Unlocking Human Potential Through Clean Water Access w/ Dr. Greg Allgood
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Transcript
What happens when a corporate water purification initiative fails to make a profit, but holds the power to save millions of lives? Dr. Greg Allgood, Vice President of Water and Health at World Vision, shares how pitching a radical non-profit model turned a commercial obstacle into a global effort that has delivered over 25 billion liters of clean water. Tune in to explore how bold vision, systemic community support, and faith can solve one of the world's most critical crises.
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Credits: Host: Lisa Nichols, Executive Producer: Jenny Heal, Marketing Support: Joe Szynkowski & Dylan Price, Podcast Engineer: Portside Media
Dr. Greg Allgood
Yeah. So, you know, there's the impact of the global water crisis is many it impacts people in many ways. And one of them is the fact there's still a thousand children that die every day from having unsafe water. Another big impact is the fact that women and girls, mostly women and girls, have to haul water, have to walk long distances. And in fact, the estimate is that just in Sub Saharan Africa, where seventy percent of the people are that don't have basic clean water access, Women and girls in sub Saharan Africa have to walk two hundred million hours every day hauling water. Lisa Nichols
It takes something a little more to lead with impact. I'm Lisa Nichols, author of Something Extra, and this podcast was inspired by our daughter, Ally, whose additional chromosome has shaped how I see people in leadership. Each episode features conversations with inspiring leaders from around the world about what truly defines how they lead and serve others. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider leaving a five star review. It helps more people discover the show. And if you'd like to go deeper, my book, Something Extra, is available on Amazon and through other major book retailers. Our guest today is doctor Greg Allgood. Greg is the vice president of water and health at World Vision, the largest Christian relief and development organization on the planet. A renowned toxicologist, he has spent decades leading massive innovative global initiatives that have transformed millions of lives through access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Well, Greg, Allgood. Welcome to the something extra podcast. I have been so looking forward to this conversation with you, and I cannot wait to dig in and let our listeners know all the amazing things that you guys are doing. Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, Oh, thank you, Lisa. Thank you for the opportunity. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Thank you for making the time. And I have to give a special shout out to our good friend, Jim Bechtold. Dr. Greg Allgood
Yeah. Jim's Jim's a great encourager. So he's such an encourager. And, yeah, I appreciate that he connected us. Lisa Nichols
I do. I am too. I just think all people run through Jim Bechtold. Do you know what is that seven degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon? Dr. Greg Allgood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
We should start at two degrees of separation from Jim Bechtold. Right? But you and Jim know one another because you spent years together at P and G. I think you were there for twenty seven years. Dr. Greg Allgood
Correct. Yes. Yeah. Lisa Nichols
And Dr. Greg Allgood
now Jim's involved with us, at World Vision as well. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Yes. And so now you're the VP of water and health for World Vision, and we're gonna get all into that. But, you know, I just I have to ask you. You've spent decades, doctor Allgood, bringing clean water to millions of people. When someone asks you what you do today, what's the answer that you hope they will remember? Dr. Greg Allgood
That's a great question. Well, yeah, my my purpose in life really has has evolved a lot around helping provide clean water to people because I've been blessed to be able to go and see the need, see what happens when women and girls are hauling water long distances or or people are sick, been places where there's cholera outbreaks and and helping to address that, helping save lives and transform lives with clean water is is my is my purpose in my professional life. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Well, and you did you founded the children's I think it was called the children's safe water, I think. P and G Children's Safe Drinking Water Program. If drinking water program. And you founded that. You were the founder of that when you were at P and G. Right? So Dr. Greg Allgood
