Social Change in Innovation and Education with Simone Price

In this episode of The Social Impact Podcast, host Bree Jensen interviews Simone Price, a seasoned leader in social impact and an advocate for equity and access. With over 15 years of experience across technology, entertainment, and media arts education, Simone shares her career journey, which spans nonprofit work and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at top organziations.

Simone discusses her early education and how she discovered her passion for CSR through mentorship while at university. She reflects on the landscape of social impact in 2008 and the evolution of CSR as companies began to recognize the importance of integrating social responsibility into their core missions.

Throughout the conversation, Simone emphasizes the growing trend of aligning social impact roles with business functions, highlighting opportunities for professionals to contribute to meaningful corporate change. She also addresses the importance of education in fostering the next generation of innovators, advocating for more integrated career technical education and partnerships between schools and industries.

As the episode wraps up, Simone offers valuable insights for nonprofits looking to establish connections with larger corporations, emphasizing the importance of relationships and strategic outreach. Listeners leave with a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of social impact and the critical role education plays in shaping future leaders.
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Connect with Simone here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoneprice/

Show notes here:
https://www.thesocialimpact.co/post/podcast-innovation-education

Transcript

Transcript: The Social Impact Podcast - Episode with Simone Price

Bree Jensen: Welcome to The Social Impact Podcast. My name is Bree Jensen, and today we're excited to introduce Simone Price, a passionate community builder, equity advocate, and seasoned leader in social impact. With over 15 years of experience across technology, entertainment, and media arts education, Simone has driven impact campaigns and equity strategies for brands, educational organizations, and nonprofits. She excels in engaging diverse stakeholders, using data to shape insights, and fostering relationships that enhance community outcomes. Simone is also the co-leader of L.A. Community Leaders, supporting ESG-focused professionals throughout Los Angeles. Join us as we dive into Simone's journey and her vision for a more equitable future.

Bree Jensen: Hi, Simone!

Simone Price: Hello! Great to see you.

Bree Jensen: It’s great to have you on the podcast. As listeners know, I’m very selective with my guests. I want people who inspire and encourage others to thrive, and that is 100% who you are. Thank you for joining us.

Simone Price: Of course! Happy to be here.

Bree Jensen: I’d love to hear about your career journey. It’s relatable to many social entrepreneurs and impact professionals, especially regarding the crossover between nonprofit work and corporate social responsibility. Can you share some snippets of your career?

Simone Price: Absolutely! I graduated in 2008, which was a tumultuous year for any sector of the economy. I was one of those students who vaguely knew what they wanted to do but didn’t have a clear career path. I graduated with a degree in sociology and hospitality industry management, which was an interesting combination. My professors from hospitality thought it was cute, while my sociology professors encouraged me to focus.

During my final semester, an assistant director suggested I explore corporate social responsibility. I had taken on a volunteer role organizing classmates for fundraising activities and was involved in various volunteer boards. I always had a passion for how public and private sectors could work together more effectively.

After graduation, I applied to probably 200 jobs and landed work with health-based national nonprofits between 2008 and 2014. My last position before moving to corporate social responsibility was at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), where I worked in fundraising and advocacy. This experience showed me how private funding could support important research initiatives.

In 2014, I found a community relations role at Dolby Laboratories, a significant shift from a small nonprofit to a large tech company. I spent nearly a decade building our community relations program and leading our STEAM education initiative, which aims to inspire diverse innovators in multimedia production.

Bree Jensen: What a fascinating career journey! You should consider putting together workshops to share your experiences—I’d love to attend!

Simone Price: Thank you! I appreciate that.

Bree Jensen: You mentioned the landscape in 2008. I remember someone telling me college wasn’t beneficial anymore. It’s interesting that you had a professor recognize the potential of social responsibility early on. Can you elaborate on that?

Simone Price: Sure! In 2008, many companies weren’t vocal about their social impact commitments. While volunteer engagement remained a focus, many CSR programs became less prominent. However, as the economy evolved, more funding became available for innovation and public-private partnerships, leading to a shift in how companies approached CSR.

Bree Jensen: What trends have you noticed regarding CSR and the opportunities available now?

Simone Price: There’s a significant shift toward integrating social impact roles with core business functions. Companies are looking for social impact professionals who can tie their work directly to the company’s mission. This has led to more opportunities for roles focused on product development and social impact, requiring a blend of technical and marketing skills.

Bree Jensen: I love having conversations with you because of your innovative thinking. Regarding education, what do you think is needed for students to innovate in social impact?

Simone Price: That’s a broad topic! Gen Z and Gen Alpha are very aware of societal challenges and are seeking alternative learning methods. It’s crucial for students to understand the issues in their communities and identify gaps where they can create solutions. Collaboration is also essential to maximize impact.

Bree Jensen: Absolutely! Exposure to different experiences is vital. Here in Pasadena, we have programs teaching kids about social impact, and many end up in impressive positions after internships at Los Angeles studios.

Simone Price: That exposure is key to bridging the gap between education and workforce readiness. We need more integrated career technical education with strong partnerships to prepare students for future jobs.

Bree Jensen: I completely agree. Now, I want to ask you a crucial question for nonprofits: How can they break into big companies to pitch their initiatives?

Simone Price: There are a few basic steps nonprofits can take. Look for companies that utilize tools or services your nonprofit already engages with. Building relationships with those companies can open doors. Engaging in local community initiatives or volunteer opportunities can also be a good way to network and get your foot in the door.

Bree Jensen: That’s great advice! Thank you for sharing your insights today, Simone. It’s been a pleasure having you on the podcast.

Simone Price: Thank you for having me, Bree! It’s been wonderful.

Bree Jensen: And thank you to our listeners for tuning in. We hope you found this episode as inspiring as we did!

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