While traveling to India on business, Steve Smith witnessed first-hand the struggles, suffering, and despair that many people in poverty experience. He came home with a heavy heart, desperate to find some solution. On a second trip to India, he saw the people and the streets in a new light. There was a man on the corner fixing bicycles, several men picking up trash, and a woman hauling equipment around a corner. He saw industry and he saw personal focus. This experience led to a deep realization:
Steve continued to assert that financial inclusion – someone being able to have an identity and participate actively in the financial system – builds society’s foundations and actually employs the people within the community.
This series of realizations has led Steve and his wife Jana to found what is now known as the Stena Foundation, a private family foundation established to create economic prosperity for all. The Stena Foundation strives to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges by utilizing research, implementing data-driven solutions, and emphasizing real, measurable impact rather than just writing checks.
Sabrina works as a Communications and Program Specialist for the Stena Foundation. She is passionate about curating data-driven and impact-focused stories that highlight the people and communities Stena strives to uplift. She hopes her words will inspire and empower others to find solutions to systemic social issues and seek to do good, better.
We’re doing some amazing things and are excited to partner with like-minded individuals. Add the Stena Foundation to your inbox today for updates on our work and upcoming partnership opportunities.
We’re doing some amazing things and are excited to partner with like-minded individuals. Contact the Stena Foundation at marketing@stenafoundation.org or follow us on social media for updates on our work and upcoming partnership opportunities.
We are all team members and each one of us is equally important to attaining our goals. Words matter. How we treat each other matters. You can’t expect to make a positive impact on the world without first attending to your stakeholders, partners, and mission-focused communities.
The ability to hone in on a task, and to make every minute matter is what turns insight into action. When we choose to focus, we make the best use of our time and resources.
We practice constant curiosity and have a passion for research and data-driven solutions. It is imperative that we take the time to analyze each step we take and look for learning opportunities. This approach will ultimately drive the greatest degree of mission focused impact.
We recognize that we can’t succeed alone. Leverage is about finding the most efficient way to partner with our networks and to use our resources to achieve our goals.
We must understand the why and strive to do the right thing every time. Our mission is firmly front and center. Always.
