Impact Interview: Amy Hall
Name: Amy Hall
Role/Function: VP Social Consciousness, EILEEN FISHER & President, Impactorum
What She’s Currently Working On:
At EILEEN FISHER, I'm a bit in transition, gearing up to split my time between the company and the EILEEN FISHER Foundation. In the company, I'll be laser-focused on human rights projects, such as the Xinjiang Uyghur forced labor issue and overall supply chain integrity; in the Foundation, I'll be working on its new strategic direction.
On the Impactorum front, I've been producing a webcast called "Impact Matters," which features changemakers working to maximize impact within their respective industries. I love hearing how others think about and define impact.
All of this supports my consulting work with individuals and businesses who seek to elevate their own environmental and/or social impact.
1. What was the “aha” moment that sparked your interest in social impact?
As a child growing up in coastal Connecticut, I was severely bullied because of my ethnicity (I'm half Chinese and half English/Scottish). This was in an era when teachers and parents didn't talk about bullying at all, so I felt very alone in my struggle. As a result, I developed a deep affinity for those who suffer from racial injustice, as well as most anyone who is viewed as "less than." At the time, I couldn't pinpoint how, exactly, I would turn this into a career. But I knew that I needed to do something that was "of service" to others. I went on to study Chinese (to connect with my heritage) and then get a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). But my shyness (at the time) prevented me from pursuing teaching as a career.
2. How did you break into the social impact space?
My first jobs after grad school were in the non-profit space, where I discovered I have a knack for writing and research. Over nine years, I worked as a fundraiser for four cultural and environmental organizations in New York City. Although not the ideal career choice for an introvert, this path taught me many things, like how to run an event, how to write a persuasive letter and how to engage in party small-talk. When it came time for me to move on, I found my way into EILEEN FISHER, then a very small and relatively unknown clothing company. I was hired as an administrative assistant and intended to stay for only 2 years while I sorted out my next move. But I fell in love with the workplace culture and found I really enjoyed being useful in whatever way was needed. I organized warehouse sales, I bought holiday decorations for the office, and I answered mail that no one else wanted to deal with. This included requests from the community for donations of merchandise and sponsorship money for local organizations. After four years, I was named the company's first "Community Relations Manager." And the rest is history. Key learnings from that experience? Be flexible, be open and be patient!
3. What most excites you about the social impact space right now?
I am very energized by bold new thinking, such as the "Decade of Courage" podcast, where I serve on the editorial committee. This podcast, hosted by Dana Gulley, seeks to understand how to create a new economy that serves the needs of all (people and the planet). And the term "intersectional environmentalism" has really caught my attention. This is the notion that people and the climate crisis are intimately intertwined. To learn more about it, I recommend listening to Mary Annaïse Heglar's podcast, "Hot Take", or following her on Twitter.
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