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In this episode of the Riveo Impact Lab, Elin speaks with Megan Carras, Chief Development and Communications Officer and Head of Sustainability at WACIF, and Geneva Greene, Sustainable Entrepreneurship Consultant for WACIF. Together, they explore how the Washington Area Community Investment Fund is helping small businesses access the capital, technical assistance, and community connections they need to grow.

Megan and Geneva share how WACIF’s work supports entrepreneurs across the Greater Washington region, with a special focus on sustainability, equitable access to opportunity, and the role small businesses play in building stronger communities. The conversation also highlights WACIF’s Sustainable Entrepreneurship Program, the growing green economy, and why supporting local small businesses can create ripple effects far beyond a single purchase or partnership.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it really takes to make business more equitable and possible for everyone.

The Riveo Impact Lab is produced for you by Riveo Creative. For more Riveo Impact Lab content, including the video versions of all our episodes, please visit https://riveocreative.com/riveo-impact-lab/.

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In this episode of the Riveo Impact Lab, Elin sits down with Tom Hering, co-founder and managing partner of Benefit Corporations for Good, to explore what it really means for businesses to put their values into action.

Tom shares the story of his career journey, from copywriter, creative director, and brand strategist to advocate for purpose-driven business. Drawing on decades of experience in storytelling, marketing, and community impact, he explains how benefit corporations create accountability around people, planet, and profit, and why certification can be a powerful tool for companies that want to prove they are doing good — not just say they are.

Together, Elin and Tom discuss the difference between benefit corporations and traditional B Corp certification, why values-aligned business practices matter, and how small businesses can create meaningful impact in their communities. This conversation is a hopeful and practical look at how organizations of all sizes can build a more conscientious, purpose-driven future.

The Riveo Impact Lab is produced for you by Riveo Creative. For more Riveo Impact Lab content, including the video versions of all our episodes, please visit https://riveocreative.com/riveo-impact-lab/.

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Sabine Langer will be the first to tell you she’s not a cook. But as the founder of Global Cafe in Memphis, Tennessee, she has helped create something much bigger than a restaurant.

In this episode of the Riveo Impact Lab, Sabine shares the story of how Global Cafe began as a desire to support immigrants and refugees and grew into a social enterprise serving authentic international cuisine, creating permanent employment opportunities, and building bridges across cultures.

From navigating the early days of entrepreneurship to pivoting during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sabine reflects on the grit, partnerships, and community support that made Global Cafe possible. She also shares powerful stories of employees buying homes, becoming U.S. citizens, and finding economic empowerment through meaningful work.

This conversation explores what it means to build a business with love at the center — one that feeds people, creates opportunity, breaks down barriers, and helps change hearts and minds along the way.

The Riveo Impact Lab is produced for you by Riveo Creative. For more Riveo Impact Lab content, including the video versions of all our episodes, please visit https://riveocreative.com/riveo-impact-lab/.