Becoming an agent of change begins with looking within to identify your core values and purpose. Then you do the work to connect your core purpose and values with the people, projects and organizations that naturally align with you. It helps keep your ego where it belongs on lets you focus on spending your time and energy on making an impact.
In 2018, while serving as the President of EO South Florida, I was in a unique position to lead with purpose. Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma on our neighbors in the Florida Keys, I was able to align my personal “why”, of harnessing love and creativity to transform the future, with a group of my entrepreneurial leader peers in EO to bring our problem-solving mindset to help civic and business leaders in the Keys. Shortly after I was invited along with other EO leaders from around the world to join a delegation aligning our 16,000 members’ businesses with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals initiative in New York.
Weston Entrepreneur, Aaron Lee Attends U.N. General Assembly for Entrepreneurs’ Organization partnership signing.
As a Weston, FL resident and local business leader, Aaron Lee appreciates his good fortune. The current president of Entrepreneurs’ Organization – South Florida (EO-SOFLO) is committed to giving back, both in our community and around the world. As part of this role, Lee attended the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he and other Entrepreneurs’ Organization delegates joined the initiative designed to wipe out global poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change by 2030.
“Participating in the 72nd General Assembly was an inspiring opportunity to realize the opportunity to connect my experience and talents as an entrepreneur with a mission that can truly have a lasting global impact,” states Lee. “One of the great benefits of being a member leader in EO is having the opportunity to share in unique and meaningful experiences with people who want to change the world. Being together with more than 30 EO leaders, engaged in discussions about how we can tap into the potential of more than 12,000 global entrepreneurs whose nature it is to see problems as opportunities, was truly remarkable.”
“One of the great benefits of being a member leader in EO is having the opportunity to share in unique and meaningful experiences with people who want to change the world. Being together with more than 30 EO leaders, engaged in discussions about how we can tap into the potential of more than 12,000 global entrepreneurs whose nature it is to see problems as opportunities, was truly remarkable.” - Aaron Lee
Lee and EO-SOFLO are already making an impact by helping rebuild the Florida Keys following Hurricane Irma. “Just prior to attending the General Assembly meeting and the launch of EO’s partnership with the U.N., our community was struck by Hurricane Irma. That event was very much on my mind during the trip. I recognized that once the national news media moved on to the next big story, that the Keys would continue to be dealing with the recovery process for a long time to come.”
Lee says he challenged EO-SOFLO members to assist in the recovery. “In early December, I led a mission of eight members to the lower Keys and Key West to engage with civic and community leaders to identify ways that we could be part of the long-term solution,” he notes. “Since that time, we have continued to coordinate with KeyStrong.org, FEMA and Monroe County leadership to use our resources and ideas to assist with the ongoing recovery efforts.”
Although it’s been more than six months since that storm struck, Lee says there is still much work to do in the Keys and EO-SOFLO remains committed to bringing innovation and its entrepreneurial spirit to the challenge. Entrepreneurs’ Organization made that same commitment to helping the United Nations. Lee and the other delegates signed an official charter pledging to support the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“These are a set of 17 goals designed to transform the world by 2030,” explains Lee. “What the United Nations has recognized is that in order to achieve this ambitious agenda, they must create partnerships with organizations and entities committed to the same outcome with the resources and passion to deliver results.”
