Ways to Create Social Impact in Your Community and Why It Matters
“What is one specific way you create social impact?”
Here is what 19 thought leaders had to say.
Most people think social impact has to be something huge—like founding a charity or changing legislation.
But I believe the real impact starts smaller. Micro. Daily.
A few years ago, I realized I was designing amazing digital brands and websites for clients… but I hadn’t actually designed my own life.
I was glued to the screen, chasing big goals. Hit X income. Move abroad. Build Y.
Sound familiar?
But the more I missed those grand targets, the worse I felt. I thought I was failing. But I wasn’t failing; I was setting myself up to fail with unrealistic goals.
That’s when it clicked.
Life doesn’t change in one giant leap. Life is built one small, intentional action at a time.
So now, instead of big goals, I focus on daily design:
- I schedule everything: work, play, rest, exercise, thinking, even housework
- I blend leisure into my weekdays, not just weekends
- I create structure to override bad defaults—whether that’s overworking or procrastinating
This shift had a ripple effect.
I started sharing this approach with clients—founders stuck in hustle mode or waiting for a “someday” that never came.
When I helped them design their days, their lives changed. Not from big wins, but from small consistent changes.
To me, that’s the most powerful kind of social impact:
Helping people reclaim their time and build a business that supports their life—not the other way around.
Nicholas Robb, UK Design agency, Design Hero
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Impact is collective result of your influence, inspiration and invoked ideas/concepts.
Everyone, every organization, and every community has a social impact. Is it a good one?
That is the real question. It’s not if you make an impact but what kind are you making?
Do you know? Are you watching and measuring what happens because of:
Your influence
Your Inspired or uninspired work
Your ideals and ideas that you share
Start with considering what concepts and beliefs you invoke when engaging in your work.
The ideas we invoke, equity, speed, value creation, etc are what will evoke a response from those around us. The responses we evoke from others will inspire them to either engage or disengage.
Inspired people will either attract or repel others that are open or closed to inspiration.
A collection of inspired people will have a positive influence on an organization and community.
A collection of uninspired people will have an influence but ultimately a negative one.
Intentional collections of inspired people in communities will have an exponential and positive impact on people, organizations and communities.
It starts with the idea and belief you want to invoke.
What do you believe?
Evan Kubicek, Chief Impact Officer, Growth10
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One specific way we create social impact at spectup is by working closely with early-stage founders from underserved markets who have promising solutions but lack the networks or know-how to pitch to institutional investors. I remember a founder from Eastern Europe who had built a platform improving access to mental health support in rural areas. Brilliant concept, but his pitch deck was full of jargon and misaligned with investor expectations. We didn’t just redesign his slides—we spent hours aligning his story, honing the messaging, and preparing him to face tough investor questions.
He eventually raised a six-figure pre-seed round and expanded into two new countries. That kind of outcome always stays with me—not just because of the numbers, but because of the lives impacted by his work. It’s easy to forget, but behind every pitch deck we build at spectup, there’s often a solution that genuinely improves people’s lives. Helping bring those ideas to light, especially for founders who might otherwise be overlooked, is one of the most meaningful parts of what we do.
Niclas Schlopsna, Managing Consultant and CEO, spectup
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I run a grease recycling program. We collect used cooking oil from restaurants, turn it into biodiesel, and track the carbon we save. Each quarter we donate free fuel made from that oil to local food-bank trucks so they can deliver meals. Cleaner air and more food reach families—that’s our impact.
Jorge Argota, Co Founder, Grease Connections
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One specific way I generate social impact is by cultivating avenues for career growth within my organization and community. At TradingFXVPS, I focus on guiding team members to enhance their expertise and self-assurance, fostering an environment where potential can flourish. By equipping individuals within our company, I help build stronger, more skilled professionals who can extend their positive contributions beyond the workplace.
I also work closely with partners and clients to ensure our approaches align with responsible practices and deliver significant value in the market. Through designing customized solutions and fostering enduring collaborations, I strive to not only promote sustainable business success but also create a positive influence on the broader ecosystem we are part of. Bridging the divide between corporate objectives and societal priorities is a central part of my leadership philosophy. By doing this, I ensure our efforts leave a tangible, lasting effect on both the people we engage with and the industries we operate in.
Ace Zhuo, CEO | Sales and Marketing, Tech & Finance Expert, TradingFXVPS
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One way I make a positive impact is by helping businesses embrace customer-focused strategies that promote both expansion and meaningful, enduring connections. Leveraging my varied background, from my career as an optometrist to establishing one of Romania’s largest online car insurance marketplaces, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of building deeper relationships with people. At Omniconvert, we assist companies in enhancing their customer experiences through insight-driven strategies, ensuring not only increased revenue but also that customers feel truly valued and understood.
