Giovanna Jagger: Accelerating the Impact of a New Global Social Network with a Purpose

WokenUp is the new global social network for individuals, non-profits and companies making a difference by taking action on today's pressing social and environmental issues ranging from climate and sustainability to diversity and beyond. 

The company offers a Jobs Board focused on responding to the United Nations' (UN) promise that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will create 380 million jobs by 2030. 

Creating Case Based Platforms for Communities 

Giovanna Jagger is the Co-Founder and Head of Business Development at WokenUp. She works closely with the CEO Simon Puleston Jones and her team to ensure that the company delivers its promise to partners and communities to create a platform that will help them advance the causes they care about. 

Giovanna considers her role as rich and enriching. She is fully involved in the operational aspect of the business and supports its mission by leading growth as Head of Business Development. 

Along with her team, she is designing processes and frameworks that help scale the network up to ensure that there is a level of accountancy in the work they are doing in line with the UN SDG's. 

The last decade has shown that social media can be misused. In response, WokenUp is providing a different environment placing the spotlight on causes and initiatives doing good with all the available resources. 

Driving the Leadership Purpose 

Speaking on leadership, Giovanna says that over 60% of women do not apply for roles in leadership because they do not see another woman who has gone before them. This speaks about diversity and equality at the board level. 

For Giovanna, it all started with her maternal grandmother who was a real powerful presence in her life. Her mother and sister have also influenced how she works with others and how she sees herself professionally. Giovanna gravitates towards leadership and courage. Over the last 20 years, these two determining factors have enabled her to advance her career and have the time, freedom and space to progress and contribute in any way she can. Her husband has provided her with her support and is her biggest encourager. 

Professionally, Giovanna has always taken every opportunity given to her to learn and is proud of how far she has come. Through the support and mentorship Giovanna has received, she has learnt to recognise her areas of strength and has focused on developing those. 

By the time Giovanna turned 40, she knew her focus would be legacy and purpose, which also meant to re- assessing her priorities. She asserts that if she could pass on a simple advice to others, she would say to turn the noise down, focus and remember why they have started. 

Facing Challenges for Building Strength 

Giovanna has faced plenty of challenges as a result of being female and ambitious and also being an immigrant. However, none of them have stopped her from pursuing what she wants to achieve in life. She says that she is certain now that there is a moment in one's life where we face with challenges designed to break us, and we must simply stop and realign before taking the next step. 

Giovanna has been disappointed, hurt and let down by people, systems and situations which were out of her control. She has learnt to move on and only trust those who consistently demonstrate that they truly care about her future. When it comes to a support system, she trusts quality better than quantity. 

For Giovanna, resilience, consistency and love for others are the vital attributes that every transformational leader must possess. In addition to her role at WokenUp, she is volunteering as Impact Advisor at We and AI, and Director of Impact at One World Women. 

Serving with Innovation 

At WokenUp, the team believes in existing to serve others, which means the company takes its objectives very seriously and reviews them all the time to assess where they are here. The company's product and offering are being developed to respond to what the communities need to help them achieve their targets and goals. 

Moreover, WokenUp has put some processes in place to keep its 'ears on the ground' effectively. Embracing Disruptive Technologies for Progress 

Speaking about disruptive technologies, Giovanna says that they are key, and by embracing them and integrating them to WokenUp's product development, the team is effective in delivering their own offering. 

Disruptive technologies are often misunderstood and not utilised well. They offer the opportunity to progress, be effective, efficient and focus on strategy. 

Giovanna adds that leaders need to look at all available resources, including technologies, and create plans and projects where all take part. The main focus must be allowing others to use their time appropriately 

Discussing the company and the industry in the future ahead, Giovanna says that WokenUp is ambitious and looks to disrupt the status quo and to provoke positive changes. 

Word of Advice for the Young Minds 

Her advise on how to support others is to create a "buddy system" with women within the community. To seek out others who will contribute towards growth by bringing something different to our lives. Don't be afraid to work with those who are very different to you. You will learn more from diversity than you can imagine.