Fellow Spotlight: Marc Violo

We're constantly inspired by the remarkable ways the On Purpose community creates impact and brings about transformative change. This month we're excited to shine a light on Marc Violo from our October 2016 Associate Programme cohort!

After spending close to a decade losing myself in the tech and advertising industry, I found a much more inspiring community: the October 2016 On Purpose Associate London Cohort (shout out!).

My unexpected entry into the social entrepreneurial space began at NatWest, my first placement. While working for a bank wasn't the transition I initially envisioned, the experience proved invaluable, teaching me about social finance and impact measurement.

I thoroughly enjoyed my second placement at SIX - The Social Innovation Exchange, a nimble, tight-knit global network of people trying to change the world. They became my first client when I set myself up as an independent consultant post-On Purpose, enjoying the autonomy and challenges of being self-employed.

I relinquished a bit of freedom in 2019 to join TerraCycle and lead marketing and technology teams for Loop, an ambitious project with the goal of reintroducing packaging deposit schemes in large retailers across the world.

Four years in, I put an end to this circular economy rollercoaster ride to turn a passion project, MycoStories, into my first entrepreneurial experience. MycoStories, is a platform focused on exploring and promoting the applications of fungi for sustainable solutions. Through research, education, and collaboration, MycoStories aims to harness the transformative power of mushrooms and mycelium to create a positive impact on the environment, society, and economy. 

I am profoundly thankful for my year with On Purpose. It served as a crucial stepping stone for an exciting new professional journey, connecting me with like-minded individuals who see profit with purpose and organisations with bold ambitions to revolutionize our current inadequate social and economic systems.