Tom Allen | Thriving on Impact

In this inspiring Q&A, we delve into the incredible journey of QUT alumnus, Tom Allen. Tom has a passion for supporting purpose-driven businesses and has made significant strides in the industry, founding Impact Boom and the Business for Good Network. His desire for addressing social, cultural, and environmental challenges is reflected in his innovative approach to entrepreneurship. Join us as Tom shares key moments from his transformative journey, the challenges he’s faced along the way, and his vision for the future of social enterprises in Australia.

Your journey from QUT to founding Impact Boom is truly inspiring. Can you share some key moments that shaped this path and what sparked your passion for this venture?

After finishing my degree at QUT, I moved to Barcelona, Spain, to live, work and study. I spent almost 10 years there, which had a huge impact on my journey and shaped where I am today. Travel, learning languages and gaining a deep understanding of different cultures has been pivotal for growth. A global perspective and the experience gained from starting, growing and supporting purpose-driven businesses over the years has constantly shaped the path forward. My passion is driven by the urgency for us to tackle the deep-rooted social, cultural and environmental problems that surround us. Throughout my journey, it’s the ‘doing’ that has helped me shape my next moves, as I learn from what works (and what doesn’t), as well as what feels best aligned to my values and how I can use my work to create positive change.

Impact Boom is all about creating positive social impact. What are some of the toughest challenges you’ve encountered along the way and how did you tackle them?

Anyone who runs an organisation knows it can be a rollercoaster ride. One of our biggest challenges was leading the bid to bring the Social Enterprise World Forum to Australia in 2022. The project began in 2017 and after successfully pitching against other countries in Ethiopia in 2019, we won the bid! Then COVID arrived and brought all sorts of unexpected challenges when trying to bring an international forum to Brisbane… especially when planes had stopped flying and the country was locked down! With perseverance and the work of many supportive leaders and individuals, we eventually made it happen.

For anyone eager to make a difference, what are your top tips for accelerating their impact in their careers and communities?

• Start with Purpose: Your "why" is your compass. If your values and purpose are aligned with your work, it’s easier to stay motivated and inspire others. You may not know what your personal purpose is at the beginning, though it will be revealed in time as you try an array of different paths.
• Build Strong Relationships: Success in creating change comes down to collaboration and trust. Surround yourself with people who challenge and uplift you.
• Take Care of Yourself: Impact is a long game. Prioritise your well-being so you can continue to lead with energy and resilience. Burnout is rife. If you’re unable to lead yourself, how can you lead others?
• Take action: Actively seek out and act on opportunities, but don’t be afraid to say no. Focus your efforts where you can create the most meaningful change. Ultimately, you’ll best learn by doing, getting your ideas out there and adapting in response to what you’re learning.
  Being a young business can be hard, what is a key piece of advice you give to business owners to help them take their organisation to the next level?
• Focus on clarity, consistency and authenticity: Get crystal clear on your mission, your value proposition, and your key priorities—then communicate and act on them relentlessly. Avoid spreading yourself too thin; instead, channel your energy into what will drive the most impact. Take action, adapt as necessary and grow momentum. Consistency builds trust with customers, partners, and your team, which is crucial for long-term growth. Embrace feedback early and often—it’s the fastest way to refine, pivot, and unlock your next level. The product or service you provide must be at least as good as, (but hopefully better) than all the competitors. Many purpose-driven founders I have worked with assumed that people will buy their product/ service because it creates impact. The reality is, focussing on delivering high value via the product/ service is absolute priority. The fact it also delivers impact is good, but like any other business, it won’t have customers returning if it is sub-par and not meeting their expectations.

Self-care and strong leadership are essential. A thriving business and meaningful impact both require energy and resilience.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the role of social enterprises evolving over the next decade in Australia?

Some people describe a social enterprise as the equivalent of 'a business and a charity having a baby together'. Our vision at the Business for Good Network is a world where Business for Good is Business As Usual. We dream of a time when social enterprise is simply called ‘business.’ That will require ongoing education, awareness, policy change and a systems-led approach to get us there.

We’ve worked with countless not-for-profits who require more sustainable funding streams. Reliance on government funding or philanthropy exposes many organisations to high risk. Moving towards more sustainable business models where their trading revenue outweighs other funding (such as donations) can help organisations create greater impact.

Can you share a few standout success stories from Impact Boom that have really inspired you?

