Ep. 60 Building Purpose-Driven Businesses with Victor Koo of Tianren Culture
7/8/25
Are you building a business that aligns with your values? How do you create positive social change while staying grounded in your purpose? In this episode of the DO GOOD X podcast, hosts Kimberly Daniel and Stephen Lewis revisit a robust conversation with Victor Koo, co-founder of Tianren Culture.
Victor shares how cultivating inner wisdom can be a superpower for entrepreneurs, particularly when navigating today’s fast-paced technological world. Together, they explore what it means to design a purpose-driven business with clear intention—one that considers both intended and unintended consequences. Whether you're an early-stage founder or a seasoned social entrepreneur, this episode offers rich insight into aligning your mission, values, and impact. Don’t forget to visitDO GOOD X for resources to help grow your impact-driven community.
In This Episode
- (00:00) Intro: A Focus on building a purpose-driven business
- (02:21) Shifting from a results-driven mindset to a purpose-driven business
- (03:26) Tuning into one’s inner voice, looking at social impact and your intentions
- (07:38) Businesses should embed positive social change into their DNA from inception
- (10:13) Victor links global crises, mental health, climate change, and pandemics to a lack of human consciousness
- (14:00) Entrepreneurs are urged to prioritize clear purpose, intentions, and first principles
- (16:53) Stephen shares his dreams for social entrepreneurs in the future
Key Takeaways
- Positive social change must be embedded in a business’s founding intention. Entrepreneurs should prioritize a clear purpose and intentional design when launching ventures, especially in sectors such as health, education, and food. Rather than only responding to problems after they arise, startups should focus on preventative solutions and responsible innovation that reduce harm and generate long-term benefits for communities.
- Social entrepreneurs are encouraged to assess both the intentional and unintended consequences of their work. True social innovation requires entrepreneurs to shift away from a purely results-oriented mindset and instead lead with values that support community wellbeing and collective healing.
- Victor Koo advocates for tapping into one’s inner voice, intuition, and contemplative practices as essential tools in the entrepreneurial journey. He warns against the over-reliance on external validation and analysis, arguing that inner awareness and mindfulness fuel creativity, resilience, and better decision-making. In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, striking a balance between action and reflection is crucial for creating a sustainable impact.
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 in developing and leading communications efforts, she is committed to creating effective processes and authentic, “sticky” community-centered brands. 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 with a focus 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.
Social Media to Connect:
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 strategies and leadership development specialist focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work purposefully. Stephen co-authored "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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