Meet Selena McLachlan, Purppl Entrepreneur In Residence since 2022
As an Entrepreneur In Residence at Purppl, Selena McLachlan dedicates her deep expertise as a values-driven communications and marketing strategist to helping organizations accelerate their journey towards achieving meaningful social impact.
Her approach is both strategic and heartfelt. She tackles the big, wicked problems by first asking, “What problem are we trying to solve?” and then applying a two-eyed seeing lens to the solution. Her work spans globally, conducted remotely from wherever her heart takes her, including her part-time home on Gabriola Island (territory of the Snuneymuxw people).
Selena’s journey into social impact began in the cooperative business sector nearly 25 years ago, at Vancity Credit Union. There, she discovered the profound possibilities of combining profit with purpose. She says, “In the social purpose space, profit is more than possible, and even more rewarding when not on the backs of people and the planet.”
After Vancity, she has continued to take on leadership roles in the co-op sector at organizations such a Mountain Equipment Co-op (long before it was Mountain Equipment Company), Modo The Car Coop, and others.
When asked how she measures impact, she says it always varies.
“Social measures may be trickier to measure than financial ones, but doable. The key is to find the right metric that aligns with the problems you’re trying to solve. Establish a baseline and targets, then track year over year, refining along the way, if and as needed.”
Selena’s vision for the fuure is clear: she aims to make a lasting contribution to a more just and sustainable world for her children and grandchildren. Her ability to maintain hope, even on challenging days, is fuelled by the belief that tough times will pass – and the smiling faces of her granddaughters.
Learn more about Selena’s career path: https://purppl.com/about/our-team/#selena-mclachlan-bio
This is the first in a series showcasing the unique stories, perspectives, and contributions of the “Purposeful People” who animate the social economy, including the remarkable individuals within Purppl’s extended community – clients, alumni, Entrepreneurs In Residence, staff, program partners, and funders. Through this series, we aim to honour their commitment to social change, share their insights, and inspire others to join the movement towards a just, regenerative economy.
