Ep. 50: Stephen Ready, Co-Founder & CEO, INSPIRED

Hello Everyone - We’ve hit a milestone: 50 episodes! That’s 50 incredible conversations with mission-driven leaders who are redefining what it means to pursue professional success with purpose. Each guest has shown us the power of embedding core values into their work, illustrating that when ambition and integrity combine, the result is a vision for a better world—a world they not only imagine but actively build. Which conversation is your favorite? What topics do you want to dive further into? Which guests should we reach out to and invite to the show? Comment here: In Episode 50, I had the fortune of sitting down with INSPIRED’s Stephen Ready. While I was connected to Stephen through his colleague Ben, Stephen and I have another mutual connection with Ben Erwin, CEO, Charitybuzz. A guest and supporter of this community. The world becomes small once we connect the dots! What is INSPIRED? Revolutionizing Cause Marketing: INSPIRED is redefining how brands and consumers engage in charitable giving. Moving beyond traditional donation requests, INSPIRED offers a seamless, integrated approach that empowers consumers to support causes they care about in a personalized way. By embedding charitable actions into everyday interactions, it amplifies the social impact of every transaction, helping brands make a genuine difference while strengthening their relationships with customers. Innovation & Storytelling: At the core of INSPIRED’s mission are innovation and storytelling. By weaving causes into the customer journey, INSPIRED makes charitable support a year-round endeavor. Here’s how it’s changing the game: Loyalty & Repeat Engagement: INSPIRED rewards customers for their good deeds. Imagine earning perks simply by engaging with a cause—without spending extra money. This approach creates a win-win, where brands boost loyalty and customers feel good about their actions, driving both repeat engagement and meaningful impact. Contextual Cause Discovery: INSPIRED leverages the power of alignment, helping customers discover brands that share their values. It creates a smooth, frictionless path to support meaningful causes, benefiting brands through enhanced customer loyalty and giving charities greater visibility. Scaling INSPIRED: Every Shopify brand is a potential partner, and INSPIRED makes it easy for them to get involved. With a free, forever plan, brands can seamlessly integrate charitable giving into their Shopify experience. There’s no setup required—just activate INSPIRED and start making a difference, turning every store into a hub for positive impact. Beyond E-Commerce: INSPIRED’s influence extends far beyond online shopping. Imagine walking into a physical store powered by Shopify, where you can engage with and support causes that matter to you. INSPIRED brings the same seamless charitable functionality to in-person interactions, meeting consumers wherever they shop. Making Charitable Support Ubiquitous: Picture an Airbnb stay where hosts and guests alike have the opportunity to give back. Through INSPIRED, guests can choose to donate a portion of their stay to a local cause, further strengthening Airbnb’s ethos of community support. It’s just one example of how INSPIRED can personalize the giving experience across different platforms, industries, and interactions. Beyond Transactions: INSPIRED envisions a world where every transaction is "inspired." Imagine sharing your Airbnb story, knowing that at no extra cost, you contributed to a local children's sports program. This blend of personal storytelling and charitable impact creates a deeper connection for everyone involved. INSPIRED: Beyond the "Rakuten of Giving": Traditional platforms often force a choice between cashback and donations. INSPIRED believes you shouldn’t have to choose. By layering rewards on top of charitable actions, it eliminates the "do good or do well" dilemma, incentivizing positive behavior and driving sustainable change. Impact Beyond Money: INSPIRED recognizes that impact isn’t just about monetary donations. By harnessing the collective power of 8 billion humans, it encourages contributions in various forms, from spreading awareness to sharing resources. Similarly, INSPIRED helps brands leverage their marketing reach and influence to support causes, democratizing social impact and making it a movement for everyone—not just the privileged few. Full Power, Not Just Charity Checks: Imagine a brand like Liquid Death donating more than just money—it brings its marketing muscle and community engagement to support a cause. This strategy fosters long-term involvement, driving deeper, sustainable connections between brands, customers, and the causes they champion. INSPIRED: A Disruptive Force in Cause Marketing: INSPIRED is setting a new standard by moving beyond the traditional model of asking companies for donations. It’s proven that there’s a better way, and now it’s scaling this approach to create a global impact. By seamlessly embedding cause marketing into everyday interactions, INSPIRED is leading a movement where every action, every purchase, and every story can be a catalyst for change. Join the Movement: Visit inspired.com to learn more about how to leverage INSPIRED to do good and do well, for free. Together, we can create a future where every interaction contributes to a more aware and compassionate world. Follow INSPIRED on LinkedinFollow INSPIRED on Instagram Watch the episode on YouTube Rate the show on Apple and Spotify This is a public episode. 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