTI founded? Like, where where in your journey are you right now?

DTI was founded in 02/2019.

Two thousand '19. So you're we're recording this in March of twenty five, so you're about six years in. So dream with me, let's say, another three years out. Right? So half of your lifespan go forward. Right? Where do you think TTI what what do you think it looks like three years from now? What's what's changed? What's grown?

I have seen our network, like, as in any startup, we have a sort out a a lot of the operational things that I think they did initial years of building something that's what you focus on. And I think we're ready to to step in into implementing more, like, AI tools to support members and introductions. That's something that I would love to see happening in the next three years and maybe in the next year. So investing in some some other tools that could facilitate and make it even easier for member for members to connect with each other without overcomplicating it because something that we keep also very straight, and that's why we have the community on WhatsApp because we I think at the beginning, we tested the slides and a hybrid and community app, but no. Let's keep it more, like, centralized. And so so I think the first years was all these operational conversations, conversations, and I think right now we sorted out those those questions. And in December, I was playing with with, Chargeuppity and just I made it like, okay. Let help me envision what TTI it's gonna be in, like, the next fifty years.

So from now until 02/2017. And I think it was a very, very full exercise because I got to see that, yeah, we were building their foundation. Now we're ready for expanding the growth and keep bringing on more high quality members globally that are aligned with what we are building. Facilitation facilitating connections between them, it ultimately, as the less I say, grows the whole impact space globally. That's what we wanna see it happening. And so I don't think I I feel very proud about our work, and I don't think we're gonna stop doing this. I also see myself, as I mentioned here, from the long term, I'm building this. Until I can see TTI as as the the place to go globally for impact investors and founders to to find support and and to grow their businesses.

Yeah. That's that's how I envision it. And so very excited for what for what's ahead. And, of course, they're like so it's always challenging times, but I think that's what gives me also inspiration and hope every day to keep doing what we do.

So, you know, we don't know each other that well. We have a Medellin connection. My brother and sister-in-law live in Medellin, so shout out to Craig and Kata. Love Medellin like I already said. But I you know, we know each other from LinkedIn a little bit and having some common connections in person. And when I think of earlier iterations, you've always been impact focused and doing great work. And this is, like, not the first iteration. Like, You're you're showing up at a different way than you would have five years ago.

Is that fair to say? You've you've learned. You've grown. Your leadership has changed. Is that fair to say?

Yes. That it's very, very fair to say.

Yeah. Tell us what what have you learned about leading such a accomplished group of folks. And from where you were five years ago or eight years ago, like, how did you level up your ability to be a leader in such a esteemed organization? And what did it ask from you to go from a impact focus that was with a great group, but not as accomplished overall to, like, really being in the role with folks who are both fun you know, on the impact investing side and the social entrepreneur impact founder side. These are world class folks. Right? And and that asks you to change, and I can see it. I can hear it. You're you're showing up different. And we have listeners who want to be in those kind of rooms and be leaders in the way that you're being.

What would you say to somebody who's five year ago or three year ago where you were about how to level up and be in those rooms and provide value to people where you used to maybe feel a little intimidated or less certain how to be helpful. Does that make sense what I'm asking?

Totally. I think it I think it makes sense, and I think it comes down to to maybe not normal because I also feel like I have experienced more like exponential growth. And I think here, I want to be very honest with you, and I will give the shout out to to the the mentors that I have had in in my life, which I think had been very directed to to the people who have been my previous bosses in different organizations, like like my previous job, Tarek. I think he always helped me to to, like it it looked to be tough a little bit, but it was more he trusted he he saw the potential in me in myself, and he helped me to trust more in myself and to step more as a leader and all empowering me, pushing me to get out of my comfort zone. I think that was very, very, very important in my journey as well as what I am feeling that I that I receive right now from from the founder of Doctor Impact. So I think for those, folks that are looking to also maybe trust a little bit more in themselves, grow professionally, and and also looking for maybe exponential growth is we always if we're doing things from from the core of our purpose, I think we will find aligned mentors too that we can find inspiration, keep up with always learning, and and learn learn from them as well. I think it's opportunities of learning and and stepping more, like, yeah, getting out of the comfort zone. I think the experience I had of living abroad was also very, very, very valuable for me.

