We often think that if we just throw enough money or resources at a challenge, it will go away. But what if the very way we try to help is actually keeping the problem alive?
My guest today is Jake Groshong, the CEO at Playing for Change Foundation. Jake is leading a massive global movement that is flipping the script on how we create impact. Under his leadership, the foundation has grown well over 1,000%, now operating in over 130 locations across 30 countries.
Jake and his team are using music as a powerful starting point to help dismantle barriers and tackle major issues like human trafficking, education and turning refugee camps into self-sustaining economic hubs.
In this conversation, we talk about the critical distinction between sustaining a problem and actually solving it. We explore why the answers we are looking for are rarely found by bringing in outside experts, but by empowering the wisdom that already exists within a community.
You are going to hear incredible stories of transformation, from the Sahara Desert in Eastern Morocco to the villages of Nepal, and the specific mindsets required to unlock potential in even the most difficult of circumstances.
This is a masterclass in leadership, empathy, and the power of belief.
“We show people the strength of who they are and where they come from.” – Jake Groshong
In This Episode, You Will Learn
- The Power of Self-Confidence: You cannot enable potential in someone who feels “lesser than”. Real leadership starts by building self-confidence and changing someone’s internal mindset so they believe their ideas have value.
- Community-Led Solutions: The answers to local problems are rarely found by bringing in outside experts, but by empowering the wisdom that already exists within the community.
- Radical Independence: Hire people of excellence and trust them to execute; micromanagement stifles the innovation required to solve complex problems.
- Cultural Entry Points: How a simple music program in Nepal became the catalyst for women to dismantle centuries of oppression, child marriage, and human trafficking.
- High-Impact Scalability: How to keep overhead low while maximizing programmatic impact by hiring locally and sharing the financial burden with global partners.
- Plus much more…
What We Discuss:
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 02:17 – Stop Sustaining Problems
- 03:55 – Community Led Impact Model
- 04:45 – Refugee Camp Self Reliance
- 07:11 – Building Pride And Belief
- 11:28 – Music As The Catalyst
- 13:22 – Nepal Girls And Culture Shift
- 17:35 – Breaking Beliefs Door To Door
- 19:53 – Scaling A Global Movement
- 22:44 – Artists And Viral Origins
- 26:30 – Proven Solutions And Policy
- 28:42 – UN Recognition And Gaza Plan
- 30:50 – Funding And Future Growth
- 32:35 – Foster Care Music Wins
- 34:28 – Pine Ridge Hope Shift
- 35:49 – From Aid to Empowerment
- 37:48 – Mentors Spark Education
- 38:58 – Coalitions Over Competition
- 41:05 – Leadership Trust Culture
- 43:07 – Motivation Family Perspective
- 46:51 – Beyond Suffering Narratives
- 49:03 – Mindset Internal Accountability
- 51:53 – Support and Funding Paths
- 59:34 – Hiring Cultural Intelligence
- 01:02:32 – Tearing Down Walls
- 01:04:17 – Closing Thanks Next Steps
About Jake
Jake has dedicated his life to improving the lives of youth in need by utilizing the power of their own cultures and tackling the issues most prevalent in their community. As the CEO of the Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF), he has led the organization through a 6-year period of over 1000% growth – now uniquely impacting millions of lives each year in more than 130 locations across 30 countries.
In his role leading PFCF, Jake builds and nurtures partnerships between the 501(c)3 organization and iconic artists, governments, brands, and supporters worldwide. Designed to help those kids most in need across the globe to rise up through their own music and culture and solve the most pressing issues their community is facing, PFCF has over 1200 locally hired teachers and community members.
Using music as our universal language, Jake has created partnerships in the last year alone to open new schools in areas like the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, multiple locations in bomb shelters across Ukraine, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Jake additionally developed the Impact Awards, honoring major artists using their platform for philanthropy and good, held every Spring in Miami. Previous recipients include Pharrell Williams, Andrea Bocelli, Diplo, Maluma, Paula Abdul, Luis Fonsi, and other luminaries.
He has also built relationships with dozens of major artists who serve as global ambassadors to PFCF, and has opened programs in partnership with Shakira in Colombia, DJ Khaled in Miami, Ellie Goulding in Jordan, and Damon Albarn in Mali, amongst others.
A recipient of numerous humanitarian awards, Jake regularly speaks at conferences around the world on the power of music and culture to create social change, taking action through the next generation, building and operating nonprofits as businesses, and the economic impact of music and culture – with keynote addresses and panels given across the globe at Global Citizen NOW, NATO, Concordia Annual Summit, Music Cities, Opal Group Family Wealth Conference, UBS Family Wealth Conference, Visa for Music, Performing the World, UAI Summit, The Vine, and dozens of others.
While many organizations and individuals believe they have the solution to the problems communities in need are facing around the globe, Jake’s belief is that the answer always lies within asking and listening to the communities themselves. Jake has worked as a consultant for dozens of international organizations and major artists, and is currently authoring a book on the power of music to create social impact in conjunction with major artists and UCI’s Center for the Power of Music. In addition to his work as a changemaker across the globe, Jake is a Tony-nominated theater producer, with work on Broadway and the West End.
Show Notes
Connect with Jake Groshong:
Resources Mentioned:
- Playing For Change Foundation
- United Nations Development Programme
