Speed Networking with Change Makers Recap

If you want to learn about the great impact that the companies based here locally in the Triangle area are making then you should attend the NC State Business Sustainability Collaborative (BSC) Speed Networking event. The vision at BSC is to use businesses as a force for good. One of the ways they do so is by connecting students with real world companies who are making a difference. 

On April 12, the collaborative hosted its Spring event at Raleigh Founded on the Centennial Campus. The students had a chance to meet and learn from impact makers from the Triangle community who were invited to participate as featured networkers. The event saw roughly 40 students from both undergraduate and graduate levels attend. Sarah Henderson, the lead organizer recounted the event, “I enjoy being part of the team that creates opportunities for students to get engaged with local business leaders. Seeing students’ faces light up as they talk to and learn from the featured networkers makes me excited for the connections that are being made. I am fortunate to be able to help facilitate these connections as NC State students dig into becoming business leaders that use business as a force for good.”

The featured networkers who participated included: 

• Aaron Thaddeus, the Founder at Two Dots Studio. They design inclusive content and experiences to transform brands at scale. 
• Audrey Henderson, Director of Sustainability at Murphy’s Naturals whose motto is to “Doing Others Good”. Their motto is reflected in their outdoor products that are made with all natural ingredients and their B-Corp status. 
• Clark Rinehart, the Interim Executive Director at Innovate Raleigh amongst many other things. Clark is interested in the intersection of community engagement, community development, and economic development, in the urban core.
• Greg Norton, President at R+M Agency. The agency creates experiences that get people talking about brands that positively impact health, well-being, and social responsibility. 
• Jessica Hymes, Human Resources Business Partner at BIOMILQ. With Biomilq, families achieve the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding while alleviating the climate impacts of bovine-based infant formula. 
• John D’Alessandro, Sr. Software Engineer at ImpactKarma. The company’s platform helps users understand the impact of their shopping choices by providing relevant data on companies’ social and environmental practices. 
• JP Maloney, Business Development Manager at Raleigh Founded. RF empowers people to create businesses that are purpose driven and leave the world better than they found it. 
• Kurt Merriweather, Head of Product and Partnerships at The Diversity Movement. Their goal is to be a results-oriented, data-driven strategic partner for organization-wide DEI initiatives. 

Clark Rinehart has participated in the event as a featured networker twice now. He recounted its success, “I look forward to the Speed Networking event every year. The students and community members that attend always have great questions and are eager to engage in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. I’ve made a ton of amazing connections, both personally and professionally, over the years.”

The Business Sustainability Collaborative team plans to continue engaging the students who are interested in sustainability through similar events during the upcoming school year. Networking and meeting new people can be difficult but like everything else, practice makes perfect. Here is an article that you can use to help prepare yourself before the next BSC student engagement event. We hope to see you there!