Social Enterprise, Being Coached and Breaking Myths
Zakia is the founder of Invisible Cities, a social enterprise that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become tour guides in cities across the UK.
Zakia and her team have empowered countless homeless people to create unique tours of their home cities to give visitors an experience that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
She has spoken at TedX, is a guest lecturer and Invisible Cities was awarded the accolade of ‘Best Tour’ in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel list in 2021.
Summary
The launch of our 100% initiative has led to many introductions with wonderful people who are doing amazing things with their businesses. They have provided us with lots of inspiration for the direction we take at SEO Travel and none moreso than Zakia Moulaoui.
Zakia has created a business model that creates a true impact and is making a difference to many people’s lives every day purely through it’s existence.
It was fascinating to talk to her in depth about the social enterprise model and how this can benefit all parties involved. It’s a new way to look at business that many people may not have considered and may well change your perspective after listening to this.
We also delve into the impact coaching has had on her life, both personal and professional, and why others should consider working with a coach.
The conversation also has great stories about thinking differently, the incubator she joined and the benefits of being part of that, and of Ugandans using pedestrian crossings…
Storytelling has been at the heart of the growth of Invisible Cities, so it’s no surprise that Zakia tells some great tales here, along with how to use storytelling in your own business.
Zakia is a truly inspirational woman doing brilliant things in business and this is the perfect episode to kick of season 2 of the podcast.
Enjoy!
0:03:00
What is Invisible Cities?
0:05:00
The journey to starting the business
0:10:00
The Homeless World Cup
0:18:00
Volunteering in the refugee crisis in Greece
0:24:00
Starting Invisible Cities
0:27:00
Experience being in Good Ideas incubator
0:35:00
Insight into the social enterprise model and how it works
0:41:00
Selfish benefits of the social enterprise model
0:53:00
Growing the Invisible Cities team
0:58:00
What she’s learned from recruiting and training people in the team and the guides themselves
1:04:00
Turning down donations
1:05:00
Gaining trust as a small brand
1:14:00
The value of storytelling and what it means to Zakia
1:16:00
The benefits of working with a coach
1:22:00
Marketing approaches and great example of guerilla marketing
1:28:00
Future plans
1:34:00
Recommendations for a new travel business or social enterprise
“Everything is only the sum of the little bits you put together. One thing at a time. You don’t need to do everything all at once. Start telling people about it. Deconstruct whatever it is you would like to do and turn it into the little steps you need to take to make it happen. Say it out loud. Saying it to other people makes it becomes real. When I told people about it it was real and existed. It takes a village to raise a business.”
Zakia Moulaoui
Founder, Invisible Cities
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