What one authority called rebellion, another named Revolution. 

In this conversation, we start with her leadership at Swipe Out Hunger, and her decision to pass the baton. Rachel speaks openly about the influence her Iranian-Jewish background has on her experience as a human in service to other humans.

You’ll hear us talk about our duty, as people, to help end each other’s suffering. That’s OUR duty: end each other's suffering. 

We also explore the chapter-close of her decade-long role as the Founder of Swipe Out Hunger—a national nonprofit committed to ending college student hunger, which is something that went largely overlooked before her eyes and heart took notice—proving once again that it just takes One of us (to start).

To date, the team at Swipe Out has proudly served over 4.8 million nourishing meals across more than 700 campuses. 

“This is a baton pass,” Rachel says mid-interview about leaving Swipe Out in the hands of new leadership. “These problems are so big. I’d need to be the whitest of white men to believe that I need to stay there and solve this problem.”

And with THAT truth, the episode is yours. Let’s go. 

In Part 2 of our two-part Summer Inspiration Special with Rachel Sumekh of Swipe Out Hunger, a little something to help you set your strategy wheels spinning over the July 4th weekend, we follow up with an in-depth discussion of Rachel’s decision to step down as Founder.  Honest, emotional and evocative these are two episodes that will remind you why you chose the nonprofit path, and when and why the time comes for Founders to move on.

In this Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why Rachel is leaving her leadership role after a decade of service.

• Self-care methods for coping with stress, overwhelm, etc. 

• How to find your focus, purpose or mission.

• Why it’s OK to be vulnerable in the workplace. 

• The importance of storytelling as a leader. 

• How Rachel values herself based on bringing joy and healing into the world

• The importance of being present and natural as a leader instead of overly polished.

• “Mission before ego” as a framework for decision making.

• How tribalism (and identity-based community) can be great AND when it needs to be checked. 

• The pressures of coming from an immigrant family.

• How Los Angeles is a relationship economy and the power of a warm introduction.

• How Rachel is aware of “performing vulnerability ”in a strategic way and that she is on a journey to get back to a state of natural vulnerability and authenticity. 

• Rachel has a "no asshole" policy but with the caveat: if we can end hunger faster (Mission before ego) it might be ok to work with or partner with an asshole. 

• “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb” — The bonds that you've made by choice are more important than the bonds that you are born into (family, a religious tribe, secret society, etc. ).

While this is from Dec 2019, its a conversation covering both social impact and leadership as a Jewish woman of color.

“On today's episode, I talk to the QUEEN of turning your dreams into reality Rachel Sumekh. She explains how a simple action she took in college 9 years ago has transformed into the non-profit organization, Swipe Out Hunger, which's impacting thousands of students today. Rachel spills her secrets on to be your own BOSS (figuratively and literally) in all aspects of life. PLUS, for those of you who know Rachel personally, this episode is extra special because I've gotten the juicy personal details about Rachel ASIDE from her career. So... this is like the "EXTRA EXTRA, HEAR ALL ABOUT IT!" episode.