Yeah. It was it was a sort of a radical idea. It it, it focused on providing a little water purification packet that makes dirty water not only clear, but purified. It kills the bacteria, the virus, the parasite, and takes out the parasites. And we tried to make it a for profit business, but it failed. We were we were not meeting P and G's expectations for a for profit product. In fact, we were losing a lot of money, and I had this rather radical idea to create a not for profit business. And, I like to say about every hundred and eighty five years, P and G did something radically different, and this I happened to be there at the right time. But, yeah, there was, some battles in in, in, creating a not for profit business, probably rightfully so. P and T had failed commercially, with some of the brightest marketers that we have and business leaders. And now I, as a scientist, with no real strong business background said, let me run it as a not for profit business. And so, yes, some senior leaders tried to decided to fire me, and it it was a bit of a battle within P and G. But luckily, our leadership, including our our former CEO, AG Lafley, and also had great support from from past CEO John Pepper saw the potential of this to really build P and G reputation and and to save lives. And so the work continues to today. They had me back in Cincinnati of P and G's headquarters last year to celebrate twenty one years and twenty five billion liters of clean water that that program has provided. Lisa Nichols
Say that again. Twenty Dr. Greg Allgood
five billion. Lisa Nichols
Billion. With a b. Yeah. It's just that is so amazing. That is so amazing. Well and I just I love I mean, you know what I think? I when I when I hear that story, Dr. Allgood, I just think, you know what? P and G had a heart. I know they had a heart. You know, you guys had the whole love campaign for a while, and, I think people want to support and get behind companies that have heart. Right? And so that's what it does for me. I'm like, wow. You know, they truly are using the business for a greater good. Right? It's not just about profits. It's about saving lives. Dr. Greg Allgood
And the fact that it's sustained now through five different CEOs, also shows P and G's long dedication to to this work and and to really transforming lives and helps to prove be a proof point for their you know, a lot of P and G products improve lives every day in everyday ways, whether it's, you know, Head and Shoulders or Vicks, or Tide detergent, Pampers. You know, everyday ways improve health and hygiene, but, this is really the centerpiece of of showing that it can actually, you know, help transform lives with clean water. Lisa Nichols
Right. I think I read a story where you actually drank some water where there was a dead dog upstream. Right? And you used to pure pack it. Tell that story. Dr. Greg Allgood
Oh, yeah. It was, you know, one of the things when when I was showing the communities the the miracle of turning water dirty and clean and purified is they always had to drink the water myself to prove that, you know, that it that it's, is something that they would be able to drink. And one of the places we collected water, there was literally a dead dog in the water. And the acceptance among people once I drank the water was was even higher than normal, which is usually good, but it was great. And I thought this this should be our next best business approach. Always bring along a dead dog and have them in the water. Dog. Lisa Nichols
Oh my goodness. Yeah. That was proof in the pudding for sure. Yeah. That was proof. You know? Well, I'm excited about this. You've got an upcoming book, and we were just talking before. Bob McDonnell and John Pepper both endorsed the book for you, but it's called Thirsty for a Miracle. What is the miracle that you're actually thirsty for, Greg? Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, yeah, I'll show you the book. It's, it's coming out September twenty second. Yeah, it's published by Tyndall, House Publishing, which is a, you know, a Christian, book publishing company. And the thirsty for miracle relates both to, the fact that people need clean water, and part of it is this miracle of of the PNG packets turning dirty water to clean water, but also my own spiritual journey of becoming a person who was always of faith. But, for many years, I was a person that, sort of arrogantly thought, you know, God was supporting my work. And and sort of almost like I had when I need to pray and ask for help, I had sort of got on speed dial that he would he would favor my work. And over the years learning that I was really just God's water boy doing his mission of helping, provide clean water to people in desperate need. So that that miracle is also my my spiritual journey and Your Lisa Nichols
spiritual journey. Along the way. Yeah. Yeah. And, I mean, you you've got oh my goodness. You know, you've got a PhD in toxicology. You got master's in public health. You started with a bachelor's in biology. I mean, Greg, was there any kind of, how do I wanna put this, ego there about, you know, look at how smart I am and what I can do. Did you did you ever have that kind of I I think about, I bet you know him, Mark Whitaker, who runs t factor for Consolidated. He was very, very smart. But he told me he said, oh, yeah. I was very smart. I was an executive when I was, like, twenty nine years old. And, you know, I mean, an ego kind of gets in the way a little bit sometime. Do you have a sense Dr. Greg Allgood
of that? And and, I've always been very ambitious. I mean, going back to, you know, getting becoming an Eagle Scout at thirteen and, you know, excelling in academics and and definitely, ego gets in the way. And that was part of my journey in learning that, when God could do it with or without me. And Lisa Nichols
and Yes. Dr. Greg Allgood
