Meet Kate Sokolov | Co-Founder, Social Goods

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Sokolov and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As activists and shoppers, we wanted to create a place that offered bold, hopeful, and statement-making products that all gave back to nonprofits. Merging my background in politics and social impact with my Co-Founder (and sister!) Lisa’s in fashion and merchandising, we founded Social Goods to be that destination.

We believe merchandise can act as a catalyst for change — a way to get people to start talking and keep talking about the issues that matter most to them. On Social Goods our customers can find products that help them showcase what they’re passionate about while also supporting the nonprofits working on those issues.

To date, we’ve supported over 50 nonprofits working in areas such as women’s rights, civic engagement, equality, mental health awareness, environmental protection, humanitarian aid, education and the arts.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career in political campaigns working on digital strategy for mostly women candidates. Since then, I’ve been so fortunate to be able to focus on civic engagement and philanthropy full-time including for over seven years at Google working on their social impact products and programs.

While I was there, I helped launch Grow with Google, the company’s $1 billion initiative to drive economic opportunity for all, and led global programs for Google’s Politics & Elections efforts helping voters in over 50 countries find objective election information — two programs I’m immensely proud of! When I was ready to make a transition, I knew I wanted to continue working in social impact and find new ways to contribute to nonprofits. That’s why creating Social Goods, which leverages both my background and Lisa’s, felt so right.

What you are most proud of or excited about:

It might sound simple, but I’m so proud we launched something so true to our original mission! We believe merchandise can be an entry point for deeper action with nonprofits organizations — and know Social Goods can help facilitate those relationships.

Also, as first time founders, getting to this point alone is something we both are really proud of — we’ve supported over 50 nonprofits and given back over $100,000 since launching.

I’m most excited about continuing to grow and evolve our offering. Whether it’s creating new products that raise awareness of key issues or finding new ways to engage and support our nonprofit partners, we find we’re just beginning!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, my Co-Founder (and sister!) Lisa. I love getting to work with her day in and day out — sharing all the daily ups and downs of launching a business, while also getting to celebrate the milestones and successes.
Also, our sister, Anne! While starting a company at all is challenging, starting one with family adds in a different dynamic. Our sister — and my twin — has been there from Day 1 to offer advice, mediate if needed, and give us the (sometimes unsolicited) truth.

Website: social-goods.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopsocialgoods/

Image Credits
Social Goods