Michael Strong (founder of FLOW) thinks really BIG & believes that entrepreneurs are the solution to solve most of the world’s problems because they can create change the fastest. So much so, he wrote a book called ‘Be the Solution’ & has contributing authors such as Muhammed Yunnis (founder Grameen Bank) Hernando De soto, John Mackey (founder Whole Foods) and many others that support this belief. Michael shares examples (Southwest Airlines, SweetRiot, & Container Store) to illustrate the point & also tells iV about FLOW’s mantra-Criticize by Creating (t-shirts available). Way to ‘be the Solution’ MS – keep it going.

Michael Strong is an expert on creating positive change, see his book “Be the Solution”, and a seasoned startup executive, yet he still encountered mighty challenges in creating the big idea that is FLOW. He shares his top 3 lessons learned creating this social entrepreneurship organization that includes having focus, product definition and ‘good’ conflict. Michael candidly shares some of the divorce moments he had w/ his parnter,founder of Whole Foods in John Mackey, in deciding the direction of the company & why it was valuable.

The founder of FLOW, Michael Strong, started his organization with John Mackey, founder of Whole Foods, via seed capital that John had donated to get it thru the early stages. Michael explains the structure of FLOW and how it is evolving to become self-sustaining as it grows. He also shares the importance of their 3rd partner (Jeff Klein), how they choose what to focus on & what their 3 core programs are (Conscious Capitalism, Peace through Commerce & Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs). PLUS their biggest startup challenge.

Michael Strong, author & founder of FLOW, got his start in the public sector until the school he was working with lost its funding. Michael explains how this experience launched his academic entrepreneurial journey starting schools across the country as a ‘recovering intellectual.’ iV interviews Michael to learn how being forced out of a school helped him start FLOW – an organization that is designed to bring tribes of business people together with tribes of do-gooders. All in the name of liberating the entrepreneurial spirit. … CREATED BY: On the Road with iV (Ingrid Vanderveldt, Lyn Graft). Ingrid Vanderveldt (Host), Lyn Graft (Director/Producer), & Chance Carpenter (Virtual Producer).