jessica jackley

Episode Summary:
In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Jessica shares how she found that the entrepreneur's path was one for her and why she believes disruptive ideas can change the world.

6 Key Takeaways:

1. Jessica talks about how Kiva got its start and grew into the billion dollar company it is today. 
2.  She gives advice to other people who have an interest in entrepreneurship.
3. Jessica tells listeners what role her faith played in her path.
4. She talks about her other endeavors outside of Kiva, including Profounder, Alltruists, and her newest venture, Untapped. 
5. She shares how she is able to balance work and family and how her entrepreneurial path allows for her to be there for her family.
6. Jessica tells us what she’s learned from having her platform.

About Jessica Jackley:
Jessica Jackley is an entrepreneur, investor and speaker. Over the last decade she has focused on financial inclusion, the sharing economy and social justice. She is also the founder of Alltruists and a co-founder of Untapped Capital. Jessica also co-founded Kiva, the first crowdfunding site for global microenterprises. Since 2005, Kiva has facilitated over $1.5B in loans worldwide. Jessica has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a certificate in Global Leadership and Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, a BA in Philosophy and Political Science from Bucknell University, and honorary PhDs from Centenary College and Quinnipiac University. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Reza, and their four children.

Quotes from the Episode:

• “You can work entrepreneurially in a large organization.”
• “To see what people do with so little is so empowering.”
• “There’s a lot of noise out there, I want to say things I need to say and that matter.”

 Resources from the Episode:

• Jessica’s Book Clay Water Brick: https://www.amazon.com/Clay-Water-Brick-Inspiration-Entrepreneurs/dp/0679643761/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423601740&sr=1-1&keywords=clay+water+brick
• Jessica’s Website: http://www.jessicajackley.com/
• Jessica’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessicajackley
• Alltruists: https://alltruists.com/
• Kiva: https://www.kiva.org/lp/causes
• Untapped: https://www.untapped.vc/

Real Good Company is a show where we talk with real people building good companies that are making a real impact. Today’s guest has a prolific resume in the entrepreneurial and social enterprise worlds. Jessica Jackley is the founder and CEO of Alltruists, a monthly subscription box that provides at-home, kid-friendly volunteer and giving projects for the whole family. Prior to launching Kiva, in October of 2005, she co-founded Kiva, the world's first crowdfunding site for microenterprises that provides entrepreneurs with affordable capital to start or expand their business. In its first year, Kiva facilitated $500,000 in loans. Today, Kiva has facilitated more than $1.5 billion in loans worldwide. 

Jessica is also a cofounder and General Partner at Untapped Capital, an impact capital firm that invests in startups that are making a positive impact in the world. To top it all off, she harnessed her entrepreneur acumen into her own book. In “Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least,” Jessica shares lessons learned from successful businesses in the world’s poorest countries and how to tap into the innate entrepreneurial spirit we all have for social change.

A natural entrepreneur, Jessica grew up in the business of doing service. After founding Kiva, Jessica went back to business school at Stanford and was able to apply the lessons from class on how to operate a nonprofit like a business. She shares her journey of debunking and demystifying the myth of entrepreneurs and for-profit businesses versus nonprofits. 

After going through a divorce from her husband and the co-founder of Kiva, Jessica stepped down from the organization and set out to create something new. Through a process of resetting, she learned her identity was not wrapped up in one company or in what she does. After a three-year sabbatical, she spent a year writing case studies about female entrepreneurs. She later remarried and today the happy couple has four children.

On today’s podcast, Jessica discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and the art of combining problem solving and solution-finding with the life-giving and redemptive purpose of giving back. She shares how her journey as a mother inspired the idea behind Alltruists and creating kid-friendly volunteer projects at home. She also offers advice on using both your heart and head and how to do good in the world while utilizing business skills and entrepreneurial thinking.

You can find out more about Jessica Jackley and everything mentioned on today’s show here. Also, you can find Jessica on Twitter @jessicajackley. Get to know our hosts on Instagram @CaitlinCrosby and @AllieBridge. Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so that we can stay in Real Good Company!