How to have an impact with a social enterprise? To find out we have interviewed Maxime Ducker, a trailblazer on a mission to change our shopping habits.
- From marketing to social entrepreneurship
- OurGoodBrands’s story
- Challenges to social entrepreneurship
- How social entrepreneurship is different from traditional entrepreneurship
Who is Maxime Ducker?
Maxime is originally from Spain but now lives in Australia. She is the founder and chief editor of OurGoodBrands.com, an eco-hub of social impact resources for worldwide consumers and brands to make better decisions. Like many entrepreneurs, Maxime wears many hats. She also runs an impact agency, fourppineapples.com supporting social and eco enterprises with their marketing.
What is the story behind Our Good Brands?
OurGoodBrands.com is an eco-entertainment hub for consumers and brands to make better decisions. Here you will find content, tips, stories that are positive and empowering. In addition, you can read blogs, guides, download ebooks, listen to some of the favorite podcasters in the sustainable, eco, and social world, and also find out about books to read and documentaries or ted talks to watch! It is basically a hub for social enterprise. At Ourgoodbrands, our goal is to showcase ethical, social and eco-driven companies and great people. We also aim to make sustainability a little bit more fun and entertaining.
How did you become a social entrepreneur?
My goal has always been to raise awareness about social + eco enterprises for both people who want to start a business, and also for consumers who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
As a marketer, my biggest drive was curiosity and the will to learn about the brands that were leading in the space.
This was so that I could serve them with my marketing services instead of corporations serving in the role.
What drives you every day?
I wanted to be part of a movement that designs a new paradigm that's good for all creatures on earth and definitely more protective of the environment. I really want to challenge consumption and help people understand they have the power to change the world.
If all of us stop purchasing from brands that put nasties on cosmetics and destroy the environment to produce and dispose their products, these brands would disappear.
What is the difference between a social entrepreneur and an entrepreneur?
Easily explained, social entrepreneurship consists of making businesses borne of social or environmental problems. Social enterprise involves creating businesses that have an overarching WHY (a mission and a purpose, a reason to exist), with a community of customers (to make sales and be profitable) and a community of service (to give back and serve the purpose). Social entrepreneurs require a business model where the impact is completely woven into their business.
How has your background in marketing prepared you for your current role in social enterprise?
Over the past couple of years, I have supported over 300 ethical brands – social and eco enterprises – to get the word out to the world. I’ve interviewed CEOs and researched thousands of brands in the sustainability niche, therefore I would call myself a sustainability marketing expert. With OurGoodBrands, I understand both ends: the consumers’ expectations, their behaviors, as well as their journey to become more sustainable. On the other hand, I have studied hundreds of social + eco enterprises to understand what works in the space, the different business models and how to reach their ideal customer with the right combination of tactics.
In marketing, I have a 360º or holistic approach which allows me to curate strategies that are exactly right for your brand. For your ethical brands, I can offer content production, UX/UI web design, digital strategy and implementation, including SEO, email marketing, social media, online advertising and PR. Being open-minded and curious about everything, the new and unknown excites me.
I would say: just do it – inches make champions and excuses only exist if you give them a reason.
What are the challenges of launching a media platform?
Starting small and being found by people researching content related to your niche. It is also not easy staying around long enough to become a sustainable business without the investment that any other serious media platform would have access to.
Would you say you have experienced any additional challenges, being a woman?
To be honest, not at all. In the space of social + eco enterprises it is very common to see women, in fact I’d say more than men. It is also a very supportive community to grow in both, personally and professionally, regardless of gender.
How can we get more women to start media platforms/hubs?
The way I started was purely with passion and I played with the advantage that I was a marketer. I had SEO’s knowledge and other digital skills that are essential to growing your online business: social media, blogging. You need some skills in social enterprise to help you sail along.
What would be your advice to other women entrepreneurs who want to start a social enterprise?
I would say: just do it – inches make champions and excuses only exist if you give them a reason.
Second, I advise women entrepreneurs to believe in themselves.
From my observation, there are many women in social enterprise who are making an incredibly positive impact. Do not allow anyone to put you down because of gender or any other reason, really!
How can people interact with you especially regarding social enterprise?
If you are a reader: come and entertain yourself with some good content related to living more sustainably. You can choose to read, learn about documentaries, watch a selection of curated Ted Talks, and listen to the most brilliant podcasters in the sphere of social + eco enterprises and conscious living.
If you are a brand: reach out to feature your brand at OurGoodBrands.com. To access marketing services specialized within your niche, feel free to reach out for a 30-minutes free Eco-Consultation.
For bloggers: you are welcome to join our community and write a content piece for us to share your story or any topic in the social or climate action niche that could empower other like-minded.
To Go Deeper:
- Our Good Brands
- What is a social enterprise?
- How to recognize social enterprise ethical brand?
- Fourppineapples: Impact Marketing Agency
- To learn more about social entrepreneurship vs traditional entrepreneurship
