212: Amanda Levinson—How Can Technology Help In A Crisis?

<p style="text-align: center;"><span style= "font-size: 24px;"><strong>Hear how one person is making a huge difference</strong></span></p> <p>You are going to be captivated by this podcast with Amanda Levinson. If you have ever asked, “Why is it so hard to help people in need?” you may find your answer in <a href= "https://needslist.co/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">NeedsList</a>, the tech company she co-founded that offers solutions for communities displaced by climate change, conflict and poverty worldwide. A social entrepreneur, Amanda spends her time trying to make life better for others. You'll hear how she was inspired by her grandmother, a woman who was also trying to change the world for the better. (I remember my own grandmother, who molded me and whom I unknowingly modeled myself after.) You'll also hear how Amanda converted her values, beliefs and culture into programs and products to achieve her purpose. Please enjoy.<img class="mce-hs-more" style= "height: 20px !important;" src= "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-mce-placeholder="" /></p> <p style="font-size: 20px;"><strong><img style= "width: 175px; float: left; margin: 7px 18px 0px 0px;" src= "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/398462/Amanda%20Levinson%20square.jpeg" alt="Amanda Levinson square" width="175" />By her own admission, Amanda is a woman on a mission</strong></p> <p>In our interview, Amanda talks about how she and her co-founder Natasha Freidus started NeedsList in 2015 after witnessing the chaos of the humanitarian response to the Syrian refugee crisis, and knew there had to be a better way. No single system was able to deal with the size and scope of this crisis — many were trying to help — and Amanda and Natasha didn’t want to duplicate what was already out there. But the needs were changing all the time, and there were no tools to communicate those needs in real time. People want to be helpful in a disaster, but without the proper overarching organization and technology, there is giga