Aaron Sherinian - Take a Chance on Someone

Nov 28, 2023

Edith Wharton once said, "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

Today's guest, Aaron Sherinian, is both—a candle igniting change and a mirror reflecting the light of others.

Eleven years ago, Aaron was the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the United Nations Foundation, where, amongst many other things, he was instrumental in founding Giving Tuesday, a movement dedicated to turning the Tuesday after Thanksgiving into a day of giving.

During these crucial early days for Charity Miles, Aaron observed the power of our community sharing the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media, sparking his interest in our mission.

This led to a breakfast meeting that was a turning point for Charity Miles and me personally.

Aaron not only connected us with crucial sponsors like Johnson & Johnson but also provided platforms for us to share our story at events like the Social Good Summit, the Moms+Social Summit, and SXSW. These opportunities were instrumental in introducing us to key members of our community.

I've wanted to do this interview for a long time, and it brings me particular joy to share it on Giving Tuesday.

In this conversation, Aaron shares insights from his career and personal experiences, including:

• The potluck dinner of life and how each of us can bring our best dish.
• Effective ways to invite people to embrace positive change.
• Think big but start small.
• The evolving role of social media and its impact on social causes.
• Why rallies are important.
• The importance of cultivating a purpose posse.
• Overcoming taboos to find solutions.
• The power of showing up.
• The transformative power of taking a chance on someone.

It's no exaggeration to say that Charity Miles would not exist today without Aaron taking a chance on us.

In honor of Aaron, I invite you to take a chance on someone else you see spreading light into the world.

#EveryMileMatters