In 2006, Rebecca Kousky graduated with a Master’s of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, then took the unusual step of starting a non-profit social enterprise called Nest. Nest provides women in developing countries with microcredit loans to make artistic items that Nest then sell via the Web, creating funding for the artisans and microcredit opportunities for other women. Now in its third year, Nest has advisory boards in eight cities across North America, with many business partnerships. Rebecca’s current mission is simple: “There is beauty everywhere. It lurks in dark corners, lies in wait under tables. And, it turns out, you do not even have to look very hard to find it. My mission, then, is simple: find it. swallow it. share it.”

Where did you get the idea to start Nest?

Nest was born of my desire to combine my passions: social activism, entrepreneurship and the female artistic tradition. But, in particular, Nest has found an unoccupied niche, comfortably at the intersection of what were once considered competing approaches. Nest gives people a hand up, so that they can stand up. Then these same loan monies are recycled to others, creating a revolving loan fund and a way to continue improving the lives of women. This blending is what makes Nest unique. It takes three powerful ideas – entrepreneurship, social activism and microfinance – and combines them into a business model that is both sustainable and philanthropic.

Why did you build around the arts?

Women have also been artists through the centuries, creating utilitarian household objects, clothes for the family or decorative objects for themselves. Therefore, by providing entrepreneurial loans to craftswomen and artisans, their life can become their livelihood and Nest’s contributing designers can act as mentors, creating a female artistic community worldwide.

How did you know what to do after you realized the idea could become a reality?

It all happened really fast. I decided to start Nest and just hit the ground running. I think what helped is that while I did have a big vision – all entrepreneurs do – I tried not to focus on the distant mountains and instead just at the tasks in front of me. By the end of our first summer we had an active website and in our first month of launching, we got great press and had become sustainable within our first year of operation. I had made a pact with my parents that if after a year it did not look sustainable that I would apply for a “real” job so I was breathing a pretty big sigh of relief at that point.

What were some steps you took to create Nest?

Oh! There were so many! Forming a board, finding a pro bono attorney, connecting with NGOs abroad to become our lending partners, recruiting volunteers around the country . . .

How did the different Nests throughout North America spring up?

We had strong teams of volunteers all around the country. I knew I wanted a national board so that we had national reach, and we used that model for the first year. However, I soon saw the benefits of breaking them into city-specific teams. Face-to-face interaction is critical and having people who know their city – and have connections there – assisting in donor development and event planning is crucial. All of our advisory boards are volunteer and filled with like-minded, passionate and devoted individuals. I am very lucky to have such support around Nest!

What’s in the future of Nest?

We are working on a curriculum right now that we will implement in every country where we work. It teaches the women skills such as financial education, product development and business growth. We would like to have it in every country by this summer. At this point, however, we are running a small nonprofit in a terrible economy, so just trying to sustain ourselves and continue lending!

Is it fun being a walking billboard for Nest?

That is the biggest perk of the job. I love my Nest stuff. My current faves are the Guatemalan rainbow shopping totes and these great long necklaces from Morocco.

Word to the Wise

1. Don’t spend too much time looking at the distant mountains; you have to look directly in front of you as well. I tend to get caught up in the big picture; for example, where I want to be in 10 years, but what is most important is the first step you take toward getting there. Details and baby steps.
2. Pay attention to serendipity. In ways too numerous to delineate, Nest has been defined and refined by a series of remarkable coincidences that seem anything but: chance meetings that turn into valuable business relationships, hidden talents and interests of friends and acquaintances that turn out to be a perfect fit for Nest, emails on one topic that reveal other contacts and networks. I’m convinced that what seems to be accidental, coincidental or unplanned, really isn’t.

http://www.buildanest.com