Chris Arnold, Made Impact

​Describe yourself in three words or phrases.

Ambitious, creative, jammy… I select the last word to force some of you to google what it means!

What do you like most about your job?

With Made Impact, I have for the third time, created a role that is filled with purpose and extremely large ambition. I am lucky enough to work within a framework of my own making. I have created a job that is aligned with the three words that I feel best describe me. I feel able to make the most of my experience and personal assets for a purpose that would benefit global society. It means I feel comfortable and confident from meeting to meeting and moment to moment. Jammy.

Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.

MadeImpact.org has the three most exciting objectives.

Collecting a million stories of impact from international education and exchange.

Better positioning the international education and exchange movement through those stories and securing a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Using stories and awards to build a giant scholarship fund and opportunity bank that make exchange programs more accessible for global youth.

What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?

After my businesses, Camp Leaders and Smaller Earth Group, I developed my first non-profit, WorldMerit.org. It is a global youth movement designed to bring youth together beyond beliefs and borders, rewarding their work on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with opportunities. The Merit360 program that first operated in 2016, brought together 360 young people from 85 countries. They worked together in groups in a beautiful summer camp in Pennsylvania for 14 days, creating start-ups and actions to tackle one of the 17 SDGs. They then journeyed to New York City to pitch their projects in the United Nations. It was truly spectacular and some of those projects are still operating today.

What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?

Music. It helps me focus. I tend to pick whatever song is most connected to my mood on a given day and play it on a repeat. Today’s loop is, ‘I’d love to change the world’, a song by 70’s band ‘Ten Years After’. The chorus says, “I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do. So, I’ll leave it up to you.”

I do know what to do… but please join us at MadeImpact.org

What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?

I would like for the widest reaches of International Education and International Exchange to be brought together. Our fragmented movement needs to be better defined and better measured, with our story much better told. Our unified voice will resonate much more strongly with politicians, philanthropists, parents, and prospective participants.

What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?

Oh, I have a good one. I’ve just been sent the advanced manuscript of Jerry White’s next book, ‘Be. See. Do – The Art of Humane Leadership.’ For a while through COVID, I led a publishing company and read many manuscripts. Even though Jerry is the Chair of Made Impact and a friend, I can categorically state that this book is excellent. I admit, Jerry annoys me because he is great strategist, excellent orator, and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Now he adds skilful author to his list of undeniable accolades. It’s irritating.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?

You are joining a movement that is the world’s best long-term strategy for progress, prosperity and peace. What better way to bring people together across borders and beliefs than through sharing education and exchange experiences with international peers. We connect, and connection leads to collaboration. Collaboration is the foundation stone for all progress.