And, learning that I can be, know when I can contribute and knowing when others, can contribute and that we're all have the same mission. If you're showing yourself with people who have the same mission, you can achieve extraordinary things. So, that's definitely been part of of what I've learned over the years, and it's a really important lesson. I'm I'm so grateful that that God had me has given me a purpose that allows to channel that ambition into into saving lives, instead of, you know, some other effort. Lisa Nichols
Absolutely. Absolutely. I would love and you kind of touched on it, doctor Algoo, but I know when you and I had talked before, you told me this story about this documentary. And I think it's called The Long Walk for Water Yes. That you were involved in putting together. And I was so moved. In fact, I was so moved. I immediately came back and told Jenny Hill, my EA. I'm like, let me tell you what he told me. Tell tell our listeners about what they may not understand about what girls and women have to go through to get clean water. Can you tell that story? And you actually walked the walk yourself because you wanted to know what it was like. Dr. Greg Allgood
Yeah. So, you know, there's the impact of the global water crisis is many it impacts people in many ways, and one of them is the fact there's still a thousand children that die every day from having unsafe water. Another big impact is the fact that women and girls, mostly women and girls, have to haul water, have to walk long distances. And in fact, the estimate is that just in Sub Saharan Africa, where seventy percent of the people are that don't have clean water access, basic clean water access, Women and girls in sub Saharan Africa have to walk two hundred million hours every day hauling water. And so I I wanted to I want people, Americans in particular, to understand the long walk for water that women and girls have to endure. And so we, World Vision was was doing work in providing clean water access in a number of countries. And I said, let's, before we provide clean water access, but knowing that these communities will get clean water access, let's really let's really measure and and and record the the long walk for water. And our idea was to make it so that people can relate, was to put smartwatches, to invite women in these countries to wear smartwatches as they did the long walk for water because everyone's, you know, supposed to walk, you know, ten thousand steps and, you know, counting their calories, counting their miles. And so it was a way to make Americans understand this long walk for water. So we did it in four countries. And when we got the data back, I asked the team to disaggregate the data. I wanted to see what community was walking the furthest for water, and I wanted to go back there with a a film crew, and we did that. And, of course, because this is a primarily a woman's issue, I picked a colleague, Lindsay Deems Ratchford, who's a World Vision employee, who has a passion for clean water to go along so we could experience through through Lindsay's eyes this journey. And two lovely beautiful women that chose to do the walk again because the time we we did the walk, they had clean water access. And they shared with us that the physicality of the journey is incredible, and we got to experience that. But even even more than this the the struggles in carrying the water is the dangers along the way. One of the women, Nomogene, had almost been killed by an elephant in the area, and the stress of and and worry about their children. The children they have too many times is the the younger ones have to leave the home while they're walking for water. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Dr. Greg Allgood
But, Lisa, they were they were each carrying forty four pounds of water. They they put a strap around the the container of water and put it around their head and balance the water on their back, and then then pulled and dragged another forty four pounds each, eighty eight pounds of water. We walked through a dry river bed, through a forest where these wild animals were. We saw cobra, elephants, then up a mountain, then down the other side of the mountain where they had to dig down into the sand to collect contaminated water and then haul the eighty eight pounds of water back. And so, yeah, I I wrote and directed the the long walk for water documentary that shares the story of these two amazing women and and through, Lindsay Dean Rashford's eyes about this long walk for water. And the goal is to inspire action, through all World Vision's work. So we we want Yes. We want this to never have to happen again for for women and girls. Lisa Nichols
Absolutely. Well and you and I talked about it because I was telling you about our work with OI, you know, Opportunity International that helps women get up on their feet with a business idea. But something that you said, Dr.Allgood, that I had not really thought about before, you're like, these women don't have time to do anything but haul water. When you are working when you are you're walking two hundred out million hours a day, you know, collectively, there there's not time for that, or you're so exhausted. How could you even have the energy to start a business or anything? And I I had really not thought about it in that light. So you're really that's your purpose is just to get water. Dr. Greg Allgood
