EP16: Clare Richards, Co-Founder & CEO of Impacks | "Community Service & Startup Success"

In this episode, Kasey Devine interviews Clare Richards, CEO and Co-Founder of Impacks, a company dedicated to providing parents with an easy way to purchase school supplies online. Clare shares her journey from community service to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and making meaningful asks. The conversation explores the mission of Impacks, the challenges of starting a business during the pandemic, and the role of community service in leadership development.   Takeaways Community service can lead to unexpected opportunities. Building authentic relationships is crucial for success. Starting a business requires resilience and adaptability. Networking should be proactive, not reactive. The school supply market is ripe for innovation. Impacks aims to alleviate the burden of school supply shopping for parents. Engaging parents in giving can create a larger impact. Community service can develop leadership skills in employees. It's important to ask for help when needed. A for-profit model can effectively address social issues. Keywords: community service, entrepreneurship, school supplies, business leadership, social impact, networking, education, startup journey, nonprofit, leadership development   Sound Bites "Everything happens for a reason." "You have to invest in those relationships." "It's much easier for me to give." "It's a really amazing structure." "This is a pretty good market to be in." "It's a win-win." "We need to earn their trust." "We can help make it a lot better." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Clare Richards and Impacts 02:05 The Role of Community Service in Business 11:49 The Journey of Starting Impacks 19:12 Building Relationships and Making Asks 28:00 Understanding Impacts' Mission and Services 32:44 The Importance of Community Service in Leadership