This month, Elle Smith, American model, journalist, and Miss USA 2021 sat down with Nesha Mutuku, director of the Net Impact Black Professional Chapter, former moderator of Net Impact’s The Regenerative Economy event series, and founder and CEO of swally.co. Nesha and Elle discussed the shifting scope of sustainability, what it means to take action and find common ground in today’s world, and why we must bring kindness, joy, inclusivity, and empathy back into our society.

About Elle Smith, 2021 Miss USA 

Elle is no stranger to the limelight, having worked as a full-time reporter for WHAS, the ABC affiliate in Louisville, Kentucky, a position which has adequately prepared her for the prestigious platform of Miss USA. Understanding her role as a journalist to be such an essential part of our society, she took on the challenge each day as an opportunity to connect with her community and share new perspectives. Being raised surrounded by all forms of arts, with her father a photographer and her mother a classically trained pianist, Elle sees herself as a true creative person, currently zoning in on her passion for photography, videography and modeling! Inspired by her late grandmother, Elle has taken up the mantle to advocate for cervical cancer awareness and prevention in her current reign. Follow Elle's Journey: @officialellesmith | @ellesmithtv | @missusa

About Nesha Mutuku

Nesha is a Florida-based founder of a budgeting fintech - designed to gameify personal finance. She also serves as the Chief of Staff for Undock, and loves finding new ways to bridge gaps between business and impact. As a Stetson University Alum, she holds degrees in Quantitative Reasoning, Psychology, Social Science, and Business. On the side, she loves to compose music, write opinion pieces, model, and teach dance.

Join the Net Impact Black Professional Chapter 

The Net Impact Black Professionals Chapter aims to drive change by creating a like-minded community and providing events and programs that support members who aim to use business as a force for environmental & social impact. The NIBPC will help support and encourage Net Impact Central, its partners, and members in fulfilling their commitments to amplify the voices of BIPOC, and making decisions that promote greater equity. In addition, the NIBPC will be stewards for the growing HBCU community within Net Impact, and together, we will continue to build relationships, identify and inspire meaningful actions that enable Net Impact and other businesses, agencies, and institutions to truly being more anti-racist. The Net Impact Black Professional Chapter invites those in the sustainability and social impact ecosystem, who identifies as a Black professional, to join the Chapter. For more details, visit: netimpact.org/blackprofessionalschapter