By embedding practical insights into online commerce systems, I coach businesses on how to boost their customer lifetime value while nurturing loyalty and trust. I firmly believe that fostering a culture of care and personalization in business reshapes not just organizations but entire industries, creating better economic and social results. Furthermore, through my public speaking, writing, and podcasting, I openly share ideas to motivate other entrepreneurs to innovate ethically, closing the gap between growth and genuine human connections. My ultimate goal is to build a legacy where long-term success is achieved by centering people in every decision.
Valentin Radu, CEO & Founder, Blogger, Speaker, Podcaster, Omniconvert
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One way that we create genuine social impact is through our partnership with Ecologi (https://ecologi.com/sixgun). Specifically, we contribute funding to carbon offsetting and tree planting initiatives globally.
By providing a subscription for each SIXGUN team member we support these environmental projects through Ecologi, and contribute to reforestation efforts and carbon emissions avoidance, helping to combat climate change and promote biodiversity.
David Pagotto, Founder & Managing Director, SIXGUN
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One specific way I create social impact is by offering pro bono inspirational talks at conferences, summits, and events in the U.S. and Africa–only asking that my expenses be covered. I’m always open to doing the same on other continents, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or German, as well as virtually, when the hosts and causes are aligned.
I’ve also collaborated with several African business friends–supporting Ghanaian women preparing for job interviews, offering trainings and presentations for groups in Uganda and Rwanda, leading a session at the University of Johannesburg, and running online sessions with partners in Zimbabwe and Zambia, just to name a few. Not because I think I know more than the locals, but simply because I love traveling and working in Africa.
I also see a ripple effect through my coaching work–especially with the newly added Freedom Coaching. As clients shift how they lead themselves and others, the impact extends to their teams, communities, and even families, creating lasting and meaningful change.
Regina Huber, Transformational Leadership Coach, Speaker, Author, CEO, Transform Your Performance
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By mentoring underrepresented founders. It’s a direct way to share knowledge, open doors, and help others avoid mistakes I made. I carve out time monthly to review pitches, offer strategy advice, or connect them with my network. It’s small, but the ripple effect is powerful—when one founder grows, they create jobs and uplift communities. For me, impact starts with access.
Bram Louwers, Director, BrainManager
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We prioritize education and skill-building in our community by hosting workshops and webinars focused on home improvement and DIY skills. These events are designed to empower individuals with practical knowledge, whether they’re looking to renovate their homes or start careers in the industry.
Providing hands-on training and resources inspires confidence and creativity in both homeowners and aspiring professionals. It can help enhance their skill sets and encourage people to take pride in their spaces.
Josh Qian, COO and Co-Founder, Best Online Cabinets
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One way I make social impact is by offering pro bono marketing support to small, mission-driven organizations that can’t afford agency-level services. I dedicate a portion of my time each quarter to helping nonprofits or grassroots initiatives clarify their messaging, build digital strategies and amplify their cause online.
This works because it creates a ripple effect – giving these organizations the tools to reach more people, get funding and grow their impact long after our work together is done. It’s not just about donating time; it’s about building capacity. For me it’s a way to use my skills in a way that feels grounded and meaningful, not for profit.
Soubhik Chakrabarti, CEO, Icy Tales
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We started changing how we hire a few years ago. Instead of just scanning for degrees or big brand names on resumes, we began focusing more on what people can actually do. We’ve hired folks from bootcamps, people who taught themselves to code, and even someone who came from customer support and moved into testing.
It wasn’t a big formal program. Just small shifts adding skills-based tasks, cutting down on unnecessary requirements, and being more open-minded during interviews. Over time, that changed the mix of people on our team. It brought in different perspectives and made us better.
For me, that’s one real way to create social impact. You use the control you already have—in our case, hiring and just try to make it a bit more fair.
Vikrant Bhalodia, Head of Marketing & People Ops, WeblineIndia
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One specific way I create social impact is by helping my team build skincare products that not only work but actually reach people at scale. There are plenty of altruistic ideas out there, but if no one benefits from them, how much impact do they really have? At Phyla, we’re focused on tackling the acne epidemic, but more importantly, we’re doing the hard work of earning trust and building visibility so that our impact isn’t theoretical, it’s real.
We know that helping people heal their skin does more than improve appearances, it restores confidence, supports mental health, and improves quality of life. In an industry flooded with misinformation and empty promises, our transparent approach raises the bar. Social impact isn’t just about good intentions, it’s about delivering meaningful, measurable outcomes for as many people as possible.
Neil Giugno, CEO, Phyla
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My goal is to make books more accessible to people in terms of technology, finances, and emotions. I want to help people reconnect with reading and rekindle their love of books, even electronic ones. Not everyone has the time to enjoy reading; for some, it is a new habit. For me, social impact means making people fall in love with the work I love.
Some people may think this is trivial, but to me, books and history drive people forward. This is a place where incredible dreams come true, where different emotions and stories have a place, and where everyone can find themselves in the characters. If I can help more people to read and find inspiration, I will feel that I am doing a good deed.
