Dream Big — When I first started out, I was intimidated by what potential success could look like and never thought I could run a billion dollar company or work in the blockchain or AI sector. Now I know that no idea is too big and in fact the vision of the future is what can push you to get there more than the knowledge of how to do it.

As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Aaron Rafferty.

Aaron Rafferty is the CEO of StandardDAO and Co-Founder of BattlePACs, a subsidiary of Standard DAO. Aaron unlocks value for individuals, institutions, and companies leveraging technologies like Blockchain, AI, cloud. Aaron’s main focus is to build products that enhance engagement and productivity for students.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path and point in your life?

My name is Aaron Rafferty, and I am a scientist, researcher, entrepreneur, and advocate for social impact. My passion for social impact began in my early years when I saw the impact of poverty and inequality on the lives of individuals and communities. This passion motivated me to pursue a career in science, where I could use my skills to make a difference.

I started my career in science as a researcher studying the behavioral interventions that could help individuals achieve their health goals. I found the space of digital therapeutics exciting given their implications on behavioral interventions. After several years in research however, I soon realized that while theoretical interventions are important, there was a gap in application that for me was a missing link for successful intervention and long term impact. So, I shifted my focus towards entrepreneurship, specifically building software that has the potential to change lives and can address the very issues I was finding with an academic approach.

This eventually led me to the world of social impact, where I have been working to bring together technology, science, and business to create a future of equitable and sustainable wealth and well-being. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to create something that has the potential to help shape the future of our society and bring about a positive change.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?

Since starting Standard DAO and launching our community with BattlePACs, life has been anything but boring. One of the most remarkable stories took place during one of our engagement sessions with BattlePACs. Now typically, these sessions bring two sides of an argument or issue together to come to some sort of agreement and event spark positive change. At this session in particular, there was a homeless student who shared his experience for all on the call. It was moving and clearly powerful for everyone on the call and I was simply blessed to be a part of it in some small way.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

One of the funnier mistakes I made when I was first starting was when I was starting to pitch BattlePACs for the first time to investors. For those that aren’t in the space, BattlePACs can be very different as a product. On one of our first investor calls, I made the mistake of emphasizing the politics of it rather than the impact. This was crucial because the person on the other end had a sore spot with politics (e.g., Trump/Biden) and the conversation took a turn for the worst when he couldn’t stop talking about it. The opposite effect I was looking for, but a great learning experience as BattlePACs is not about politics, but rather impact and it is clear that our country is so divided that when certain words come up, some people just see red.

Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?

At Standard DAO, we are focused on creating and supporting products that have a real-world impact. Our flagship community of BattlePACs, was built with the goal of making it easy for everyday people to make a tangible difference. It’s an open source platform that allows students, small businesses and other individuals to connect to the causes that matter to them and support through tax deductible donations through our non-profit partner American Student Fund. We believe that by enabling regular people to become engaged they become part of the solution and rise up to become the change they wish to see in the world.

We also emphasize the importance of education, helping students gain the education and skills necessary for success. Our URSI platform is empowering students to reach their highest potential by connecting them to resources, skills, and opportunities. With URSI, students will be able to create and access powerful AI productivity tools to enhance their academic abilities and create an overall more positive learning experience. We believe this platform will be a powerful tool for universities to leverage to not only increase engagement, but also to enhance the university experience and even reduce instances of social isolation, loneliness, and other factors that contribute to higher than normal dropout rates.

Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?

BattlePACs has been a platform for many young people across the US. We are seeing more and more stories come up of individuals who are using the platform to support the causes that are close to them. One of the most inspiring stories I have heard came from an individual who reached out to tell me what a blessing it was to hear from young people in his community. With the help of BattlePACs, he was able to connect with a number of passionate young people that were looking to make a difference. He said that BattlePACs had given him hope because it represented a way for the younger generations to come together and make an impact.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

BattlePACs was developed to connect all three of these stakeholders together to affect positive change. Our problems are society’s problems and our mission is to amplify each one by uplifting the voices of individuals who are experiencing these problems and have something to say. The best way to get to the root of the problem is to create open dialogue and understanding between the three stakeholders.