I haven't done a master's, for example, and I some at this point, I don't know if I I would do one. I feel more, like, connected to alternative education systems and all that. But I think there are other ways to learn and and that helped me me to I was gaining some international experience here, but being at the other side of the world by myself, it was more it helped me grow in so many different ways, submitting so many people from so many different backgrounds and also keeping my my conviction on what I was always wanting to focus my career on was very important to meet like minded people. And then I was I realized I was having conversation that seems so normal for me, but usually for other people will be, like, so so out of, like, what is normal, let's say, but because I have pursued this conviction of sustainability in businesses and and different ways of of creating systems. So so I think that's my my advice. So trust to to to really value the mentors we get in our lives. The coaches and we find them in many different ways. It can also be random person we met in the streets that that say something helpful to ourselves.

Trust ourselves and our visions and our purpose a little bit more, stepping in with more authenticity and and trusting in our inner leadership as well.

Thanks, Pamela. I really appreciate your authentic answer. That's a hard question, but I think it's a really important one. So our listeners are social entrepreneurs. That's why somebody listens. They're trying to build something, and they're trying to help more people. That's a fundamental, like, reason. And you get to be in community of folks who are really good at doing that.

So if we have somebody who's a little bit early on in the social entrepreneur journey, they're they they have an impact idea, but it's still pretty early. What would you recommend to a social entrepreneur who knows the dent they wanna make, but they're not yet having it at the scale they want? What are the top suggestions you have for somebody in that situation?

Well, I think, like, being a a founder, like, many things in life is about pivoting. So we we of course, it's not gonna be always a straightforward journey where we we know it's that's what we want and we just go there and it goes straight. So to to enjoy that part of pivoting and understand that any challenge or any situation that doesn't go as as planned, it's just giving you the information you need to really build more on that front. So I think social impact is is such a beautiful a such a beautiful, like, approach of building enterprises and companies. And we can keep the core goal at the at the in the middle of what we want to build, but also understanding the dynamics on how the world is currently how it works and how we could make it sustainable, and how this can really, really grow in the long term or not always look for growth, but to keep up with with what will be normal for the the short term or long term vision that we have. So

Thanks for that, Manuela. I can hang out with you all day, Manuela. You're doing such great work, but you're really busy. Our listeners are. So as we start to wind down, if there was something you were gonna hope we were gonna get to about the awesome work that TTI is doing, and we haven't talked about that yet, and you wanna highlight it, or there's something you wanna leave our social entrepreneur listeners with as we start to say goodbye. What would that be?

Well, I think I would love to close with with just letting them know that we are building these communities for them. It's really for for for the users and for for all the founders and investors. We want to see them succeeding at the core of of what we build and in this type of network. So don't hesitate if you are thinking about joining a network, connecting with people, or being more a little bit more yes. I wouldn't say I didn't I don't wanna say aggressive, but in that networking space, like, just just go for it and and just test all these platforms that we are building because it's really for for all of us. So, yeah, I think I will leave it with with that invitation. And, of course, talk to your impact. You guys are more than welcome to check online.

Our work, our impact investment events in different cities on and and, yeah, check the the work that we do there.

And, again, this in the show notes, the first link will be to top tier and type, top tier impact sites. So you can go find out the information on the website. And well, if somebody wants to talk to you, get a hold of you, what would be the best way for them to do that?

They can reach out over LinkedIn. I try to reply all of the messages that I get so we could connect to there.

Great. We'll put that in the show notes as well.

And I am a network builder, so I love to meet new people and more if they are impact investors or impact founders or corporates in this space, so don't hesitate to reach out. Or anyone looking for to some advice in their impact journey, I'm more happy to to provide whatever I can to support.

Great. We'll put the link to Manuela on LinkedIn. Thank you so much for your time, your care, and the awesome work you do, Manuela.

You're welcome, Paul. Thank you so much for thinking of me. It was a pleasure to have this conversation with you as well. And, yes, I will see you online, and we hopefully met again soon.

In August. I'm coming in August. So I will see you in August. Hopefully, you'll be around because I know we're gonna be some meet ups.

We can do an impact lunch or impact coffee chat.

That would be great. I look forward to that. So, listeners, let's do what we do. Go tell your friends. Check out top tier impact site or connect with Manuela on LinkedIn, and let's spread the word to this important resource. I wanna remind people we love listener suggested topics and guests. So if you have an idea for a show, just go to the Aware Preneurs website and at the top right hand side in a big yellow button, it says contact page. On that contact page, we have three simple guidelines.

We try to be transparent about who we have on the show, and those are the criteria that we use to vet. Lastly, I wanna just say thank you so much for the important work you do. Please take really good care in these intense times, and thank you for all the positive impact that you're having in our work. World.