the Executives · A Dialogue with Majid
From Weaving Hope to Leading Change: Empowering Indigenous Women with Aparna Saxena, CEO of AHANA
With Aparna Saxena
About this episode
This episode of “The Executives” features social entrepreneur Aparna Saxena, a B-Corp advocate and plant-based investor. The discussion focuses on her journey and work with the social enterprise TORAJAMELO. You’ll learn why “impact entrepreneurship” is the future of business, how women-led artisans in Indonesia are powering a slow fashion revolution, and about Aparna’s global leadership journey from DHL to TORAJAMELO.
She also discusses the value of trust and collaboration in growing a purpose-led company, the challenges of balancing financial sustainability with social impact, and what plant-based businesses are (Vriksha Impact). Finally, she offers advice on how everyday people can live more sustainably.
Episode chapters
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:28 Who is Aparna Saxena?
- 04:05 What's one Indonesian food you could eat every day?
- 8:52 From engineering to impact leadership
- 18:00 What inspired your focus on sustainability?
- 24:03 How do you empower women-led artisan communities?
- 29:26 Challenges of building TORAJAMELO
- 34:58 A success story from Ahana or TORAJAMELO
- 39:27 Balancing financial sustainability and social impact
- 46:28 What are plant-based businesses? (Vriksha Impact)
- 50:39 How can everyday people live more sustainably?
- 01:02:08 What's next for Ahana and TORAJAMELO?
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