Therefore, the three things we believe the community/society/politicians can do to help address the core issues are:

1. Support and amplify the voices of individuals experiencing the root problems.
2. Bridge the gap between these stakeholders to create open dialogue and understanding.
3. Utilize technology to develop solutions and create meaningful change.

By working together, we can make a real and lasting difference to our society. Our hope is that through empowering the voices of individuals, as well as leveraging technology, we can create a future of equitable and sustainable wealth and well-being.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think this might help people?

We are currently working on launching our URSI platform, which is focused on providing students with the information, resources, and skills necessary for success. We believe this platform will be a powerful tool for universities to leverage in order to increase engagement, enhance the university experience, and reduce instances of social isolation, loneliness, and other factors that contribute to higher than normal dropout rates.

We are also building the BattlePACs platform for the community to allow people to come together and collaborate on projects to support their specific passions and interests. This can lead to more meaningful engagement for members and increased access to resources.

We are constantly striving to make the world a better place through technology and education, and we believe that the projects we are currently working on will help us to achieve this goal. They will empower people to become more engaged with the causes that matter to them and help to create meaningful social impact.

What you are doing is not easy. What inspires you to keep moving forward?

At BattlePACs, our mission is to empower individuals to create lasting and meaningful change. I am inspired by the stories I hear and the people I meet who are passionate about change and creating a better world. This keeps me motivated and focused on achieving lofty goals and making our vision of a better world a reality.

I am continually impressed with the technological advancements that our team is coming up with every day as well. It is no small feat to build something from scratch but to do it with the goal of global impact makes it that much more exciting.

I am inspired by the individuals on our team who are always willing to go the extra mile in order to make BattlePACs a success. It is wonderful to be a part of something that is changing the world and I am grateful to be part of this journey.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. Dream Big — When I first started out, I was intimidated by what potential success could look like and never thought I could run a billion dollar company or work in the blockchain or AI sector. Now I know that no idea is too big and in fact the vision of the future is what can push you to get there more than the knowledge of how to do it.

2. Choose Partners Wisely — Don’t underestimate the importance of having the right partners. Surround yourself with people who share your vision and can support and guide you when needed. From my co founders, to our team, to our advisors, to the investors in StandardDAO, all of these people have had or will have an impact in the direction of the company and it is key that we all align as we move towards the future.

3. Consistency is Key — Energy is a huge part of any effort and consistent energy put towards a project or team is vital for success. The best weeks and months have always come from consistent, even boring execution towards the goal. It was in the moments when there was a lack of consistency that I found drop off or plateau in performance.

4. Ask for Help — No matter how prepared you may think you are, there will always be times when you need help. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak or that you’re giving up. In fact, most people love to lend a hand to a bright young entrepreneur. The key is to be teachable, humble, and keep moving through the problem and you will never have an issue.

5. Embrace Failure — It’s impossible to be successful without first experiencing failure. I have had many failures, failed business, partnerships, products you name it. Mistakes and failures are simply learning experiences that you can use to get better.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

The movement I’m trying to create is to bring more people together, more often and make sure that everyone is included in the process. By uniting our different cultures, values and beliefs, we can create a more sustainable, equitable and better world for everyone.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do”. I wake up every day loving what I do and what I stand for. I have been fortunate to have had amazing people around me that have given me the support and guidance I need to be successful. It is this love of my work that drives me to do great things every day and create an impact for the better.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Simon Sinek

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Check out what we are doing with StandardDAO.finance and BattlePACs.com. Also, you can follow me on linkedin.com/in/raffertyaaron or twitter.com/Sendf0x

This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!

To go to the original source of this interview with Authority Magazine please see the link here - https://medium.com/authority-magazine/social-impact-heroes-why-how-aaron-rafferty-of-standard-dao-is-helping-to-change-our-world-7f63a614f6f9