Michael Seiler is connecting innovation with impact for a better San Francisco
Michael Seiler is a social impact strategist, leveraging new technology, cross-sector partnerships, and creative media campaigns to drive impact on big social and environmental challenges, local and global. With a background in technology and startup acceleration, tech education, DEI, nonprofits and events/festivals, Michael is passionate about creating big cultural movements that align citizens, businesses, government, and nonprofits around a unified impact plan. He spoke with the SHACK15 Journal about his inspiring work building connections across sectors for a better San Francisco.
SHACK15: Hey Michael! Let’s dig right in. You talk a lot about the “Impact Sector”, what is meant by that and what does it entail?
Seiler: Thank you for the opportunity to share! The ‘Impact Sector’ is a new way of thinking about how we collectively solve our world’s biggest challenges. Traditionally, nonprofits did the ‘good work’, while businesses made money and gave to charity on the side. With this movement, we are blurring the lines between impact and business. Humanity has a lot of big issues to solve - education, healthcare, food systems, sustainable energy, economic equity - all can be lucrative industries while driving positive humanitarian and environmental impact. This is about multi-sector collaboration to proactively bring the newest innovation, expertise, and resources to the table.
SHACK15: I like the sound of multi-sector collaboration - why is it so essential?
Seiler: Deep collaboration is the only way to get big things done. No single entity has all the answers, whether it be government, corporate, nonprofits, academia, philanthropy, or citizens. By bringing stakeholders together, we get the best of each sector and become a team that tackles challenges more effectively.
Take homelessness in San Francisco. As we’ve seen, even with a $1B budget, the Government is failing to solve this humanitarian crisis. Even the 100+ service nonprofits in SF, who help people every day, aren’t able to address the root causes on their own. Citizens are frustrated with no outlet for action, and corporations blamed for exacerbating costs and inequities are left out of the solution. We will only see progress when we all come out of our silos, off the sidelines, and align around a single city-wide plan where we all know the critical role they play.
SHACK15: How did you become so passionate about connecting innovation and Impact? Is this what you do through your org Collective Impact?
Seiler: Empathy has always been deep in my nature, and my work in festivals showed me the power of community to drive change. Then I was exposed to the power of innovation through my work with groups like Google Accelerator and Salesforce.org. Inspired, I jumped into doing this work on my own. Now, my clients range from corporates to nonprofits, startups to education institutions. The thru-line in every project I take on is the development of innovative strategies to accelerate impact-led growth.
SHACK15: You’re helping one of your clients - Beyond Homeless - in this work locally. Can you share more?
Seiler: Yes. Beyond Homeless is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing homelessness in San Francisco and in cities around the country. We’re moving the success of their award-winning documentary into action. In just a few weeks leaders of the 25+ most influential SF homelessness organizations will convene to align on big transformational ideas that couldn’t be accomplished in isolation. This proactive collaboration is a first for SF, and it will move us beyond short-term piecemeal projects, and into working together on a comprehensive planning to end homelessness in our city.
SHACK15: And how about your work with the Bay Area Council?
Seiler: I’m proud to have recently joined the Bay Area Council’s Board of Directors, to proactively connect SF’s Impact and Policy leaders to its Innovation Sector. The Council has been around for 80 years, created the BART and Ferry systems, and has deep policy influence in the Bay Area.
Our first program together will be Hack for the Bay which leverages AI and innovation to solve challenges specific to the Bay Area. The goal is to bring innovation experts to the issues being faced by our region. We’ll be working directly with the elected leaders and large commissions to create practical solutions that reshape how we approach issues like transportation, sustainability, and community well-being.
SHACK15: Your optimism for the future of San Francisco is inspiring. Can you share your thoughts on the city’s recovery?
Seiler: Love this! Yes, It’s an exciting time for those of us shaping the next evolution of San Francisco. It is a city that is constantly reinventing itself. Its natural vortex pulls in pioneers, innovators, and movement makers from around the world. Just walk into Shack15 and you’ll feel the energy of what’s to come.
San Francisco is a small city that punches way above its weight class on the global scale. We exist to be talked about by the rest of the world. This city has a history of operating on a boom-bust cycle, and has been rebuilt from ashes 3 times - SF is a beacon of progress and innovation and our next iteration will show the world how we use innovation to solve humanity's biggest challenges.
Importantly, WE are SF. It has always been the people (not the elected leaders) who have shaped the global movements that start here. At this moment, there are thousands of communities in the 7x7 that are passionately churning out their expressions that will lead to the next version of this city. Arts, culture, tech, impact, awe. We just need to put the spotlight back on the people and the narrative will shift.
SHACK15: That’s inspiring. Does your new project, "Bay Area Creators" help activating citizens?
Seiler: I’m thrilled about the launch of Bay Area Creators. We are uniting some of the Bay Area's most influential social creators on Instagram and TikTok to use their platforms to drive meaningful impact. The Bay Area has incredibly diverse, passionate, artistic, activist creators with substantial following. By aligning these influencers with impact and policy leaders working on the big issues of the region, we can run campaigns to move citizens authentically from frustration into action. This will be critical for determining our future as we near the 2024 election season.
SHACK15: In closing, what message do you have for the people of San Francisco and beyond?
Seiler: San Francisco's true strength lies in its people. We have a history of turning challenges into opportunities and shaping the world through innovation and resilience. Positive change starts with each of us. By coming together, leveraging our diverse strengths, and embracing innovation we can be leaders in creating a future that reflects our values and aspirations.