Warby Parker

Last month, I visited Robin Hood Blue Ridge Labs in Brooklyn for a session of Mentor Madness. As a board member of Robin Hood , I’m always inspired by the work happening at the Labs—it’s their in-house venture studio (startup incubator) dedicated to scaling innovations to solve the most pressing social challenges like housing and hunger. The energy in the room was palpable as six startup founders rotated through small groups of mentors to get real-time feedback on their pitches. Reflecting on the early days of Warby Parker , I remember how critical mentors were in helping us navigate uncertainty. It was great to speak with all the founders, who were tackling issues like affordable housing through housing voucher compliance (many people in need have trouble accessing benefits because of bureaucracy), and STEM education and vocational training to access higher paying jobs. It was also a special full-circle moment to connect with Anthony Grullon , founder of Groupr , whose class at The Wharton School I had spoken to a few years ago. Groupr is a social commerce platform that lowers grocery costs for SNAP households by enabling group buying and free delivery in high-density, low-income communities (think DoorDash for food stamps with a price engine that helps you find the lowest price for a given food item). It’s especially impactful for the elderly who may be less mobile and those who are homebound. It’s a perfect example of what can happen when you look at a large scale, societal challenge and ask, "How can we use technology and community to redesign this from the ground up?" A huge thank you to Richard Buery, Jr. and the entire team at Robin Hood for hosting. To the founders at Blue Ridge Labs: stay curious, stay proactive, and continue to keep your mission at the center of everything you do. The work you’re doing is having a significant impact and a great example of how the tech ecosystem is such a powerful driver of opportunity.

Come one, come all #Optometrists ! Warby Parker is looking for dedicated doctors in #chicagoland to join our thoughtful, inclusive teams. Reach out to me Briana Navarro to learn more. Pictured here: Our Old Orchard store in Skokie, IL To see a full list of open roles click here : https://lnkd.in/g7ckGmEe #teamwarby #nowhiring #chicagooptometrists

Calling all #Optometrists ! Warby Parker is on the lookout for a talented #optometrist to help us deliver exceptional vision care in Detroit Metro (Troy & Rochester). Interested in joining our close-knit team? Reach out to me, Briana Navarro to learn more. Pictured here: The Village of Rochester Hills store in Rochester, MI! To see a full list of open roles click here: https://lnkd.in/g7ckGmEe #teamwarby #nowhiring #michiganoptometry

#Optometrists of #minnesota ! Warby Parker is building a new store in Rochester, and we’re searching for a skilled optometrist to join our team. We arre hiring across our #twincities locations as well. Interested in helping us deliver expectation-exceeding vision care? Contact me, Briana Navarro for all the details. Pictured here: Our Galleria Edina store in Edina, MN! View open roles here: https://lnkd.in/g7ckGmEe #teamwarby #nowhiring #newstoreopening #minnesotaoptometrists