With his unique business model, Rafik Riad has built a platform to support the growth and sustainability of social enterprises.
Rafik Riad, originally from Egypt, has studied and worked globally on policy design and project implementation in the field of international development. In 2011, Rafik founded SALT, a fair trade social enterprise that worked with communities in Africa and Latin America. Rafik’s appreciation for social enterprise, as a business model that circumvents both the volatility of traditional development frameworks and the shortcomings of conventional corporate models, led him to found Buy Good. Feel Good. in 2014. Today Buy Good. Feel Good. is North America’s largest marketplace dedicated to connecting social enterprises with buyers and consumers.
In This Episode:
- Having impact is an evolving process that is co-created.
- Get to know the people and communities you want to serve with your impact.
- When looking at a social enterprise, ask: how are social and environmental values (like women’s empowerment, zero waste) prioritized?
It was so interesting to have a behind-the-scenes view into a social enterprise supporting other social enterprises to make sales. Founder of Buy Good Feel Good, Rafik Riad describes the social enterprise movement as “a new economy.” We explore what that means globally, and how he focuses on how social justice priorities show up within a business in order to choose the right clients. He has had to make considerable adjustments during the pandemic, as his business model was based primarily on in-person expos to showcase client companies, driving his business to more online visibility. Join us for a peek inside the world of social enterprises.
Resources:
Rafik’s website: buygoodfeelgood.com
To contact Rafik: rafik@buygoodfeelgood.com
Report: The Rise of the Social Entrepreneur
Movie: The True Cost
Ursula Jorch, Host of The Impact Interviews
Ursula Jorch is a business coach, speaker, and podcaster who shows women leaders how to turn their businesses into profitable agents for lasting change, global impact, and a force for good in the world.
