Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, shares his uncommon path to purpose in the first Think. Do. Discover. Speaker Series event. The quarterly Think. Do. Discover. Speaker Series is brought to you by the Davis Entrepreneurship Network, organized by the UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and sponsored by Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars.

My heart pounded, my head throbbed, and feverish chills gripped me as I anxiously awaited my turn to pitch. As a finalist at Blackstone LaunchPad Powered by Techstars, RePurpose Energy was one of six teams competing for a $10,000 prize, and I felt less than ready to rise to the challenge.

Because of the nature of English Khadavu, my nonprofit organization based in India, its progress can sometimes move very slowly.

Seven UC Davis students from four startup teams did just that when they took on the Big Apple, attending the third annual LaunchPad Propel to show 19 other attending universities #aggieinnovation in action to and how #aggieinnovators are creating solutions in sustainability and social impact.

I come from a household of six people and 24 eyes—everyone in my immediate family, including my four-year-old sister, wears glasses.

Growing up, my frames were usually purchased from the optometrist office and had price tags in the hundreds; they were easily the most expensive thing I wore. I am fortunate that my parents’ company insurance covered lenses and frames, but not everyone with impaired vision has that access to care.