Derreck Kayongo
Business Visionary, Global Soap Project Founder & CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights
Fee Range
$15,000
Derreck Kayongo
Biography
Derreck Kayongo's remarkable journey exemplifies the power of combining profit with purpose. As a successful entrepreneur, CEO, and renowned human rights activist, Derreck has demonstrated that businesses can thrive while making a positive impact on the world.
Through his visionary idea of the Global Soap Project, Derreck has shown that creative problem solving and keen observation can lead to innovative solutions that address global challenges. By collecting discarded and unused soap from hotels worldwide and redistributing it to communities in need, Derreck has not only built a successful humanitarian aid organization but has also tackled global health issues in 90 countries. This simple yet effective approach has led to a reduction in hygiene-related diseases and deaths in at-risk communities.
Derreck's inspiring story proves that profit and purpose can go hand in hand. He has leveraged his entrepreneurial spirit to create tangible change in the world, demonstrating that even small ideas can have a massive impact. His success has garnered international recognition, including being named a 2011 CNN Top Ten Hero and a 2014 TED Talks speaker.
As the former CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Derreck further showcased his commitment to combining profit with purpose. He elevated the visibility of the Center on a global scale, highlighting stories of civil rights abuse and the heroic actions that changed the course of history. This work not only raised awareness but also contributed to the Center's financial sustainability.
Derreck's passion for helping others and his commitment to innovative thinking continues to inspire audiences worldwide. Through his powerful storytelling and infectious optimism, he empowers individuals and organizations to embrace the concept of "profit with a purpose." By following his S.E.L.F. principles of Service, Education, Leadership, and Faith, Derreck demonstrates that success and social responsibility are complementary forces that can drive positive change.
In a world where businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of corporate social responsibility, Derreck Kayongo stands as a shining example of how to balance profit with purpose. His tireless efforts to create a better world through entrepreneurship and humanitarianism serve as an inspiration for future generations of business leaders looking to make a difference.
Derreck Kayongo
Featured Keynote Programs
Harnessing Your Power to Create Change and Drive Profit with Purpose
As Founder of the Global Soap Project, Derreck Kayongo has built a multi-million-dollar venture that combines profit with purpose by recycling soap and distributing it through global health programs to people in need around the world. Kayongo breaks down the key factors that have led to his success: Service, Education, Leadership, and Faith (S.E.L.F.). He challenges audiences to focus on personal accountability, seek out opportunities to improve, and maintain faith in themselves and their teams to create an environment where everyone is empowered to thrive. By aligning business goals with social responsibility, companies can not only drive profitability but also make a meaningful impact on the world. Channeling Your Passion to Build a Legacy of Profit and Purpose Derreck Kayongo's Global Soap Project not only created change but also established a legacy that has had a lasting impact on the hotel industry and global health. His innovation led hotels to switch to liquid soap canisters mounted on shower walls, conserving resources and becoming more eco-friendly. Kayongo shares the six cornerstones that anchored him in building this legacy: Legendary Leadership, Eagle-eyed focus, Unlocking your genius, Adaptability, Capacious ability to synthesize assumptions, and You - the destination where all roads lead, driven by a positive attitude and an aspirational urgency to harness your power. By focusing on passion and purpose, businesses can build a legacy that not only drives profit but also makes a positive impact on the world.
Reimagining Diversity & Inclusion
A Pathway to Courageous Conversations and Improved Bottom Lines
Derreck Kayongo tackles the cost of discrimination in the workplace head-on, illustrating how diversity and inclusion issues can negatively impact a company's bottom line. From long-term harm to brand reputation and weakened stock prices to negative community perceptions, Derreck reveals the potential savings that come about when employees understand the cost of discrimination and the value of their fellow employees. He introduces the concept of "Corporate Moral Aptitude," an intriguing notion similar to Emotional Intelligence, but focused on addressing cultural biases within the marketplace. By embracing diversity and inclusion, companies can not only improve their workplace culture but also drive profitability and growth. Derreck's outsider perspective as a former Ugandan refugee turned successful American CEO provides a unique and inspiring viewpoint on this critical topic.
From Homeless Refugee to Living the American Dream
Turning Adversity into Opportunity
Derreck Kayongo's inspiring story of using his refugee experience to create the innovative Global Soap Project demonstrates how adversity can lead to opportunity. Kayongo believes that not every bad experience in life has to end up horribly - sometimes they lead us to a problem we need to solve or to our true calling in life. By drawing on the hardships he faced as a refugee, Kayongo was able to manufacture a solution to a global problem while also building a successful business. His story illustrates how combining profit with purpose can lead to both personal success and positive change in the world.
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