Chief Executive and founder of I.G. Advisors, a philanthropy and fundraising strategy consultancy, Carlos (no relation to Carmen) Miranda is a man on a mission. He’s got one eye on helping the world use social media for good, and one eye on the best way to reach Mars. 3, 2, 1, lift off…

#1. So, what’s your favourite word?

It’s not my favourite but one I use a lot. I’m a huge nerd and I love science fiction, so my word is ‘technobabble’. This is going to make me sound 80 times more interesting, right?

#2. Affirmative. What gets you up in the morning?

My alarm and my children. I have seven-year old twins.

#3. Twice as nice. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

It’s a set of tools and used correctly, it can change the world for the better. For the malicious people in the world, it has the opposite use. I think it’s like anything, traditional advertising, PR etc, we have to look at how it’s used and its potential for good. Does it have the power to connect, is it genuine, how easily can it be hijacked.

#4. Kindles or books?

Books.  My wife is the fastest reader and I’m officially the slowest. She prefers reading on her iPad, she consumes books that quickly.

#5. Go girl. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

One of the largest challenges, in the social and environmental space is apathy. Sometimes people feel the size of the problem is too big, that one person can’t make a difference. That’s a big barrier to entry. Also negative press. That’s a very valid challenge, but you know, anomalies are not representational entirely.

#6. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

First off, a Disney animator. Then a film director.

#7. Errol, run VT! What led you to your current career?

Total accident, I got a job as a fundraiser at the New York Public Library.  It turns out I was good at asking people for money.

#8. Well, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

That’s just a bunch of technobabble.

#9. Now can you make it rhyme?

What rhymes with babble? I can’t think. OK, this now makes me sound uninteresting and uncreative.

#10. Never! What advice would you give to your younger self?

Things are going to be ok. Don’t over-stress. It’s all fine, always. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

#11. Abso-bloody-lutely. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

I’ve been very lucky.  There have been people there at particular junctures of my life, whether they knew it or not. Heather Lubov at the NY Public Library is one example. She believed in me when I had very little experience and really helped set me on this career path.

#12. High five Heather. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career-defining’ moment?

There’s been a few – three for sure. One was starting IG, that took a big leap of faith to make it into a reality. That first time I saw our holding page, that was a special moment. Then launching Social Misfits, especially my wife supporting me to start a second company, and Lightful when we achieved our first round of funding for £4m.

#13. Bosh. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Alisha, my wife and my mom.

#14. Behind every great man are two great women. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

No – can you give me one?? I’m not the best with time. Actually, what I need is a time machine like Hermione’s time-turner.  I wish I had one of those.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

In the social for good space, I can see it moving towards more collaboration. Technology and digital solutions aren’t the absolute solution, but they are tools. People and companies are starting to realise they have to incorporate technology in elements.  For social to do really well, so it can help more people, will mean that tech can and does play a part.

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

My mom was in town, she’s in town now. Actually, I was doing exactly what I do now. Meetings. Thankfully I don’t do meetings for meeting’s sake. The nature of my day to day is meetings. I have between 25-30 meetings a week, talking to clients, the team and business development.

#17. That’s a whole lotta meetings. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

Ok, so here we go. Both the companies’ branding identities are based on Quentin Tarantino films. For IG, we have the yellow and black, inspired by the Bride from Kill Bill’s yellow tracksuit, which in turn was inspired by Bruce Lee’s Game of Death (Ed’s note: you read it here first). For Social Misfits Media, we have the splatter of Reservoir Dogs forming part of our logo. And if you were going to ask me what colour I’d be, I can be Mr Blue if you’re asking me to choose.

#18. Royale with cheese. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Leonard Nimoy aka Spock. I’m lucky to have got to meet several of my heroes and those who have been instrumental and influential during my life.

#19. Beam us up. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Energetic.

#20. You got this. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?

Only if we can do this with both of us.

#21. We got this. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?

OK, it’s got to be Sweartrek. This is a bunch of nerds that take screengrabs and write super vulgar stuff on them. It’s amazing. I get such enjoyment.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Don’t fuck it up.

#23. We’ll try not to. What’s been the best part of your day?

It’s still really early but I’m really enjoying this.

#24. Really? Us too 🙂 Finally, anything to plug?

Yes! The is a crowdfunding campaign supporting five of the strongest BME organisations tackling violence against women across the UK. We’re looking to raise £150,000 over 16 days of activism. If that resonates, you can learn more and support the campaign here.

Who should we interview next?

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