How can companies move beyond extractive practices to create lasting impact?
What does ethical entrepreneurship look like in today’s rapidly changing world?

Dr. Melanie Rieback is a visionary entrepreneur, technologist, and advocate for ethical business practices. She is the co-founder and CEO of Radically Open Security, the world’s first nonprofit computer security consultancy. Melanie has pioneered new models of business by integrating transparency, social responsibility, and sustainability into the cybersecurity industry. She also lectures on post-growth entrepreneurship at the University of Amsterdam, exploring innovative ways to align business with societal good.

In this episode, Melanie shares her groundbreaking approach to business, rooted in the principles of ethical entrepreneurship and financial non-extraction. From her early exposure to technology in South Florida to her decision to create a cybersecurity company that donates 90% of its profits to charity, Melanie illustrates how values-driven innovation can reshape industries. She recounts the challenges of building Radically Open Security and how steward-owned governance structures and transparency helped redefine the role of cybersecurity companies in society.

Listeners will gain insight into the pitfalls of Silicon Valley’s venture capital-driven culture and explore alternatives that prioritize human and environmental well-being over shareholder profit. Melanie also discusses her work in post-growth entrepreneurship, highlighting practical strategies to dismantle extractive business practices and create sustainable ecosystems. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a business leader, or someone curious about ethical innovation, this conversation offers a powerful roadmap for transforming business into a tool for meaningful change.