Impact Interview: Melanie Copple
Name: Melanie Copple
Role/Function: Executive Director at the Biophilic Institute and Strategic Philanthropy Consultant at the Fashion Institute of Technology
What are you working on these days?
I am working on programming and planning the upcoming Biophilic Leadership Summit for the Biophilic Institute. We are bringing together thought leaders, policy experts and biophilic practitioners for two days in a Biophilic retreat setting to discuss principles/learnings/best practices in Biophilic Placemaking that will hopefully impact not only architectural, interior, urban and landscape design in the U.S. but also inform local legislature and city planning for designing people-centric spaces in harmony with nature.
What was the “aha” moment that sparked your interest in social impact?
Elizabeth Cline's 2012 book "Overdressed" opened my eyes to people working to solve issues in the fashion sustainability space. While I was working retail sales it moved me so much I invited her to speak to a random group of friends and church goers (to form a little community event moment) and she was the loveliest person and influenced more people in the room that night.
How did you break into the social impact space?
Having previously managed a luxury Italian fashion house's flagship store on 5th Avenue, I transitioned to a budding luxury fashion brand dedicated to empowering global artisans. My advice: identify and focus on what you are naturally good at (mine was sales and organization), as those skills usually seamlessly translate to industries and companies prioritizing sustainability and social impact.
Working in social impact is often about driving change. What is the skill or trait that has been most important for your work as a change agent? How did you learn or hone it?
Strategic partnerships have been integral to my role as a change agent. Whether fundraising for a meaningful cause, launching projects to solve real-world issues or fostering thought leadership collaborations, these partnerships have driven meaningful impact in my work. Each opportunity allows me to refine what constitutes an impactful partnership, further strengthening this crucial skill set. I have found it helpful to know what I was good at, and focus on what I am passionate about and see those skills transfer over to jobs I think to be most impactful.
What most excites you about the social impact space right now?
I find biophilic farming practices in urban environments and renewable agriculture incredibly compelling at the moment. The current sustainable farming landscape is brimming with innovative tech startups dedicated to transforming the U.S. food system while simultaneously ensuring financial profitability and sustainability for our farmers.
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