Impact, Sustainability & the Living Planet
Kamil: As someone who mentors entrepreneurs at the University of Leicester, what key mindset shifts do you encourage in young leaders who want to combine purpose with profitable ventures? Chris: The biggest mindset shift I encourage is this: purpose and profit are not opposites; they are multipliers. Too many young entrepreneurs think they must choose between doing good or building a successful business. In reality, the most powerful companies of the future will be those that solve meaningful problems. I always tell students to think beyond products and focus on systems change. Ask yourself: what problem exists in the world that shouldn’t exist anymore? When purpose becomes the foundation of a venture, profit becomes the fuel that allows that purpose to scale. The other mindset shift is courage. Many of the world’s biggest problems exist because people accept the status quo. Entrepreneurship, especially purpose-driven entrepreneurship, requires the willingness to challenge systems and imagine better ones. Kamil: Diversity and inclusion seem foundational to your foundation’s work. How has your own multicultural heritage influenced the way you lead and engage diverse communities in environmental stewardship?
CHRIS DESAI Award-Winning CEO at UOCEAN ® 2050 Founder of The Vayyu Foundation ® Founder at Vayyu ® Global Keynote Speaker International Thought Leader | Philanthropist Conservationist | Entrepreneur BBCAwardWinner | 40 Under 40 UK 40 Under 40 Globally | Top100InfluentialVoices
www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdesai/ www.uocean.org www.instagram.com/uoceanproject
DAVOS CLUB 81
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