There's a social media platform out there helping transform lives and strengthen communities. But it's not Facebook or Twitter (arguably, those can help too); I'm talking about MicroMentor, the world's largest online business mentoring program. It's run by Portland-based non-profit Mercy Corps. 

On this episode of the podcast we chat with Mikaila Belk about the work her organization is doing to connect entrepreneurs​ and business mentors around the globe.

By facilitating genuine connections among small business owners, previously-successful entrepreneurs, and hard-working hopefuls, MicroMentor helps people grow their businesses and improve the economic status of their communities, all through the power of mentorship.

Did you know mentored entrepreneurs create twice as many new jobs as those who go solo?

Mentorship can lead to the productive exchange of advice, help us think through our own ideas, broaden our networks and create positive connections where they didn't exist before.

Check out MicroMentor's website to learn more about their work and scroll down to their blog (Mikaila's favorite) to have a look at a few recent success stories.
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​Enjoy--

Keywords: social norms, marketing, persuasion, behavioral  intervention, prosocial behavior, solar panels, leading by example

On this episode, we learn how Gordon and his colleagues leverage social norms and general psychology to identify which factors are most likely to persuade Americans to adopt solar panels for home energy use.

Check out more about Gordon through his website: https://about.me/gordon.krafttodd


Social Norms Approach to Marketing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_norms_approach

Diffusion of (Moral) Innovations
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations
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Keywords: moral behavior, whistleblowing, cultural psychology, corruption, trust in authority, reporting of transgressions, individualist-collectivist cultures

On this episode we discuss how cultural factors can encourage or discourage the reporting of transgressions (that is - tattling - speaking up about someone's crime, calling out cheating in school, or bullying/harassment at work). We also touch on how certain incentive strategies like rewards and punishments designed to encourage the reporting of transgressions might work better in some cultures than others. For instance, offering individual rewards like money to someone who reports bad behavior may be more effective in individualist cultures (typical of the United States) compared a collectivist culture (typical of East Asian countries like China, and some South American cultures, like in Argentina, where our guest is from). 

The website below shows where different countries rank along these different aspects of culture (individualism, power distance, masculinity, etc.). This map is not a perfect guide for every situation, but it is an easy and fun way to compare among different countries simultaneously.

www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/
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I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tamara!