We are proud to announce that our Founder and CEO, Shawn Seipler, has been named the 2024 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year by the Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Bradley University. This recognition highlights Shawn’s extraordinary work in global hygiene and sustainability through Clean the World‘s purpose to make the world a better place.
An Esteemed Recognition
From the start of Clean the World in a small garage to its evolution into a global force for good, Shawn’s journey is a remarkable example of the transformative power of compassion, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Through his leadership, Clean the World has diverted millions of pounds of soap bars and plastic amenities that the hospitality industry would otherwise discard onto landfills and recycled the collected soap into new bars. Millions of bars of recycled soap has been donated to global NGOs, such as The WASH Foundation, to be distributed to communities worldwide, significantly reducing hygiene-related illnesses and deaths.
“It was an incredible honor to receive the 2024 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year award and to speak at Bradley University about entrepreneurship and innovation. A heartfelt thank you to Mary Conway Dato-on and the Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation for this esteemed recognition”, reflected Shawn Seipler.
Sharing Inspiration at the Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series
Shawn had the privilege of sharing insights about his journey and the potential of entrepreneurship to drive social change. He emphasized the need for businesses to address critical global challenges and the role of innovation in creating scalable, sustainable solutions.
Mary Conway Dato-on, Executive & Academic Director of the Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, shared her reflections on Shawn’s impact:
“As a professor of social entrepreneurship, it’s often a challenge to help students realize the potential of social enterprises to make a tremendous, positive impact in our communities. Having Shawn tell his story in such an approachable manner with high energy brought the entire concept to life and motivated students to think that they too can act today to create a better world tomorrow. We are grateful to have hosted Shawn. We look forward to staying in touch and watching Clean the World continue to grow.”
A Milestone for Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship
This recognition reflects the growing importance of socially-conscious business models in creating a sustainable future. It also serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere to align their ventures with meaningful change.
Stephanie McClaskey, a student at Bradley University majoring in Journalism, eloquently summarized Shawn’s impact: “Shawn’s story of helping children and women around the globe with personal hygiene shows the kindness that still exists in today’s world. CTW goes beyond providing hygiene products, but to further educate and empower these individuals to launch their own impactful entrepreneurial endeavors by translating the gift from CTW into a more sustainable purpose in their communities every day. The multifaceted focus on economic, environmental, and sustainable solutions shows that the team at CTW isn’t just looking to solve today’s problems, but to grant a promise for a brighter tomorrow for us all.”
Shawn’s recognition reminds us all that entrepreneurship has the power to change the world. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing our mission of improving lives, empowering communities, and building a sustainable future.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mary Conway Dato-on, and Bradley University for honoring Shawn’s vision and providing a platform to share the story of Clean the World.