Yeah. So even though World Vision is the the world's leading nongovernmental provider of clean water, we don't stop with water. In fact, we actually don't even start with water. We start with with people, helping people understand that they're made in the image of a loving God and they're meant to be successful. God doesn't want them to live in extreme poverty, and so you deal with the hopelessness and apathy that's in many communities to one of resourcefulness and and thriving. Get that mindset change. Then when you bring clean water access, you unleash, as you said, that that time and energy, and, wow, do you see things change once you once you provide clean water access in the community. But we don't stop there. Then we bring in our economic opportunity work Mhmm. To organize people into savings groups, to teach them business skills, and, when needed to provide microfinance, for example, through World Vision's leading microfinance group Vision Fund. And when you put those together, mindset change, then providing clean water to unleash time and energy, and then economic development, you really see communities thrive. And particularly particularly the women and family relationships improve. The relationship between husbands and wives, really change, when you when people are no longer in extreme poverty, and we focus on making sure that happens. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. I just I love it. Tell this story real quick, because I told you that we have supported children through World Vision for a long time, and I'll never forget. I think it was Bob Pierce, right, that founded World Vision. Tell our listeners kind of the genesis of that, and what was the what was it that really spurred him on the prayer? Dr. Greg Allgood
So, Bob Pierce is the founder of of World Vision, also Samaritan's Purse. He was an evangelist, worked with alongside Billy Graham in in China, then Korea. Evangelists were kicked out of China. They went to Korea and, at a, at a revival in Korea. One of the attendees, a young girl, Jade White, accepted Christ, and her family, shunned her. And, she went to an orphanage, and Bob Pierce happened to be visiting the orphanage. And a a nun there said, what are you gonna do about this girl who knows? And so that's how, World Vision started child sponsorship. And and then we work to grow that. We're the leading child sponsorship organization now. And that's really critical to our whole development model because when people, sponsor a child, that funds go, not just to that child, but to that entire community. And we work in communities about the size of a a county, typically about fifty thousand people. Mhmm. That child sponsorship funds allow us to have a presence with local staff in those communities for the long term, ten to twelve, fifteen years in some cases. We work alongside the community so they can lift themselves out of extreme poverty. So we talked about the mindset change and the wars and economic development. So child sponsorship is critical to that model. And on top of child sponsorship, we raise funds for for water economic development. We're now in our fourth five year business plan for water. We've committed between twenty twenty two and twenty thirty raise, to provide clean water access to thirty million additional people. So it's just a a a huge Lisa Nichols
global effort. And you've already provided to how many? Dr. Greg Allgood
So between twenty sixteen and twenty, and now between twenty sixteen and now, we've reached thirty five million people with clean water. To put that in perspective, that's like the population of Texas, except we're not operating in a place with good roads and infrastructure working in the toughest to reach places on the planet, places like, Doctor Congo and, Ethiopia, and Zambia. So, you know, really tough to reach places, and thirty five million people's lives have been changed because of the wonderful people who who support World Vision and the World Vision staff who do the work. Lisa Nichols
Is that it's just so amazing. So amazing. Well, you started as a scientist. Did you ever did you ever think back then, doctor Allgood, that that would turn into your ministry and your purpose as you've said? Did you ever think that? Dr. Greg Allgood
No. I I definitely did not. You know, my, two two people that really inspired me to try to think about doing something that would have a big impact, were Jane Goodall and and, Jacques Cousteau. They were my heroes and how they were both scientists, but also, you know, wanted to change the world for the better. So I I had I had that inspiration, but I I never dreamed I would be able to to, be blessed to be part of efforts that have have reached millions of billions of people. I was blessed to be able to work with Jane Goodall and Jane Goodall Institute, when I was at P and G. Oh, okay. And, also, I hike Kilimanjaro on a celebrity hike with Alexandra Cousteau. Jacques Cousteau had passed, but I've I got pretty darn close to my either directly working with my heroes or their descendants of my heroes. Lisa Nichols
That is so remarkable. That is awesome. Well, I tell you what, I've got pages and pages of questions for you. But we need to take a really quick break, and we'll be right back with doctor Greg Allgood on the Something Extra podcast. AD
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So welcome back, everyone, to the Something Extra podcast with Dr.Greg Allgood. Greg, you know, you've said that purpose often reveals itself one step at a time one step at a time. What advice would you give to someone who is still searching for their purpose? Dr. Greg Allgood