Choosing a standout past or present client is like choosing a favourite child! There really are so many amazing purpose-driven enterprises on the rise who are intent on tackling a variety of social, cultural and environmental problems. Here’s a quick list of some inspiring organisations we’ve worked with, though there are many more! Alongside these, you’ll find the stories of over 500 global leaders on the Impact Boom podcast – check out our website.

• Remote Op Shop Project – a vehicle for self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and ultimately, social and economic self-determination.
• Sine Surf – performance, hollow, wooden surfboards developed to tackle the huge amounts of waste currently in the industry.
• Kepa Kwab –  a non-alcoholic beverage designed to fund and grow its parent program Djinda Ngardak; which provides mentoring and employment pathways for vulnerable youth.
• Bee One Third – Urban beekeepers with a mission to promote and encourage bees back into our neighbourhood landscapes.
• Law On Earth –  who are working hard to make legal services accessible to everyone.
• Re-Love – providing good quality, rescued furniture and household items at no-cost, direct to families in crisis.

What skills or experiences from your time at QUT have been most instrumental in your journey as a social entrepreneur?

Studying human-centred design provided me with a skillset and methodology to build deep empathy with those I am designing alongside. It helps me to better identify and define the problems at hand and then respond with innovative solutions that keep the ‘user’ front of mind.

Who has inspired you most by the impact they have made?

There’s no one particular person – often it’s the participants in our programs who show deep commitment to their communities or collaborators from across the ecosystem – those that have strong values and authenticity, the ones that are action-driven, humble doers that keep chipping away, adapting and working with integrity to create systemic change. Some local leaders include Troy Casey and Amanda Hayman of Blaklash, Luke Terry of White Box Enterprises and the AMP Foundation Tomorrow Makers we support. It’s often those who are not shouting from the rooftops who are doing the best work. To name someone well known, Yvon Chouinard’s journey as Founder of Patagonia has been inspiring for many looking to do better business.

Balancing a business with a commitment to social and environmental causes is no small feat. How do you manage to keep both aspects thriving?

Clear priorities and smart partnerships are crucial. I focus on initiatives where our business can make the biggest difference and collaborate with partners who share our values. Aligning purpose with profitability ensures that both aspects grow in tandem. Though if you’re not making money, your ability to create impact is not going to be long-lived.

Often getting the business model right first, means greater impact can follow.

It’s all about embedding purpose into the DNA of the business. Rather than treating social and environmental goals as add-ons, we bake them into our strategy and culture. This approach ensures that impact drives innovation, and every business decision contributes meaningfully to our mission.

What’s next for Impact Boom and the Business for Good Network?

Impact Boom has a variety of world class accelerators and incubators that we’ll continue to roll out nationally in order to support purpose-driven founders and leaders. Upcoming programs include the AMP Foundation Tomorrow Makers programs and the Hatch: Taronga Accelerator Program. We’re excited that Expressions of Interest are now open for our 2025 Reignite Impact Leaders Retreats, which provide purpose-driven leaders with a great opportunity to build strong connections with other leaders and recharge in nature. We’re focussed on founder/ leader wellbeing and welcome conversations with new funders to grow crucial support for impact-driven entrepreneurs. Get in touch and let’s collaborate!

The Business for Good Network is a community-driven organisation focused on supporting purpose-driven businesses that prioritise social, environmental, and ethical considerations alongside profitability. We offer Australia’s go-to platform and app where businesses collaborate, share resources, and work toward common goals that benefit both society and the planet. Our network includes a diverse group of professionals, from social enterprises to startups, nonprofits, and large organisations. We focus on fostering meaningful relationships, providing leadership development opportunities, and offering tools that help businesses scale their impact. We’ll soon open up individual memberships too, so keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to join in!

If you had to pick one skill that you couldn’t live without, what would it be and why?

I can’t just pick one!...

• Emotional Intelligence – The ability to understand and manage emotions—both my own and others'—is crucial for building strong relationships, making sound decisions, and leading with empathy and kindness.
• Adaptability – In business, change is the only constant. Being able to pivot quickly and stay open to new approaches has been invaluable in navigating challenges and seizing new opportunities.
• Communication – Whether it's pitching an idea, motivating a team, or building partnerships, clear and effective communication is essential to connect, influence, and inspire action.
• Problem-Solving – The ability to stay calm under intense pressure and creatively tackle challenges has been a game-changer. It has allowed me to turn setbacks into opportunities and keep moving forward.

QUT degree – Bachelor of Built Environment (Class of 2005)
Do you have a question for Tom? Connect with him on LinkedIn.