Beth Flores is a big believer in the power of creative minds to change the world. It's that belief that has powered her career leading and encouraging innovative people, and why she recently took up the role of managing director at social enterprise incubator and co-working space Impact Hub DC.
"It's a garden of innovation," Flores said. "I'm here to tend it and make it grow."
Washington, D.C. is full of people with ideas on how to make the world a better place. You can't throw a rock without hitting some non-profit or organization dedicated to helping others, probably including one for people hit by metaphorical rocks. Impact Hub DC is a particularly expansive example of a place for those looking to make their social enterprise ideas come to life. Technical startups offering non-profits new digital communication and data analytics tools share membership with groups looking to teach technical skills to underserved communities or connect local farms with customers and charities in the city. And all of them can connect to local impact investors and investing firms that have signed up as members.
"We're trying to break down the silos, really get people together," Flores said. "There are amazing opportunities to connect here if you look for them."
One member with some recent notable success is Mission: Launch The startup was founded by mother and daughter Teresa and Laurin Hodge to help people after prison create new careers for themselves. The women recently earned a major grant from the Small Business Administration to get their plans for a business accelerator for former inmates off the ground.
"Mission: Launch is special," Flores said. "It's a great and really scalable idea."
Impact Hub DC is one of several co-working spaces for social entrepreneurs run by MissionHUB, a national organization that also runs an annual conference on impact investing and social entrepreneurship. It was a years-long process before the D.C. space opened in February, with plenty of events to build anticipation. There are currently around 40 members. Impact Hub DC announced in May that Flores would take over from founding managing director Max Harper at the end of the summer.
Flores comes to the role with the mix of government and private enterprise experience that so many in D.C. have. She spent nearly a decade working for the Department of Defense, including creating an office for innovation working for the Secretary of Defense. Wanting to do more, she left in 2013 to found Groove Leadership Lab, coaching and advising organizations on leadership and growth, including many philanthropies. On a larger scale, that's her role in her new job too.
"Impact Hub offers so many ways for entrepreneurs and activists to create social change," Flores said. "I wanted to be part of that."
Now, Flores is charting a path for growing Impact Hub DC in both size and breadth. She said she wants to add dozens of new members over the next year, whether as residents or within the larger network, being as inclusive as possible. Organizations have options for different tiers of membership, mainly based around how much time they spend based at the building and how much physical space they use. There are also plans for major social entrepreneurship events, including a Social Innovation Festival in September.
"My dreams are big and I have just a couple of humans here to help me, but I'm incredibly excited," Flores said. "I'm building a whole society here."
