238. Embracing Innovation + Becoming a Digital First Nonprofit: The Mission of Starlight Foundation - Adam Garone
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Overview
Meet Adam. You already know his work. Because when you co-found the movement Movember and create the world's first digital-only organization, you know creativity and innovation are his jam. But today he's leading up the Starlight Foundation delivering happiness to seriously ill kids in the hospital. He's one of the most successful social entrepreneurs of our time who raised awareness about men's health and built a global community of fundraisers to support it in the most whimsical way👨🏻 Believe us - you don't want to miss this convo🎧
💡LEARN
-The story of founding Movember
-How to build a global movement & becoming a digital-first brand
-Creating cultures of innovation
-The mission of Starlight Children's Foundation✨
Today’s Guest
Adam Garone, CEO Starlight Foundation, Co-Founder, Movember
“Any movement has one or two passionate people that truly believe in whatever it is, and their belief creates this enthusiasm and persistence that eventually pervades through the organization.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode highlights
Adam’s story and journey to where he is today (3:00)
The founding story of Movember and what Adam learned along the way (6:00)
Overview of Starlight Foundation and Adam’s journey to leading it (14:00)
Starlight’s innovative programs and how they are leveraging being a digital first organization (18:00)
Embracing an innovative and digital first culture (24:00)
Creating an innovation first culture at your organization (28:00)
Telling the stories of your organizations (34:00)
Starlight’s Ambassador Program and how they are giving the mic to their patients and families (36:00)
The difference in success and significance (39:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Adam’s life (41:00)
Adam’s One Good Thing: Who Dares Wins. (43:00)
powerful quotes
“I sort of reflect on this a little bit. It's like, where did this passion for service come from? Because that's the one constant in my career ,and my career is not traditional by any stretch.” -Adam
“That's how Movember started it had nothing to do with charity or anything that year. It was it was just a moustache themed party, which was epic.” -Adam
“It's very hard to think outside the box if you live in it.” -Adam
“I sort of always think about the motives, why people would engage in a charity or a fundraising campaign. There's extrinsic and intrinsic motivators.” -Adam
“Three years ago now my niece was diagnosed with brain cancer. I always say there's only one thing worse than being told you've got cancer, it's being told that your child has cancer.” -Adam
“I got to see the impact that disease can have on a kid and in a family, but I also got to see firsthand the impact of Starlight’s programs.” -Adam
“So with our partnership with Radio Flyer, instead of going in a wheelchair from the bed to the treatment room, they can go on a Radio Flyer wagon.” -Adam
“We partner with the likes of Disney and we put Star Wars characters and princesses and Major League Baseball team logos on the hospital gowns and it just transforms that moment.” -Adam
“We've added QR codes onto the gowns now so that kids can scan the QR codes and then you know, the Milan comes to life on their phone with a special special message for them.” -Adam
“Our most innovative program is our virtual reality programs. So we've got virtual reality headsets, and we curate content that goes on them. And yes, that's about entertainment and distraction, but because it's so immersive, our VR headsets are being prescribed instead of sedating a kid or putting them under.” -Adam
“There's no stupid ideas. But it's far more than that. It's creating a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation where people can try stuff.” -Adam
“Last year, we raised close to a million dollars, from streamers.” -Adam
“Any movement has one or two passionate people that truly believe in whatever it is, and their belief creates this enthusiasm and persistence that eventually pervades through the organization.” -Adam
“I said every day, we've got to be better than the day before. And that could be with the story, the content we're creating, you know, how we're maximizing our performance marketing metrics and stuff like that.” -Adam
“It's trying to bite off something small. And as I said, ring fence it and then you know, get some buy in and just try it.” -Adam
“This is why you just replicating Movember at Starlight wouldn't work. It's like, what is it that brings this group of passionate believers at Starlight alive? That's what we want to do. That's what we want to put our money behind.” -Jon
“You can't just copy and paste these great ideas, figure out what is bringing your board alive, your staff alive, your donors alive and lean into that and give it the space to germinate like this is breakthrough.” -Jon
“This is one of the hardest challenges, I think because it's relatively easy to build a website and some you know that user experience. The toughest part is the story telling piece.” -Adam
“Success brings moments of happiness for sure. But when you focus in on being significant and realize the power of serving other people, that brings joy and true long term fulfillment.” -Adam
“So every all staff meeting, which we have every other week, we have a child life specialist specialists, we have a mom, we have a streamer, come and join us, because that keeps us close to that impact edge.” -Adam
“I think in all of our work, we never know how many people we impact or reach.” -Adam
“When we started out with Movember, we wanted to create a new generation of philanthropy.” -Adam
“Overall, it'd be the humility and just appreciation for life and living in the moment and trying to nudge this world in a slightly better direction.” -Adam
“It's being bold enough and brave enough to dare to try something and stick with it. Don't stop innovating. It doesn't matter what age. I live by, Who Dares Wins, try stuff, dare to be different and dare to win.” -Adam
Connect with Adam Garone
Connect with Starlight Foundation
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
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Episode Sponsored by
Studio Selfie
Julie Confer, Becky Endicott, Jonathan McCoy & Adam Garone
