Josh Tetrick – a social entrepreneur, writer, and speaker – has led a United Nations business initiative in Kenya, worked for both former President Clinton and the president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and taught street children as a Fulbright Scholar in Nigeria and South Africa. Josh provides capital to creative entrepreneurs as the founder and CEO of 33needs, an investment platform that connects social entrepreneurs to micro-investors. Josh is a graduate of Cornell University and University of Michigan Law School.
What are you working on right now?
Working to popularize the idea of people-powered investing through 33needs.com.
3 trends that excite you?
The intersection of the social web and social good is going to revolutionize how we create and scale impact. From that, we’re going to see a whole new world of people-powered investing. It’s going to be a lot of fun — and pretty good for the world.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Colin Powell said, “innovation without execution is just a hallucination.” As much as possible, I try to live that mindset. It’s all about action, moving forward, failing on the fly — and then quickly correcting.
What inspires you?
Supporting the best solutions to the biggest problems. My job is to find those most able to create change and make it easier for them to do what they’re already doing. Besides that, my dog (Jake) is a close second.
What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?
Going to law school. I would have been better served by working and failing and growing outside the traditional system. I learned not to always follow the easy path.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I wish everyone would copy what we’re doing at 33needs: Create a platform to enable everyone to invest in social entrepreneurs.
What is one book and one tool that helps you bring ideas to life?
A book called, “Whatever You Think Think, The Opposite.” It’s all about challenging the status quo, forcing yourself to open up to new ways of thinking.
Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?
Evelyn Puesta, a nun in rural Ethiopia, who literally invented the treatment to combat a rare and horrific foot disease. She’s one of my heroes.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? Why?
As associate at a law firm. Sucks the creativity right out of ya!
What do you enjoy doing the most?
Easy. Give me a my dog, a couple friends, and a park. That’s it :).
Connect:
Josh Tetrick on LinkedIn
33needs on Twitter: http://twitter.com/33needs
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.