Ben Vasiliou: The CEO who defied poverty and made helping disadvantaged youth good business | Ep. 34

Welcome to the Doing Epic Stuff podcast with your host Mike Drohan. Together we’ll explore the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

“What I was attempting to do was tell society what they wanted to hear. Or what I thought they wanted to hear, which was to have this Alpha Bravo male who doesn’t talk about pain. Who doesn’t talk about vulnerability and I was like ‘it’s actually killing me.’ – and it nearly did get to that point.”

There’s something very refreshing about someone in a position of power having the courage to be vulnerable.

Indeed, Ben Vasiliou, CEO of Youth Projects and a driving force behind their revolutionary Social Enterprise; The Little Social Cafe, credits that same vulnerability with being the catalyst for major positive change both in his professional and personal life. 

Having navigated a life below the poverty line, identity crisis, being a young father and the trials of the top position at an organisation committed to breaking the cycle of disadvantage – Ben has an extraordinary story to share with us.

A special shoutout to Banyule City Council whom Ben credits with having the vision and resources to make the Little Social Café in Rosanna, Melbourne a reality. If you’re listening to this podcast and based in Melbourne, Australia, do make sure to swing past, grab a delicious coffee for yourself and sprinkle some kindness into someone’s day through their ‘pay-it-forward service’: purchase a drink or snack for someone experiencing homelessness or accessing Youth Projects' homelessness services.

EPIC stuff within this episode:

• Even an award winning CEO can balls things up from time to time!
• Un-packing Youth Projects: providing support (since the 80s!) to young people and individuals experiencing disadvantage, unemployment, homelessness, alcohol and other drug issues
• Exploring the power of vulnerability and how sharing your story can be a vehicle for good
• How to be part of the solution to 116K Australians living homeless and 1 in 8 being below the poverty line 
• All about the Little Social Café and how it’s reaffirming a vision of young people being good-to-go in a very competitive job market whilst also providing a sustainable, financially viable business model

Show notes:

• Youth Projects (Ben is CEO):  https://www.youthprojects.org.au/who-we-are
• The Little Social Cafe (Social Enterprise) - get down there and 'pay it forward'!: https://www.youthprojects.org.au/social-enterprise
• Skills Plus: a not-for-profit which Ben was formerly the GM: https://skillsplus.com.au/
•  Banyule City Council “the reason why that (The Little Social) has been successful” according to Ben: https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us

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