Brand on Purpose Aaron Kwittken

Aaron is joined by John Samuel, Co-Founder and CEO of Ablr, a digital accessibility and inclusion company supporting disabled individuals and the organizations that employ them. John walks Aaron through his own experience losing his vision from a degenerative eye condition and learning how few digital resources existed for people with vision impairments and other disabilities. He started Ablr with the goals of furthering digital accessibility, improving disability inclusion for companies and organizations, and creating employment pathways for individuals with disabilities. They discuss systematic barriers as well as technologies that have created change and improvement for the disabled community throughout the past few years, including rideshare apps and autonomous vehicles. Hear how proximity builds empathy by tuning into the episode and visit www.albr360.com to learn more.

Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Haley Sacotte, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, Anna Lamm and Mathew Passy
 
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In this episode, Aaron is joined by Amy Peterson, CEO and Founder of Rebel Nell, to talk about what inspired her to launch the Detroit-based jewelry company focused on providing employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women with barriers to employment. Amy takes us through her career path, which began as a lawyer for the Detroit Tigers, as well as how getting the chance to meet with women staying at a local homeless shelter shifted her perspective on life. She also explains Rebel Nell’s process of creating art and jewelry out of things like graffiti, old sports stadiums and more. Tune in to hear about a truly inspiring company and learn more at www.rebelnell.com.

Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Haley Sacotte, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, Anna Lamm and Mathew Passy
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Aaron sits down with CEO of CentralReach Chris Sullens to discuss CentralReach’s mission of leveraging technology to support individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chris explains that 85% of adults with autism are unemployed and CentralReach is working to fix this through innovative digital assistive software. Aaron and Chris discuss how companies can develop more inclusive processes throughout their organization, why it’s difficult to get more companies to adopt the technology available to better serve this community, and how more resources should be put in place so that families and caretakers know what options are out there. Tune in for the full conversation and head to www.centralreach.com to learn more.

Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Haley Sacotte, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, Anna Lamm and Mathew Passy
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In this episode, Aaron is joined by Erin Pash, Co-Founder and CEO of Ellie Mental Health, to talk about the importance of mental health services and how the company strives to make each session as comfortable and fun as possible. The mental health industry is full of barriers, and Ellie Mental Health has made it their goal to fill the gap and find innovative ways to break down these barriers for the communities they serve. The two also discuss Erin’s experience as a therapist in both clinical settings and how she helps people in her personal life. Tune in and visit www.elliementalhealth.com to learn more.

Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Haley Sacotte, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, Anna Lamm and Mathew Passy
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This week on Brand on Purpose, Aaron talks to Nadya Okamoto, the CEO and Co-Founder of lifestyle period brand August. Nadya shares what made her passionate about the period care space and what she has learned from building a brand that is dedicated to making high-quality period care more accessible. Tune in to hear Nadya and Aaron discuss marketing in the attention economy, why social media can be a double-edged sword, and how purpose-led brands can create change throughout an entire industry. Head to www.itsaugust.co to learn more about August.

Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Haley Sacotte, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, Anna Lamm and Mathew Passy
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We all hear how important it is to start saving young and consistently put money away for later in our lives. In this episode, Noah Kerner, CEO of Acorns, joins the show to talk about the company’s mission to look after the financial interests of the up-and-coming, beginning with the step of micro-investing. Noah and Aaron talk about the idea behind a feature of the app that rounds up every purchase you make to the nearest dollar and adds the difference to your portfolio, and why it makes investing more accessible. The two also discuss Noah’s background as underground DJ in New York’s East Village, even performing with Jennifer Lopez, and why his experiences led him to become a serial entrepreneur whose purpose is to “level the playing field.” Tune in to hear more about Noah and sign up to start investing at www.acorns.com.

Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Haley Sacotte, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, Anna Lamm and Mathew Passy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices