Meet Lisa Hickey | CEO & Publisher, The Good Men Project

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Hickey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’m a sucker for a great idea. So when I talked to a venture capitalist who said he wanted to help “spark an international conversation about the changing roles of men in the 21st century” — I knew that was a great idea. A business plan, a round of seed money and 12 years later — and it’s still a great idea. Women have had lots of conversations and support about how their roles are changing in today’s world. But it is not something men tend to discuss. And those conversations lead to deep and provocative discussions and stories about issues of social justice, parenting, health and mental health, politics, the environment and more. We get almost 2 million people visiting the website every month, and built a sustainable business.

I knew there was risk, and I knew it would be difficult. It’s often still difficult. But the joy of building a business that will last and strategizing on how to make it all happen is worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Art is anything that forms a connection with others and helps transcend their idea of the world. My belief has always been that art and business are not two separate things–they are inextricably linked. This worldview, that everyday I can create art and build a strong, scalable business, is what sets me apart.

Even as a child, I wanted to be an artist. I was told (more than once!) not to be foolish, that if I pursed art as a career I’d either be starving in an attic somewhere or sell out to corporate interests. But that simply isn’t true. Creating things that are valuable to others and helping people see the world in a different way is one of the best paths to success, in my opinion.

It’s rarely, if ever, been easy. The challenge is, you have to put in the work even when you have no idea what that work actually looks like. It’s constantly asking yourself “What do I need to do today that will help me succeed tomorrow?” You need to be fearless about sharing your vision. You need to ask for help.

The business I’ve helped build and create is filled with wonderful stories, articles, conversations, videos, podcasts, images. We’re creating screenplays and televisions pilots. All based on the simple idea of having a conversation about the changing roles of men in our society.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The hillsides overlooking the city. The Getty Museum. The Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. Hollywood, because, Hollywood. Bee Taqueria, where a friend shot a short film. And meeting the countless friends, supporters, and community that make it all happen,

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people! But I’d have to single out Tom Matlack, whose original vision and mission started it all. Tom helped teach me how to raise investment capital, create a Board of Directors, and create a scalable business. And he’s still helpful now, strategizing how to continue to grow and thrive.

Website: https://goodmenproject.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahickeycreative/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodmenproject

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thegoodmenproject

Other: https://lisahickeycreative.com