That's a great question. You know, I think finding your purpose, it'll be where where you have passion, where you you see that it excites you. You wanna get out of bed every morning and and and, get involved in that purpose. Pray, ask for discernment from God to to, help you know when that true purpose is. And so and be patient because sometimes it does take a a while for you really to to understand that. And passion is not enough. You need to have the skill set along with it. Yeah. So if you think this is your passion, then, you know, build your skills in that area where so you can really have a meaningful impact. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. You know, that is sometimes where I see, and I'm sure that you could speak to this. And I would love for you to speak to, like, what what were you doing back then even that you feel like has prepared you for what you're doing now? And sometimes, I mean, doctor Allgood, there is a season of preparation. Right? And sometimes your purpose is not necessarily revealed immediately because you're not ready. Right? There's this season of preparation. I love what you said. You gotta have the skill set, so work on that. Yeah. Have the patience to wait. You know? But, you know, looking back, is there what what were some of the things you were doing that really prepared you for the work that you're doing today? Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, you're right. It did take years for me to understand what my true purpose was. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. Dr. Greg Allgood
At P and G, we mentioned I had a lot of ambition, and I was, you know, very grateful to have a position at the world's leading consumer products company doing job I worked that it doing work I I really value, but, didn't quite fit with my purpose. I didn't understand my purpose. And, I worked on project after project that failed. And so I was really becoming discouraged. I think is, you know, is this is this what God wanted me to do? Even even what I thought were big successes, like, I was, in a a debate with a critic on Oprah, when it was the top television, show in the world. And I was very successful in that debate and thought, wow. I'm I'm this is gonna lead to more successes in my career. That project, though, crashed financially because it wasn't meeting P and G's expectations for sales. And so it was a it was a financial failure. And, project after project that I worked on were like that. And at the time, I was thinking, you know, wow. I maybe I should leave P and G. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this. Mhmm. But what I did was I learned through those failures. And my success in in convincing leaders to, create a not for profit business with the P and G, I can directly link back to understanding, what happens in a corporation when things fail. And I was able to get ahead of it with the the not for profit business recommendation. And, you know, if if you're patient and you you learn those skills, and then you've asked for for god guidance from god, you can find your purpose. For me, it was when, I was almost fired from P and G for for recommending this, not for profit business. You know, who was I? Who was I to lead this? Could damage P and G's reputation to try to continue with a a product that had failed commercially. I was in Geneva meeting with some of our P and G team, who had asked me. And I I was walking I was running around Lake Geneva, to get rid of some of the stress of the fact that people are trying to have me fired. And, usually, after running for a while, like, you know, I I I start relaxing a little bit. You know, my my my stress is really Lisa Nichols
Endorphins kick in and But Dr. Greg Allgood
in this run, it just get it get got worse and worse. And, I stopped and I I heard God very clearly tell me, do you doubt I can do this? And I never had an an experience like that. I dropped on my knees and wept, and, I felt an amazing confidence because of that that, God had told me he that he could do this, which changed everything within P and G because the people that were wanted to work alongside me, they were nervous as well, but they saw the confidence I had, which I attribute to the holy spirit, entering me and and it giving me this confidence. And so, we had a few more battles ahead, but I I had the confidence to to, to to get the agreement from P and G, the green light to to run the for profit business. Lisa Nichols
Okay. We could just stop the podcast right there. That was just gold. That was gold, and that will be something that that I will remember. I hope our listeners do too. Do you doubt that I can do this? God is sovereign. Right? And he can do anything. And going back to what you said in the beginning, Dr.Allgood, you go, you know, he doesn't need me to accomplish his purposes. Right? I always say that that when I really camp out on that, that one blows me away. He doesn't need any of us. Here's the deal, though. He wants us. He wants us involved, and he knows what's gonna fill our bucket more than we know. Right? And so getting to do that work and the work that you've been able to do and knowing that the work that you've been able to do, which he gave you, the brains and the scientific brain and that and the business brain, but that you've been able to be a part of saving so many lives. What a fulfilling, satisfying life, and he knows that better than we know it. So that, that that's gold. Do you doubt that I can do this? That is gold. Dr. Greg Allgood
