Jun 28, 2023
Are you passionate about the stuff you do to make a
living?
In this episode of The Darin Olien Show, I chat with Alice
Chun about her passion to help those who are in need around the
world, through social entrepreneurship. While her passion to help
others in need and reduce humanity’s carbon footprint didn’t work
out in the non-profit world, it is tremendously successful as a
socially responsible for-profit company. With 1.6 billion people
who live without access to electricity around the world, her
solar-powered lightbulbs are making a difference for people all
around the world.
Alice also shares what ambitions and dreams she has for this
purpose-driven company of hers and how her childhood helped her
become the resilient entrepreneur she is today.
Alice Chun is the cofounder and CEO of Solight Design and the
inventor of the SolarPuff, the world's only self-inflatable,
portable solar light. She's won numerous awards, including the U.S.
Patent Award for Humanity. Her products have been exhibited at MOMA
in New York City. Chun was previously a Professor of Architecture
and Material Technology at Columbia University and a Professor of
Design and Material Culture at Parsons the New School.
What we discuss:
14:09: To what degree are we all inner-connected?
23:30: What is the issue with the big non-profit
organizations?
27:05: How did Hillary Clinton help Alice’s mission?
33:34: What is the symbolic value of Alice’s product?
37:46: What are some of the challenges that Alice faced in her
life?
48:18: What was Alice’s process for building her
product?
57:42: What is Alice’s dream?
59:51: Where can we learn more about Alice?
Key takeaways:
-
The sun is the most powerful source of energy on this Earth - but
the biggest source of light in this Universe is the one within you.
This light within you is the light that will give you the strength
to get through obstacles, to fight for what you believe in, and
make the change you want to see. And no matter how hard it may be
to feel that light within you on some days, you have the comfort of
knowing that the sun always comes back up the next day - the light
will always come back.
-
When you are working towards creating
something that is better than you, greater than you, and more
important than you, it takes a lot of courage. Because of that, a
lot of people wait until they find this courage before they start
putting in the work to bring their ideas to life. However,
that’s the wrong way to do it. See, if you really believe in this
idea you have and are really passionate about it, you will find
that courage to take on this project will come naturally as you get
started. At least, that’s the case for most social
entrepreneurs.
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