2022 Fellow Focus: Jerren Chang + GenUnity
Change agent, community builder…2022 Fellow Jerren Chang + GenUnity shares more about his #RuthlessForGood journey.
What propelled you into the entrepreneurial space? And what do you enjoy most about being a founder?
I didn’t plan or aspire to be an entrepreneur. My experiences as the child of immigrants and working in local government showed me how everyday people, particularly those most proximate to the issues in our communities, are too often excluded from decision-making. I felt deeply called to change this, and after lots of conversations with folks in our community, I realized that there was something I could and needed to do entrepreneurially to make a positive impact. A year later, GenUnity piloted our first community leadership program to support 32 aspiring leaders driving change!
What do you enjoy most about being a founder?
Being a nonprofit founder is a special privilege. Everyday I get to work towards our vision of a community by everyone, for everyone, work with an amazing team of mission-oriented peers and build an equitable culture that mirrors the change we hope to see in the world.
What is one piece of advice that has been the most impactful to your journey as an entrepreneur so far?
"Fall in love with the problem (and the vision you have for the world)." Starting a new venture often comes with a tension - you need to combine a deep belief in the work with the humility to learn and pivot. Falling in love with the problem we are trying to address and the vision we have for the world, and not the solution we are working on, has enabled me to embrace that tension productively.
Tell us about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
In our first pilot program back in 2020, we didn't have a full-time team or much money. But we poured everything we had into "Giving First" to make sure that our community leadership program was a transformational experience for our members and partners. I think our members and partners recognized that, and we were able to build deep relationships that were the foundation for co-learning and collaboration.
As a social innovator, what legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations?
I hope that future generations will be active and equal co-creators in building communities that serve everyone equitably. If they are, I believe we’ll see governments, nonprofits, and businesses that are not only responsive to community needs, but proactively collaborating with their communities to promote the common good.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
One of the books that catalyzed my entrepreneurial journey is “Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality” by Danielle Allen. Danielle breaks our contemporary conception that equality and liberty are at odds with each other and elevates in one of the country’s founding texts an entrepreneurial playbook to unlocking the mutual understanding, reciprocity, and co-ownership necessary to realize our country’s long-deferred promise of equal opportunity.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Telepathy or being fluent in every language. I think being able to communicate honestly with someone is the basis for tapping into our shared humanity. It would be incredible to be able to meet anyone in the world in the language they are most comfortable.
You can learn more about ➡ Jerren Chang + GenUnity.
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