Lisa, it it it it was a, you know, it's a journey. Right? We continue to to to struggle with our own ambitions. And and, and for me, one of the things that happened at World Vision was, after I was with World Vision for a while, we started missing our targets, and things got really bad. I I had tried to get the organization to understand that we needed to change what we were doing. We were we were at risk of no longer being the leading provider of clean water. And and one of our biggest donors on a call said that they're not gonna continue to fund our work. Dave and Dana Dornsife have have invested more than a hundred fifty million dollars with us, but they saw our poor performance and and, said we're not gonna continue to fund bad performance. And, I it was a crisis for me because their initial funding of our first business plan brought me to World Vision. And even more than that, I could see that, you know, these millions of people are helping. We're not we're not gonna be able to help anymore if this spirals like it looks like it's spiraling. And, the lesson I learned from that was that I was ineffective at getting the organization at that point to understand that we were headed this way. But when when our biggest donor at the time said that they were having a problem, the organization under the leadership of Edgar Sandoval, our CEO, really really created this as a understood that this was a crisis, got the right people in place, changed some leadership, and and got us back on track. And I didn't do that. I I had nothing to do with getting us back on track. In fact, I was not successful in getting the organization understand initially. So that was an an instance where I learned, you know, in this case, god doesn't need me to do this. He needs other people to do it. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Yeah. That is so good. That's so good. Oh, wow. Well, let me ask you this. I mean, this dovetails right in. I mean, you guys you've been successful, you and the team, of building these partnerships. Right? I mean and you just said, what, a hundred and fifty million from this one family. But I think and I could be wrong on my numbers, but, like, one point six billion, at least, you're closing in on two billion. What do you think the secret is, Dr.Allgood, of getting people to rally around something bigger than themselves and, might I add, for people that they may never meet? Dr. Greg Allgood
Yes. Well, generosity has has its rewards. Right? We're wired to to want to help other people, and so that's that's a big part of this. But but giving people the opportunity to invest in something that we can show a track record of results, amazing impact, and then taking people to see the work. We we run, on average, more than a a trip every week to whether it's to Central America to see our work in Honduras and Guatemala or the many places we work in Sub Saharan Africa, or in in Asia, or the Middle East. And so, helping people to to see the work directly is is something that will inspire folks. But, we've also been blessed to be creative and come up with innovations to really appeal to people. And one of the ones I'd like to mention is innovation that we said is based on a couple of insights. Two insights in particular. One is the fact that the the global water crisis is something that is solvable. And that's not just hyperbole. It's it's not just a aspirational statement. The world has reached two point one billion people with clean water since two thousand. Two point one billion. And there's about seven hundred million left to reach. So we've come much further than the way we have to go to to solve this. This is a solvable crisis. That's the first insight. Yes. Second insight is the biggest reason people don't give to international development is they think the problems are too big. You're never really gonna solve anything. You're never gonna finish the job in things like providing clean water access. So those two insights are actually opposing each other. Right? And so, the disruptive idea we had was let's prove that we can finish the job of providing clean water access to everyone everywhere we work in a country to prove that we can finish the job because, unfortunately, not for profits, including World Vision, ask for money for the same things in the same countries year after year after year. So we sort of reinforce that you're never finishing the job. Right? And so we turned that on its head. We started with Rwanda. We fulfilled our commitment in thirty nine areas of the country, more than one point two million people. We're just finishing Zambia now. Again, more than a million people finishing the job in in twenty nine areas of the country, and we're well on our way to doing it in Honduras. We're there. We're gonna reach more than half of the people that don't have clean water access in the rural areas of the entire country of Honduras. So next, we're doing we're we're doing Ghana. We just bit off the the ambitious goal of reaching everyone in Ghana. And it's not, only clean water access or near people's or in people's homes. We're upgrading all the schools so they have clean water, sanitation, and handwashing in all the health care centers. In Ghana, that means five hundred schools are gonna be upgraded and two hundred health care centers if we get the funds that are needed to do that work, and it's eighty five million dollars that we'll need to to, finish the job in in twenty three areas of Ghana. Lisa Nichols
