No data, no scale, w/Care.com’s Sheila Lirio Marcelo

Data Impact

Data plays a crucial role in driving both social and economic impact, as highlighted by Reid Hoffman and Sheila Marcelo. They emphasize the importance of data in addressing issues like the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, which increased by 150% in the US in 2020 1. Sheila shares her experience with Care.com, where she applied for-profit principles to a non-profit mission, demonstrating that data is essential for scaling any organization.

No matter what type of organization you're trying to build, there is no scale without data.

--- Reid Hoffman

This approach allows organizations to measure success not just by earnings but by their broader impact 1.

   

Redefining Care

Sheila Marcelo redefined care services by highlighting their economic importance alongside their social mission. She argues that care is an economic imperative that drives jobs and the economy, challenging the traditional view of care as merely a gender issue 2. By advocating for caregivers and ensuring fair wages, Sheila used her platform to support both families and caregivers, emphasizing that care should be affordable and equitable.

Care was an economic imperative. I found that the definition of it for so many families is that if you had care, it would drive jobs and drive the economy.

--- Sheila Marcelo

Her strategy involved leveraging data to balance the needs of both sides of the care marketplace, ensuring that empowering one group does not disadvantage another 2.

   

Care Insights

Insights into the care economy reveal the importance of sustainable business practices that align with social missions. Sheila Marcelo discusses how Care.com partnered with companies like Mastercard to support care infrastructure, which in turn boosted the economy by creating jobs 3. She emphasizes that a sustainable business model requires investing in caregivers, ensuring they receive livable wages and long-term career opportunities.

In a people service business, caregivers are our product. This isn't about just Sheila with a social mission heart.

--- Sheila Marcelo

Reid Hoffman adds that the success of such models is measured by data, which must reflect the mission's impact on the ecosystem 3.