Alicia D. Polak

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ALICIA D. POLAK

I have used business as a force for good for over 15 years domestically and internationally. I am the creator of South Africa\'s longest-running social enterprise. over 15 years ago in South Africa earning. On the scorecard, the Khayelitsha Cookie Company has the highest Level 1 and rating. I am a Social Enterprise advisor across multiple continents, mentor, and provide fiduciary advice and guidance to private and public institutions. mentor a Areas of expertise: Nonprofit Management, Consulting, and Coaching, Workforce Development Curriculum Design and Evaluation, Feasibility Analysis, Marketing & Business plans to determine revenue streams, Demographic Research. New Business Ventures, Scalability Analysis (to determine additional sources of income) & Marketing from Concept to Roll-out. I thrive when creating and improving upon efficiencies to make operations run smoothly. Some of my career achievements include-Founded The Khayelitsha Cookie Co- Women\'s Social Enterprise using proprietary social entrepreneurship model - negotiating sales to Whole Foods, Peets & Protea Hotels- Created Program designed to train refugees, immigrants & asylees to bake and secure jobs in, on average under 30 days. Achieved 90% graduation, job retention & employment rate- Rescued business from closure through leading commercial real estate transition under budget by 10%, raising $240K for training & production facility tenant improvement (TI)- saving costs of $1.2M- Reduced staff turnover from 93% to 16% over 3 years and shaped culture that emphasized empowerment, quality, productivity, and standards and goal attainment- Advisor to Chevron, Exon & The World Bank on launching social enterprises in Pakistan, India & Africa, South Africa and the United States- Featured in Oprah Magazine and on CNN and ABC- Lecturing on social entrepreneurship at Wharton School of Business since 2006. I have innovated new products, launched & grown social enterprises, and empowered cross-functional teams across the US, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, and Pakistan. I live in the Bay Area and can be found undertaking a renovation of my 131-year-old home and spending countless hours at REI obsessing over camping gear.