My passion is to help redefine "value" for consumers. I believe that we can transform the world and lift the next billion people out of extreme poverty by changing the perceptions of shoppers and upgrading the style of handcrafted goods. Artisan activity is the second largest employer in the developing world, but there is very little business, marketing or modern design sensibility behind most artisan initiatives. If we can transform the perception of socially responsible goods from a "guilt" purchase into "luxury," "craftsmanship," and "irreplicable" we can transform the narrative for millions of women and families. We can empower mothers with work that is respected and honored, not purchased out of pity. We can expand the marketplace beyond the small percentage of global shoppers who currently seek artisan goods. My work as the co-founder of Yellow Leaf Hammocks is dedicated to creating "prosperity wage" work for our weavers -- jobs that do more than help them inch over the poverty line, but instead create a sustainable middle class wage. I've also been fiercely protective of the branding + design -- catching the eye of Oprah, Richard Branson, Shark Tank, CB2, Vogue, Architectural Digest & SXSW, among others, to help amplify our bootstrapped message.