Ep. 30 Building a Socially Conscious Business: Victor Koo on the Value of Contemplative Practices
11/5/24
Welcome to the DO GOOD X podcast, where hosts Kimberly Daniel and Stephen Lewis dive deep into conversations with changemakers. In this episode, they are joined by Victor Koo, Co-Founder of Tianren Culture, to explore how businesses can drive positive social change by integrating technology, media, and finance. Victor shares his journey of co-founding Tianren Culture and discusses leveraging tech for social impact. He delves into the philosophy of "One Wisdom, One Health," which connects mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Stay tuned for insightful discussions on entrepreneurship, meditation, and the future of socially-minded business.
In This Episode
- [1:27] Victor explains how businesses can contribute to positive social change via tech, media and finance
- [7:19] How Victor co-founded Tianren Culture with no experience in this space
- [11:39] Victor comments on leveraging technology to enhance social impact and one wisdom, one health
- [21:12] Discussion of listening to our inner voice regarding business
- [26:40] Victor shares resources beneficial for entrepreneurs regarding meditation, and he describes how the practice benefits him
- [33:41] Key elements that impact communities when starting a business
- [36:32] Discussion about resources to assist social entrepreneurs in building their business
- [38:05] Victor answers various questions in the “Off the Cuff’ segment regarding topics such as the greatest lessons learned, Victor’s impact on the world, and the technology he values
- [40:51] Stephen shares what he hopes to see in the field of entrepreneurship in the future
Key Takeaways
- From the start, positive social change should be embedded in a company's founding intentions and DNA. Designing with a mission that benefits the broader community is essential, exemplifying the platform's mission to share joy, wisdom, and heart. Additionally, having a socially-minded core team is crucial, ensuring responsibility not just to investors but also to all stakeholders, considering the potential externalities and consequences in all aspects of the business, including workplace culture and global supply chains.
- While large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT pull information from across the entire web, including a mix of valuable and toxic content, specialized areas like wisdom and best practices require a different approach. A Small Language Model (SLM), focused on high-quality, curated information, delivers reliable, safe, and screened content more effectively. In these cases, less is more, and it's essential to filter out harmful material to ensure that only the best sources are utilized, emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity.
- One Health focuses on diet and food system change, addressing physical health. What we put inside our body is shown to be the leading root cause of the key acute and chronic diseases and the major leading causes of death. One Wisdom addresses the mind, heart, and spirit, whereas One Health addresses the body, which is also interconnected with the inner aspects of self.
About The Hosts
Kimberly R. Daniel
Kimberly R. Daniel catalyzes entrepreneurs and organizations to do good. She is co-founder and project director of DO GOOD X, a community that provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive Change.
Kimberly also helps purpose-driven organizations clarify and design compelling brand and communication strategies. With over 15 years of experience developing and leading communications efforts, she is committed to producing effective processes and creating authentic, “sticky” brands that are community-centered.
In addition, Kimberly has nearly ten years of experience as a certified life coach. She has facilitated workshops, spoken to communities, and written about innovation and entrepreneurship centered on social impact. She co-authored A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
She is deeply passionate about purpose, meaning, and the common good in any aspect of her work.
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Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) and the creator and co-founder of DO GOOD X. This community provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change. He is an organizational change strategist, and a leadership development specialist focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work purposefully. Stephen co-authors Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose (2020) and A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
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