LET’S TALK IMPACT WITH COLLEEN FURMAN, CMO @ NABU
ABOUT COLLEEN FURMAN
Colleen has 15+ years of experience in the start-up, digital marketing, and technology ecosystem. Becoming mostly plant-based at age six, her passion has been sustainability, wellness, and in seeing industries and companies differently. She has founded, consulted for, and participated in numerous companies. Currently, she is the CMO for NABU, a global literacy nonprofit, and consults, runs strategy and marketing for numerous clients from start-ups to Fortune 500s around the world. Current and past clients include Sony, LasikPlus, Harper Collins, AT&T, Reis, and BP. When not working on her “regular” job, Colleen is busy dreaming and working on side projects that include a coffee roasting company and a future Women’s Wellness fund. Colleen graduated from Villanova University’s Undergraduate Business School, spent time at Trinity College Dublin in the Law School, and has lived (mostly) in NYC for the past 11 years with her dog Tusk!
NABU’S MISSION:
Our mission is to solve the imbalance in children’s book creation and distribution, so all children can read and rise to their full potential. Literacy is a prerequisite for eradicating poverty, yet globally there is a severe shortage of local language books at the early grade levels. As a result, 250M children are leaving school without being able to read, rendering them extremely vulnerable to social and economic exploitation.
Our solution is to make children’s books free, and to champion mother tongue stories. Our vision is to build an inclusive, diverse, and community-centric global and local storytelling platform. When children can read in their local language first, they grow in confidence, and literacy levels shoot up. By offering training for writers and illustrators, we create original local language books that support children in learning how to read. Nabu.org is our free reading app that can distribute children’s books to millions of readers globally.
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Let’s Talk Impact is a podcast series that explores the intersection of entrepreneurship and social impact. Hosted by Justyna Kedra and produced by The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative and WERULE, the podcast features interviews with a diverse range of changemakers. From government officials to activists and entrepreneurs, these guests share their insights on the evolving definition of impactful work and the motivations driving their efforts. By focusing on the stories behind the initiatives, Let’s Talk Impact aims to inspire and inform listeners about the power of entrepreneurship to create positive change in the world.
ABOUT THE HOST:
Justyna Kedra, the founder of WERULE, received her BFA degree from Parsons the New School where she successfully finished their toughest major: Fashion Design. Since then she worked in Public Relations with celebrities ranging from Jeremy Scott, Lady Gaga to Madonna at People’s Revolution under the wing of Kelly Cutrone. Justyna is also no stranger to the corporate world working for 6 years in financial services at American Express generating over 20 Billion in acquisitions for Centurion, Platinum, Green Cards as well features such as their most successful “Employee Card” treatment. She also served as an advisor to the American Express’ President of US Consumer Services on topics related to the team’s culture.
She is a mentor & a team member at The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative and a mentor at the Tory Burch Foundation, the AARP Foundation x Bridge for Billions program for aspiring founders over 50. Because of her work, she was recognized as the youngest Champion of Change at the United Nations. A book she co-authored with Erika De La Cruz, Editor in Chief at The La Girl, has become a bestseller across multiple categories and is available at Barnes and Noble.
Justyna also hosts a podcast, a collaboration between WERULE and The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative, called Let’s Talk Impact, which was in the top 5% most shared podcasts globally according to Spotify Wrapped.
ABOUT IMPACT ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE:
The Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative (IEI) at The New School fosters a transformative approach to business and social change. We equip students with the skills to create innovative, inclusive, and sustainable ventures that address pressing global challenges. Through our interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and strong community partnerships, we empower students to become agents of positive change and build a more equitable world.
ABOUT WERULE:
WERULE is a global platform dedicated to connecting individuals with life-changing mentors. Founded in 2015, they started by sharing stories of successful female entrepreneurs, becoming a recognized resource for women seeking inspiration and guidance. Today, WERULE offers a wider range of resources, including an AI-powered mentorship app used by businesses and organizations worldwide. Their mission is to make mentorship accessible to everyone, regardless of background or stage in life. They believe in the transformative power of mentorship and strive to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Link to Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LpHflwH8Pv4CK2uj93BOc?si=62eddd013f5b45d2
Hosted by: Justyna Kedra (@thisisjustyna) & Kosi Dunn
Produced by: Janusz Kedra
Questions about our events, podcast, blog or Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative? Email Justyna Kedra at justyna@newschool.edu