Conscious Consumerism, Leadership, & Entrepreneurship with Ian Bentley (Part 1)

No Straight Path

Continuing in our entrepreneurship theme, today we speak with Ian Bentley, the co-founder, and CEO of Parker Clay. This brand showcases exceptional Ethiopian leather and craftsmanship while creating meaningful job opportunities for at-risk women in Ethiopia. Ian, driven by his business development background and desire for change, founded the company with his wife Brittany after adopting their daughter from Ethiopia. Parker Clay has since expanded to over 200 employees (80% women), between their office, warehouse, and flagship store in Santa Barbara, California, and their factory and leadership team in Ethiopia. In this episode, Ian shares his personal journey from growing up in LA to meeting his wife and starting the company together. He discusses the challenges faced by women in Ethiopia and the family’s decision to move there to address these issues. The episode also explores topics such as conscious consumerism and what being a B Corp entails. Ian shares insights on balancing business growth with the company's mission and values and his views on failure versus learning. Join us for an insightful discussion on creating a better future with Ian Bentley through sustainable and ethical practices.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ian Bentley

Parker Clay

Parker Clay Investor Campaign

Ashley Menzies Babatunde

Ashley Menzies Babatunde on Instagram

Hubspot Podcast Network

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