Marisa Agrasut
Managing Partner / Consultant - The inceptery Pte Ltd
Contact
Marisa's introduction

On a mission to create positive impact in the world, she considered herself an accidental entrepreneur. She discovered this during the 2009 economic crisis and in 2010, embarked on her first - people, planet, profit venture; at the time challenging the negative perception of plant-based diets; enabling reduced-carbon and responsible consumption through a (then) pioneering circularity, systems-thinking, and purpose-led business.

In 2015 with a more intentional move back to her innovation roots, relocating to Singapore, she found few-to-no organisations combining both sustainability and innovation. It was this that seeded her vision for The Inceptery.

What brought you to sustainability?

Having worked creating value and solving problems / addressing challenges for the corporate world, I had a feeling that I could make a positive contribution to the world through my work. Initially I had no idea where to start so I took a permaculture design course - which taught everything from self sufficiency and resilience, to systems thinking, followed by a number of other learning experiences and courses around sustainability. Following that I applied what I had learned to cofounding a sustainability-led, regenerative, circularity, plant based, venture back in 2010 (still considered a weird hippy outcast back then).

When I moved to Singapore I combined my past experience of design and innovation with sustainability but this time supporting others. This led to the vision for the Inceptery and the ongoing work around that.

If we consider our contribution in this life, I was looking for meaning, purpose and positive impact.

Which sustainable actions are you in charge of or have you implemented in your organisation?

The Inceptery has a unique business model that is network based, we are women-owners so our core team is very small.

After a number of years attempting, we recently (Jan 2022) became B Corp certified (also with help from the broader community).

In addition, there is not much separation between my work organisation and my general professional and personal life. A few things I can point to from my past:

  • Visioned, positioned, created and brought two sustainability-led ventures to life.
  • Worked with non-profits and for-profits to find ways to bring sustainability-led innovation and responsible business practices to endeavours.
  • Facilitated workshops around sustainability-led innovation-Led groups to create a unique business models as part of global innovation challenges - often these are shortlisted, win or gain the interest of judges, VCs and more.
  • Contribute time and effort to support those interested in starting this journey.  Sometimes the form of contribution is introductions to new ways of thinking or emotional support to those who are having a hard time in the transition.
Which challenges did you meet and how did you overcome them?

There are many challenges that emerge. Mostly they are to do with other's responses. Having a more philosophical mindset helps.

Other more hands-on solutions include asking others for support through a network, perseverance and looking for non conventional ways to approach things.

What are you most proud of?

Starting as early as I possibly could! It's never too late.  

We are all just doing our best and it's worth remembering that the small steps we take build into a big lifetime habit. We can all contribute something.

What would be your top 3 pieces of advice to the Matcha Initiative (TMI) users?
  • Start small but just start.
  • Don't give up, keep going.
  • Be experimental.
In which field could you help The Matcha Initiative users?

I'm generally really good at starting things - be that through emotional support and engagement to words of encouragement of my own experience - hence the name The Inceptery.

I'm open to connect and help those who just don't know where to get started or would like to hear personal experience. It's not always easy so finding help to start is crucial.

I would consider myself a generalist and resourceful so that's probably how I would describe myself. My strengths are mostly in problem solving and thinking of new possibilities.

Marisa's 3 main sustainability skills

Systems thinking / B Corp / Sustainability-led innovation and business models

Marisa kindly accepts to answer your questions.

If you need additional insights, you can send her a message.