That that I'm so glad that you mentioned that because I know that you had that finish the job philosophy. And so you just you just and true. I mean, it's like if you're asking for the same thing every time, people automatically are like, well, gosh. This when is this ever gonna end? But, that was really, really smart. Really smart. Gosh. I've still got so many questions, but I know that we're running out of time here. You know? We've already talked about your faith, and your faith has evolved, so much over the years. And I just I love like I said, I will not forget that. You know? Do you doubt that I can do this? I what a great what a great encounter, you know, you had with God in that. You know, let's ask let me ask you this. You know, you visited hundreds of communities, hundreds of communities across the world. Is there a family, Dr.Allgood, that you'll never forget? Can you remember a story of a family that you will never forget? Dr. Greg Allgood
There's there's a lot. In fact, I've been to Africa as an example, sub Saharan Africa more than seventy times, and I I do that because it fuels me. You know? Bible tells us that we'll we'll find Jesus among the suffering, and that is true. That's the almost a a secret about visiting these areas and seeing world visits work is that you you get, fueled, and and you feel the presence of Jesus in these communities where they're suffering. But, just to pick one, a story of a of, something that will stay with me. It's more recent. It, it's in Kenya, and it's a a couple I met there. Biblia and Lantanjian. That's a cool name. Biblia Bible and Lontongian. I have no idea what it means, but it's a really cool name. Lisa Nichols
It is. Dr. Greg Allgood
And he's a really cool looking dude. So they were in extreme poverty, before World Vision came into their community. And Biblia, along with her daughter, used to walk five miles a day, carrying water, much like I described the the women who are in the the the documentary long walk for water, carrying forty four pounds, strapped around her head, dragging another forty four pounds, and her daughter would go to a dry river bed. And there are camels and goats everywhere. So there's, you know, clearly highly contaminated water. They dig deep into the sand to get the water and haul it back, and her daughter would often miss school because of being sick from the dirty water or just being exhausted. And Biblia had no future except hauling water every day. No sun dissolve, no holidays, no Christmas off, everyday hauling water. She couldn't even dream of what a future might be beyond hauling water. Mhmm. Mhmm. Then World Vision came in with our development model and, you know, helped her and her husband, Lontange, understand they're made in the image of a loving God. Everyone has been given tools by God to be successful. And, you know, we use exempt we we take them through trainings, for example, to understand that everyone has these different talents, and they can see that. Okay. Biblio is very creative. Lantanjan is, you know, very organized, and, you know, they can see that everyone in the community has has different skills. Then you bring them the clean water access, and the time and energy is freed up. And and then and then, Billia entered a a savings group. For the first time in her life, she was able to buy things for herself, like, it she just purchased a dress when we recently gotten there. And the relationship between Billia and Lontonjian, he he told me, you know, before this, I felt like I was blind. Now I think I I I feel like I can see. I didn't feel like a good father before because we could only afford one meal a day for our family. And and now, we're he told me, and showed me that, Biblio and him are building latrines together, but making the bricks, digging the holes, building the trains, selling them in the community. Some of the first latrines this community has ever seen, they're doing together. Biblia's now that she has water access right there, she has a garden, better nutrition for her family, and selling the extra produce to in the market to to have income. So literally, their lives have been transformed, and so I'll never forget Biblia and Lontagian. Speaker 2
At least Dr. Greg Allgood
I hope I won't forget his name. Lisa Nichols
Right. I love that story. And I bet you've just got thousands of those. Right? So that's beautiful. If a CEO is listening right now, Dr.Allgood, and they want their company to make a greater impact in the world, where should they where should they start? Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, you know, having a a company that not only has a a short term, you know, focus that they need to have for shareholders, but having an eternal purpose by really being able to use their success and their business to to, help others, is an extremely motivating thing for employees, for shareholders of the company. You know, P and G is a great example of that, how how they really make their purpose of improving lives, of the world's, people to come to life. And we have number of companies that support World Vision that do that. One that comes to mind is, RTI, Refined Technologies Incorporated. They have been a driver of our work in Honduras. They, have, the places they've reached with clean water through World Vision, their conference rooms are named after these communities with pictures of the community. Through World Vision, they take trips to see the work. They take their associates, down to see the work and come back and and share with the employees. And it is it is a a motivating, effort, that has helped propel them to success as as an organization. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. Dr. Greg Allgood
