165. How Movember Grew a Worldwide Digital Community (+5 Million Moustaches Too!) - Katelynn Whitaker

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Overview

Meet Katelynn. When you've helped to build one of the most iconic, viral campaigns-turned-nonprofit like Movember, you know a thing or two about building digital community. We're talking mobilizing volunteers and crowdfunding campaigns as well as creating innovative marketing strategies to meet millennials / GenZers. Tune in to learn how to be an agent of remarkable experiences from the world's first digital-only nonprofit.

Today’s Guest

Katelynn Whitaker, Marketing Lead, Movember

And they looked around and realized that men weren’t having these vital conversations about their health.
— Katelynn Whitaker, Marketing Lead, Movember

Episode Transcript

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Episode Highlights

  • Katelynn’s story and journey to where she is today (2:20)

  • The history and mission of Movember (4:30)

  • How innovation has really driven Movember’s connection with millennials and Gen Z (12:00)

  • Lessons learned on managing successful crowdfunding campaigns (20:00)

  • Provide your community with toolkits (24:00)

  • Leveraging storytelling with crowdfunding (25:00)

  • A powerful moment of philanthropy in Katelynn’s life (27:00)

  • Katelynn’s One Good Thing: Be an agent of remarkable experiences. (30:00)

Powerful quotes

“So they looked at causes, they they realize that prostate cancer rates are very similar to breast cancer rates. And they had had some friends who suffered from mental health issues and unfortunately passed away from suicide. And they looked around and realized that men weren't having these vital conversations about their health.” -Katelynn

“So our founders in Australia, were really kind of inspired by that movement, and how could we How could they make something that was going to feel similar to that movement and really empower men to speak up for themselves and to have dialogue with each other?” -Katelynn

“Now it doesn't have to be 30 days where you grow a moustache. Men's Health is year round. We’re encouraging them to really own it and think about how they want to fundraise for us.” - Katelynn

“But we have to keep pushing forward. And we have to keep innovating. And if we want to change the face of men's health, that goes all the way down to the programs we find and how we, you know, force global collaboration.” -Katelynn

“We're one of the only global Men's Health charities that we have researchers from all over the world.” -Katelynn

“We're always thinking about what does the next phase look like for the next generation.” -Katelynn

“Having enough flexibility within the brand and the channels that we oversee, to then let our community be able to have those touch points so that they can connect and build their own Movember communities is really the power of Movember.” -Katelynn

“It’s about giving the power of the brand to the community, and giving them enough tools to be an educated fundraiser.” -Katelynn

“It's those stories that really, I love that like generational storytelling and how Movember's really, you know, impacting and changing people's lives.” -Katelynn


Connect with katelynn

LinkedIn / Instagram

connect with movember

Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter / LinkedIn


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Watch the full Family Reach story mentioned in the midroll below! 🎉

Episode Sponsored by

Studio Selfie

Studio Selfie! Jonathan McCoy, Katelynn Whitaker, Julie Confer and Becky Endicott

Studio Selfie! Jonathan McCoy, Katelynn Whitaker, Julie Confer and Becky Endicott

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Katelynn Whitaker, Movember, We Are For Good Podcast
Katelynn Whitaker, Movember, We Are For Good Podcast
How Movember Built Digital Community, We Are For Good Podcast
Katelynn Whitaker, Movember, We Are For Good Podcast
Katelynn Whitaker, Movember, We Are For Good Podcast
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