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“We can prove new models are possible” – Tonya Surman

Startup Canada is celebrating and putting the spotlight on a leading Canadian social innovators driving change in one of the United Nations Global Goals.

Goal 17 is Partnerships for the Goals. As the UN explains:

A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. These inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre, are needed at the global, regional, national and local level.

Our CEO Tonya Surman was of course a perfect fit to interview about Goal 17.

She explained how CSI is working to build a New Economy:

What keeps me going is the drive for systemic change; that we can prove new models are possible. That’s what CSI is fundamentally about. It’s not just making the world better, it’s fundamentally changing the system on which we operate so that the change can scale and have an impact—not just for a small group of people—but for an entire community, country, and world.

Caring is at the foundation of everything that we do. I care about the world, I care about other entrepreneurs, and how we work together is just as important as what we’re doing.

We have to remember that the objective is not some faraway thing; the objective is to live well right now. The act of caring; the act of empathy; the sense of belonging—these are the things that actually enrich our lives. Putting that at the center of everything I do gives me the clarity to remember that it’s not how big I grow, or how many staff I have, or how big our budgets are. It’s actually about how we treat each other as a community and reach our potential.

You can read the whole interview here. And if you think CSI can help you read your potential, learn more about how to become a member!

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