Righteous Rebels (ft. Michael Weinstein)

Righteous Rebels (ft. Michael Weinstein)

A look at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and its core principles through the eyes of its president and co-founder

GUEST BIO:

Michael Weinstein is the president and co-founder of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Originally a businessman and graphic designer, Michael became involved in HIV/AIDS-related issues in 1986. As President of AHF, Michael has overseen its growth from a small group of friends dedicated to giving people with AIDS dignified and compassionate care to serving over 1.6 million patients in 45 countries across the globe.

Learn more about Michael Weinstein:

• Bio: https://www.aidshealth.org/about/leadership/

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[5:27] - Tap Into Your Restlessness

Put Your “Ants in the Pants’ to Work

Michael describes how he channeled his inherent restlessness into a passion for helping others against indifference, institutional barriers, and anything else that stood in his and the organization’s way. How can you channel your personal quirks into powerful progress?

[8:46] - The Choice to Be Open

Leading with an Open Door

Michael Weinstein made a choice early on to always be accessible and available. This isn’t just an altruistic decision to make employees of the organization feel good— it’s a strategic move, too. If you want to be effective, you have to have your finger on the pulse of the people who make your organization tick.

[16:19] - See the Potential in Cross-Pollination

Or ‘What Meryl Streep Has to Do with It”

One of the things that made the AHF innovative has been its willingness and ability to bring in arts and entertainment figures to bring awareness to their cause. Michael traces a line from Princess Diana’s public embrace (metaphorical and literal) of AIDS patients to figures like Meryl Streep, who lended her voice to the narration of the AHF’s documentary film. 

[18:20] - Everyone’s an Ambassador

See the potential in each person

In our conversation, Michael expresses his desire that ‘every employee and every patient could be an ambassador.’ Whether you’re running a business, a nonprofit, or a small team of like-minded people pursuing any goal, consider the power in inspiring everyone around you to speak on behalf of your mission.

RESOURCES:

• [0:16] AIDS Healthcare Foundation Website
• [15:42] Keeping the Promise Film

FOLLOW:

• Follow Michael: https://www.aidshealth.org
• Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhogan3
• Follow AHFter Hours on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahfterhours/

ABOUT AHFTER HOURS:

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

The AHFter Hours podcast is an official podcast of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success. 

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