Julia Smirnova, Producer, My Passion
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One key way I contribute to social impact is by utilizing my skills as a Business Development Director in the forex and trading tech sector to educate and provide opportunities for others. I take satisfaction in guiding budding professionals and entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the intricacies of digital advertising, SEO, and trading technologies. By offering practical tips on leveraging data insights and state-of-the-art platforms, I help them drive tangible progress in their own projects. Through tailored resources and impactful social media outreach, I work to make essential trading knowledge and financial education more attainable for underrepresented groups.
In addition, I firmly support promoting innovation, which is why I regularly collaborate with tech-focused programs that aim to generate inclusive economic possibilities. My efforts exemplify a strong dedication to enabling professional growth and empowerment for others while striving to align with my objective of fostering sustainable business expansion. Ultimately, I view creating social impact as an extension of my passion for delivering meaningful outcomes—not only for companies but also for individuals determined to excel in an evolving industry.
Corina Tham, Sales, Marketing and Business Development Director, CheapForexVPS
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Transparency
Our business creates social impact through a 3-step plan of active communication, transparency, and accountability. The most crucial part of this plan is accountability. Most companies that make mistakes either tend to double down on said mistake or don’t listen to feedback. This leads to struggles between all parties involved, as on the companies’ part, it makes them look bad, and for everybody else, especially the customer, it’s a source of frustration.
Accountability ensures that everyone knows we’re listening to them and that we are willing to take the correct steps in taking action. Transparency is a good way of showing that such steps are being taken in the first place. Finally, active communication is just the bow on top to fit the two pieces together. In terms of social impact, this ensures people that at the end of the day everyone makes mistakes but that we’re willing to improve.
Eric Sornoso, Co-founder, Mealfan
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One specific way I create social impact is by actively supporting local artisans and small businesses in my community. I make a conscious effort to purchase handmade crafts, locally produced goods, and services from neighborhood entrepreneurs. This not only helps sustain their livelihoods but also preserves traditional skills and fosters economic growth within the community.
Additionally, I volunteer my time to organize community clean-up drives and tree-planting events. These initiatives aim to enhance our local environment, promote sustainability, and instill a sense of collective responsibility among residents. Engaging in these activities has deepened my connection to the community and reinforced the importance of grassroots efforts in driving meaningful change.
Naima Ch, Marketing Head and SEO Specialist, Morse Code Translator
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One way I have managed to create social impact is by using digital presence to broaden storytelling. Especially for the underrepresented voices. Today’s fast-paced, content-driven ecosystem results in vital stories going unheard, leading to poor effects and no change. I share authentic stories and decisive narratives in blogs, social media posts, and videos. It shines a bright and necessary light on social issues such as education inaccessibility, gender inequality, and mental health.
I’ve translated people’s experiences into compelling and inspiring pieces to spark change. It’s been made possible with the help of experts, grassroots organizations, and NGO groups. These content pieces use simple language, allowing all audiences to understand and engage with them even if they aren’t part of their usual reading materials. Making them broadly accessible to all audiences also aids the after-effects and conversion.
Such emotionally driven content aims to raise awareness about the world and its issues but drives conversations that lead to a broader understanding of most social complexities. An example of this content practice in action would be my coverage of the issues faced by women from low-income communities. It brought the public’s eyes to the plight of these women and encouraged donations and discussions among local policymakers.
Telling stories digitally will forge bridges between problems and the public. Allowing people to connect intellectually and emotionally helps to turn empathy into action, creating an unstoppable catalyst for social advocacy, policy changes, and community support.
Scalability makes this approach worthwhile and effective in most cases. A well-told story told using the necessary resources can appeal to thousands and possibly millions of viewers through the internet. This impact exceeds that of traditional storytelling. This powerful tool gives everyone the instruments necessary to advocate for social change and garner an understanding of the challenges people face.
It’s a worthy way to contribute to a larger picture, and I will continue to do so, one piece of content at a time. It helps me make an instant impact, though the impact can be slow, and some pieces won’t get the traction they deserve.
Pranali Parab, Social Media Marketing Specialist, D’Genius Solutions
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A single approach I take for creating social impact is providing small, local businesses that lack the funds to pay agency fees with complimentary SEO audits and strategy sessions. The sessions enable them to learn how best to get noticed, draw in customers, and compete online without going bankrupt.
My clients walk away with a clear plan because I apply not just strategies but also takeaways site structure and metadata granulating, keyword targeting, and focusing on high intent keywords/phrases.
I do not consider it charity, but rather, empowerment. Assisting small businesses in enduring growth balances regional economies and enhances the lutte for online visibility.
Spencergarret Fernandez, SEO and SMO Specialist, Web Development, Founder & CEO, SEO Echelon
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The post Ways to Create Social Impact in Your Community and Why It Matters. Part 1 first appeared on CCC Blog.