Social Gatherings: Paul van Zyl of The Conduit

The hospitality sector is the 3rd largest private sector employer in the UK, providing livelihood to 2.9 million people and generating £130bn in economic activity.

This week, hear from Paul van Zyl about how he is thinking of gathering people for good in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul is the co-founder of The Conduit, a membership community of people passionate about social change. Previously, Paul served in South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and co-founded the International Centre for Transitional Justice, a nonprofit that works in countries that have endured human rights violations in conflict. Paul is also a co-founder and CEO of Maiyet, an ethical luxury fashion brand.

"I started a non-profit that went from zero to raising $20 million a year. I realized I was only dealing with philanthropic capital, deploying the 2-4% of what people give away," says Paul. "But I thought: what about the other 96-98%? How do we orient that capital to achieve good in the world? And that's how I tripped over into social entrepreneurship."