Build Ecosystems, Not Empires

A newsletter for BIPOC diaspora founders scaling profitable, justice-driven brands that lift up our communities. You can unsubscribe any time.

By Gelaine Santiago of Founding Possibilities​

This Friday: A free workshop at the Festival For Re-Imagining The Economy!

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Hey Reader!

I'm hopping into your inbox real quick with a little invitation:

Tomorrow at 11AM (ET), I'm hosting a free online workshop at the Festival For Re-imagining The Economy! Come join me!
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I'll be presenting "Build Ecosystems, Not Empires: Re-imagining Business" – an entrepreneurship workshop that explores how we can build businesses that generate more wealth, joy, and justice for the collective.
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Putting this workshop together is more nerve wracking for me than usual 😬 Since you're on this newsletter, you're probably thinking, "but you say 'build ecosystems' aaaaaalll the time – what's new?" I hear you. I feel like a broken record lol.

To be honest, I started to feel bad about it. I'd say we should build ecosystems, not empires – but how do you actually do it? What does that even look like? For the longest time, I didn't know what to say.

So over the past year, I've been in deep reflection mode, trying to identify and name the actual "how" (or at least a piece of it). What's emerged is the Build Ecosystems, Not Empires™ Framework – a generative business philosophy I've been quietly crafting and nurturing, and which essentially distills the work we did at Cambio & Co. for over a decade.

And tomorrow's workshop is the first time I'll be presenting it publicly – ready or not 😅

During the workshop, we'll dream up what our work (and world) could look like if we re-imagine business as usual. I'll share some of the "how" based on what I've learned while building my own justice-driven and community-centred brands. And together we'll explore how entrepreneurship can become a force for justice, ease, and shared abundance.
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This workshop is designed for purpose-driven founders and entrepreneurs, as well as anyone passionate about re-imagining how we live, work, and flourish together. Would you like to join me, Reader?

Sending you leisurely walks and picnics in the park 🧺

Gelaine

PS - make sure you check out the rest of the Re-Imagine Festival and other events happening! Everything looks incredible and I'm truly grateful that spaces to nurture alternative economies and businesses exist. There are good corners of the internet after all ❤️

PPS - Registration for the first ever Build Ecosystems, Not Empires™ Summit is opening next week! It's finally happening!