Joe Sanberg is an investor in a few of the social I've profiled recently (Aspiration and Bright Funds) and so I wanted to learn more about him.
Sanberg told me about the start to his career, "I grew up in a middle class family and by the time I was leaving for college at Harvard, the house I had grown up in was being foreclosed. I'm sobered by the staggering amount of luck and chance that came together in my life. I never could have imagined it."
This experience guided his philosophy on life and business. "I don't think we should leave to luck and chance the kinds of opportunities in life that people get to enjoy. I'm determined to build companies and champion public policies that systematically create more opportunity for people because I can't bear thinking that I didn't do everything I could to ensure that the kid today who is like I was does not have to rely on luck and chance to have a full life."
The challenges of his early life helped frame Sanberg's thinking as well. "Like so many others in my generation, I was raised by my mother. The absence of an active father when I was a kid affected me like it has affected many others. You have to become more self-reliant at a younger age as you figure out how to be a responsible adult. Fortunately, my maternal grandfather was a very active presence in my life and was a great male role model."
When I asked Sanberg the secret of his success, he responded, "I think success comes from being authentic so my answer involves revealing what constitutes my core as a person. My faith in God is the biggest factor in how I live my life and who I am. Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew phrase that means to heal the world. I think we all have a responsibility to find our part in healing the world. Like all of us, I've often fallen short of my responsibility but my aspiration is to do my best to live up to Tikkun Olam."
On Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 2:00 Eastern, Sanberg will join me for a live discussion about his work investing in social ventures. Tune in here then to watch the interview live. Post questions in the comments below or tweet questions before the interview to @devindthorpe.
You can download an audio podcast here or subscribe via iTunes.
Sandberg's bio:
Joe Sanberg is a public and private-sector entrepreneur. He is Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Advisors of Aspiration -- a digital financial services company for everyday Americans. He is also an active venture investor in a variety of fast growing companies that combine profit and purpose, such as Bright Funds and Blue Apron. Joe is a leader with several public sector initiatives, including the Jefferson Awards Foundation (Chair of its Board of Governors), the UC Riverside School of Public Policy (member of its Board of Advisors) and Co-Founder, Economic Innovation Group. Joe s also leading a public affairs campaign around the new California Earned Income Tax Credit to expand economic opportunity among working Californians.
