Listen to this articleBelow is our recent interview with Miriam Cohen, the Senior Director, PR & Communications at One Planet Group:
Interviewer: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to One Planet Group?
Miriam Cohen: One Planet Group is a closely held private equity firm that owns a suite of online technology and media businesses while also investing in early-stage companies. Our mission is to support strong business ideas while building an ethos that helps improve society and give back to communities. We believe that good ideas and profitable businesses are not enough. Making a positive impact starts with aligning our efforts with the right intentions.
Interviewer: Any highlights on your latest announcement?
Miriam Cohen: This year, our team took on a service trip to the main campus of Starfish International in The Gambia. Starfish International is a non-profit organization committed to empowering Gambian girls by offering them comprehensive educational, business, and service opportunities.
During our trip, we worked alongside students, immersing ourselves in their educational environment and gaining insights into both the challenges and triumphs of their educational journey. This trip reinforces our belief in the powerful impact of giving, which is why we were particularly excited about our ‘Holidays with a Purpose’ event that took place on December 12th. This fundraiser is dedicated to helping advance the education of girls in The Gambia and Haiti, which gives us the opportunity to continue supporting Starfish International by matching every dollar donated. Our goal is to deepen connections with these outstanding organizations, where our support can truly make a difference.
Interviewer: Can you tell us more about your business?
Miriam Cohen: One Planet Group embraces the concept of universal philanthropy, emphasizing that giving, whether through resources or time, has a significant impact not only on the causes we support but also on our own well-being and happiness. By offering paid “Service Days” for our employees, we encourage active participation in community-building activities, reinforcing our commitment to giving back as a company.
With over 20 years of experience, ‘Innovation + Intention’ is at the epicenter of everything we do. Our owned and operated companies work through the lens that financial success can be aligned with the principles that business and capitalism can work in tandem to actively improve the world. Our investment arm adopts high-capacity organizations and helps to elevate their ideas into successful, sustainable businesses.
Interviewer: What can we expect from One Planet Group in the next 6 months? What are your plans?
Miriam Cohen: One of our key initiatives for 2024 is the continuation of the One Planet Summit, a new conference that had its inaugural launch in November 2023. This summit is a landmark achievement that brought together inspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, to focus on discussions and advancements in sustainable and socially responsible business practices.
We are additionally planning our next service trip to the Starfish campus in The Gambia, to better get to know the next generation of men and women going through that incredible program.
Interviewer: What is the best thing about One Planet Group that people might not know about?
Miriam Cohen: While we’re not a social impact company, something we are really proud of is our commitment to investing in businesses that are working to better the world – in whatever way that may take shape. We believe that financial success can be aligned with principles that promote equity, inclusion, and the oneness of humanity, and we want to work with companies and entrepreneurs who have a similar belief system. 79% of our current investments are in companies run by women and/or people of color, and they’re some of the most successful start-ups in our portfolio. Only 2.3% of VC funding went to women in 2020, while 33% of the companies in our total portfolio are being led by women.
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