INSPIRED IMPACT™ features purpose-driven leaders and social entrepreneurs who are making a meaningful impact in their communities, industries, and around the world.
Hamsa Daher is the Executive Director of Small Giants. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube and learn more at smallgiants.org.
TELL US, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
My name is Hamsa Daher and I’m the executive director of the Small Giants Community. We’re an L3C organization dedicated to identifying, connecting, and developing purpose-driven leaders.
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
I have a passion for people, organizational cultures, and larger-than-life visions! Prior to the Small Giants Community, I experienced higher education as well as a fast-paced software company — along the way, I realized that purpose, vision, and values are fundamentally important to me. I was looking for an opportunity where I could live that every day, and help others do the same. That led me to the Small Giants Community.
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? WHY DOES THE WORLD NEED YOU?
I believe that a purpose-driven, people-first approach is the only sustainable way to run an organization. We’ve seen too many stories of companies that grow really fast and only chase profits, and leaders who don’t take care of their people or the communities to which they belong. Those companies tend to not last. Our mission is to find leaders for whom the Small Giants philosophy resonates and share the resources they need to build sustainable, purpose-driven organizations.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
Our work is focused on developing purpose-driven leaders and their organizations. Our resources — ranging from our blog articles and virtual workshops to the Leadership Academy — help ensure that leaders are prioritizing the most important things in business.
The Small Giants Community was originally inspired by the book Small Giants by Bo Burlingham. In the book, Burlingham identified six traits that all Small Giants companies share: purpose, leadership, culture, finance, customers, and community. We’ve found that when leaders learn how to prioritize these qualities, profits and growth follow.
Specifically, the Small Giants Community includes nearly 8,000 leaders who are impacting the lives of their collective 230,912 employees, their families, and communities. We’re also very excited to be developing the next generation of purpose-driven leaders: we recently graduated 20 emerging leaders from the Small Giants Leadership Academy, and another 25 are in the process of getting certified right now.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO DO THIS WORK?
I’m privileged to meet new leaders who inspire me nearly every day. The entire community is made up of purpose-driven leaders who do the hard work day in and day out. There’s also Bo Burlingham, who first wrote the Small Giants book. Paul Spiegelman, who co-founded the Small Giants Community. My colleagues, Rachel Henk and Jillian Lukas Rodriguez. The list goes on!
WHAT’S YOUR VISION, YOUR BIG DREAM, FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
Our vision is simple: we want to positively impact as many leaders as possible. As the idea of purpose-driven leadership becomes more popular, we want the Small Giants approach to become the leading way of running a business.
WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING?
Although there’s more conversation than ever around servant leadership, it’s still not mainstream. It takes a lot of work to find purpose-driven leaders and organizations — but they’re out there and it’s always a joy when we find them. The first time a leader attends our annual Summit or joins the Leadership Academy, there’s a feeling of belonging and finding their tribe. It’s about connecting with like-minded, like-hearted leaders and growing with purpose, together.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
Say hi! We love to meet new leaders and hear how they’re living as a purpose-driven leader. You can also sign up for our email list, support the Small Giants Community, or drop us a note at hello@smallgiants.org.
Orapin Marketing + Public Relations supports purpose-driven leaders and brands with a rallying cry and a deep desire to make a difference. We share their positive stories and valuable expertise taking them from best-kept secret to sought-after and celebrated. If you would like to be featured on INSPIRED IMPACT™, reach out to hello@orapinmarketing.com.