Marketer Gets Behind Social Enterprise

Armed with the ultimate goal of proving profit for purpose is not only great for social impact, but an effective way of doing business, says Bridie Ritchie who has co-founded Halfglassfull, a creative marketing agency with a social mission. 

Ritchie is this week’s Changemaker – a weekly column that examines inspiring people and their careers in the Not for Profit sector.

Ritchie’s Not for Profit journey started when she founded Western Australia-based social enterprise Dismantle alongside her brother Lachie in 2010.

Dismantle is a bicycle-based social business that offer programs including a Community Bicycle Workshop, The Bike Rescue Project, which teaches at-risk youth to restore bikes and bike maintenance courses. The aim is to create opportunities that empower people to adopt cycling as part of their everyday lives, for the betterment of the individual, the community and the planet.

After running the marketing for Dismantle, Ritchie has now started up Halfglassfull, a marketing agency that champions cause-related businesses, social enterprises and Not for Profits.  

Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, Halfglassfull is a profit for purpose company with a mission to “grow, promote and sustain the social enterprise sector of Western Australia”.

Ritchie was also named a Young Social Pioneer for the Foundation for Young Australians.

What are you currently working on in your organisation?

A social enterprise community activation hub project has just been approved, so we are strapping ourselves in for a busy year working with a major property developer! We also just won Start up weekend in Perth with an  app concept and prototype, which we will continue to develop and launch as soon as possible.

How long have you been working in the Not for Profit sector?

I co-founded a not for profit called Dismantle in 2010, worked as a many-hat-wearer to start with, and then moved into the role of marketing manager. I now sit on the board of Dismantle and work full time on Halfglassfull.

What do you like best about working in your current organisation?

I get to do what I love, work on a range of start up projects, companies and businesses- all with social missions. But I also get to work for a range of other organisations on their amazing projects too- so I think I have a pretty sweet deal!

I’m always being asked …

“So, what is a social enterprise?!” or “So what do you actually do?!”

What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment? Why?

Social Innovation by Jason Saul. It hooked me after the first two pages, I’m not far in but I can say it’s a great read, very relevant and the information is very consumable.

Through your work, what is your ultimate dream?

To prove profit for purpose is not only a great idea in terms of social impact, but an effective way of doing business. I want to see social enterprise becoming the standard business model in Australia and the world!

My greatest challenge is …

Overcoming my frustration with the inefficiency and lack of innovation in some parts of the not for profit sector in Australia.

School taught me …

That a degree isn’t everything and that learning never stops… and also that learning usually takes place outside of a classroom!