Girl About O-Town

From time to time, this girlaboutOtown likes to celebrate the courage and creativity demonstrated by Ottawa’s most interesting individuals.  Their boldness benefits us all, as this once-branded-boring city keeps getting better, and we get cooler by association!

Enter Faisal Sethi, Head DoGooder and co-founder of Ottawa-based DoGood Headquarters.   If you haven’t heard about his DoGooder downloadable browser plug-in yet, no doubt you will soon.  This is little plugin – with its stated and straightforward objective – is sure to have a big impact, in more ways than one. 

By downloading the DoGooder browser plug-in, you change the game. 

By downloading the DoGooder for free, generic Internet advertising on your screen is superimposed with environmentally and socially minded messages instead, and your everyday web browsing generates funds for charitable and green initiatives.    A full 50% of DoGood’s proceeds from these alternative ad sales (which depend directly on the number of downloads) are donated to a number of carefully chosen causes.  Not only can you do good by not doing much, this ingenious plugin puts you the consumer in control of your browsing experience.  You choose to see good, which in turn does good, but if you still prefer to peruse  generic ads, all it takes is a right-click from you and the DoGood campaigns disappear.  The DoGooder plugin does not block generic ads, it simply replaces them until you direct it otherwise.

So, has Faisal Sethi finally found a way to turn much-maligned marketers into forces of good?  Has he managed to turn an individual’s passive web browsing into proactive world changing without requiring him or her to donate so much as a dime?  Will DoGood spell doom for big brands unwilling to move with these more environmentally and socially conscious times?  

Watch the download counter at DoGoodHQ and see the future unfold for yourself!

In the meantime, why not get to know more about this brave O-Town entrepreneur who has combined a background in design, some tech savvy and a serious social conscience in order to do good…  

Are you from Ottawa originally?   Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. I’m a Prairie Muslim if you will. Any story worth telling is all about a girl, and that is how I ended up in Ottawa.

Have you always been a DoGooder?  What about your professional experiences before starting DoGood? 

I think I’ve always challenged myself to be good. Prior to being a self-proclaimed Head DoGooder, I was a Creative Director and Designer for 15 years, working on everything from exhibit design at The Bata Shoe Museum to commercial film productions. I also had the privilege of releasing two independent albums; the last one’s claim to fame was receiving a five star review in the same column as a Johnny Cash album that only got three.

DoGood is a really interesting concept.  What inspired your idea? 

Self-introspection. I came to a profound realization that I was aware of several social issues that were plaguing our dear planet, but I didn’t do anything about them. I set out to devise a solution to break down as many of the barriers as possible causing my social inaction. 10 seconds of your time for a lifetime of good- does it get much easier than that?

How long has it taken to turn your idea into reality?

About 14 months.

What have been you biggest challenges so far?  

Balancing my social values within the context of a capitalist infrastructure, end-user adoption (convincing people this is for real), and a steady diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yes, my wife (and co-founder) is oh-so pleased about the latter being a mainstay of our current diet. 

From whom have you received loyal support, positive encouragement and necessary help?

Friends, family, strangers, and several wonderful organizations. The United Way of Ottawa, Green Thing (UK), The Ethical Fashion Forum (UK) and Borden Communications (Toronto) come to immediate mind, but there are countless others. My development team is top-shelf as well.

The DoGooder plugin has been downloaded more than 5500 times.  What does success for DoGood look like for you?  How will you know when you’ve achieved it?

When we are able to see the tangible results of our donations– A well built in Africa, the protection of a wildlife preserve in South America, a smile from a child who gets to wear a pair of shoes for the first time; when the people that need our help are receiving it, when we are providing a sizeable amount of funds on a monthly basis to causes that need it, that I would consider a success. And that isn’t just success for DoGood, that is success for all of us, every single one of you that download and use the plug-in.

Now for some fun… If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Invisibility. 

Describe your perfect day.

A book and a king-sized bed. A close second would be a walk with my family, including my Bull Terrier Moses, followed by a spectacular meal.

If you could change just one thing, what would it be?

The notion of pride. I think perhaps that is what, in part, continues to perpetuate civil unrest.

What impresses you the most?  Integrity, patience, and humour.

What is your favourite genre of movie? Film Noir.

Do you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction?

Lately fiction. But I do enjoy reading academic books as well, particularly with a social science angle. Cookbooks are fun too.

What are your most prized possessions?

A handmade Spiderman doll my mother made me when I was two. I still have it, and never travel without it. 

Favourite Ottawa restaurants?

Beckta, Siam Kitchen, Wellington Gastropub, and lately Yummy Sushi. Can someone direct me to some good Dim-Sum in this town?

Favourite bar or nightspot?

Barrymore’s (when a band is playing). 

Best coffee shop?  Ideal Coffee.

Favourite local blog?

You probably get this a lot– Girl About O-Town. I like Eco-Chick too.   (Editor’s note:  Thanks!!  You are too kind!) 

Favourite local causes?

They are not necessarily local, but have head offices here – Sierra Club of Canada, National Campus and Community Radio Association.

The browser plug-in works with Firefox (which is recommended, as well as Safari & Internet Explorer using XP and lower).  To learn more, or to download the plugin for yourself, check out DoGood Headquarters !