And so, it's it's a great way to to fuel your company's success to really do something that is, beyond the everyday to to help help people thrive. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Oh, that's so good. So good. Well, let me do just a really fun little lightning round with you, and, and then we're gonna talk about something extra. So, what is one word do you think and I know that you've got four children and four grandchildren. Dr. Greg Allgood
Right? Maybe you've got grandchild on the way. Lisa Nichols
I was gonna say maybe you have one in the oven. I don't know. But that's that's awesome. Grands are such a blessing, aren't they? Dr. Greg Allgood
Mhmm. They are. Lisa Nichols
Do you have a word? In one word, how would your family describe you? Dr. Greg Allgood
Passionate. Lisa Nichols
Passionate. Love it. What about your coworkers? Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, passionate. Lisa Nichols
Passionate? Yeah. That's awesome. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Dr. Greg Allgood
Oh, I was thirsty. You gave me something to drink. Matthew talked Lisa Nichols
about. That's a good one. Yes. He's like, when have you done it to me? Do it to the least of these. Right? And they're like, when have we done that to you, Lord? You know? Well, most inspiring leader that you've ever met. And that might be hard to Dr. Greg Allgood
No. Well, with with apologies to all the other leaders, John Pepper at P and G has has been a a personal mentor to me. And I know hundreds, if not thousands, of others, but I'm blessed to call John a friend. He, he he he really taught me about, doing the right things in life. Lisa Nichols
Right. I love that. Do you have a best leadership book beside the Bible and beside your own that you, you know, go back to the best leadership book that you've ever read? I mean Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, there there's a lot, but one of them is written he happens to be a a World Vision donor, but he's, his name is Harman Kong. And the book is Values Over Valuables, and it's based on the premise that, ninety percent of wealth, is not transferred to the third generation. Seventy percent is lost by the second generation. And he says the way to address that is, first of all, being generous, you know, flattered, but also really helping your family, understand the principles that they want to value as a family. And for me, it's, it's family, faith, finances, fun, in my life. And so, you know, making sure that my actions align with those those principles. And and Harmon's book does a wonderful job of of talking about values over valuables. Lisa Nichols
I love that. Well, I'm getting that book today. One daily habit that you never skip. You know? And I like to talk about morning routines and stuff, but is there a daily habit that you never skip? Dr. Greg Allgood
Unfortunately, I have a a back that after years and years of running has has sort of gone out. So I start every morning with, twenty minutes of of stretching, and, my back was in bad shape when I created the P and G children's drinking water program. Wasn't sure if I was gonna be able to continue to work, and it's no worse than it was twenty five years ago. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Okay. Good. Alright. So this is called something extra. What do you believe Dr.Allgood, Is this something extra that every leader needs? Dr. Greg Allgood
Well, there's not one for sure as you know. But if I had to pick one, I would say vision. And so the vision, that we had to, to finish the job in countries has been a game changer. When I created the P and G Children's Day Drinking Water, my my boss at the time, Don Tasson, said write the vision of what would happen if P and G takes the bold step to create a not for profit business and write it in the present tense as if it's five years from now. And I I wrote it, and I really believe it was divinely inspired because it was far more reaching and had more things that we would achieve than than I ever could have believed. And I didn't I've actually but I feel it was divinely inspired to have this vision. I wrote it. It said we would the P and G effort would be praised by presidents and kings. We would provide a billion liters of clean water when as a for profit, we'd only provided thirty million liters. And John Pepper would come out of retirement to give the billionth liter away. Like, mind blowing stuff. Impossible to believe it could happen. Every word came true. And so that vision, helped us, you know, have the inspiration to create this this effort. Lisa Nichols
Oh, that's beautiful. And it gives everyone something to align to, right, and something to aspire to. That's beautiful. Well, Greg, it has been such a pleasure to be with you on this. I cannot wait for our listeners to hear your story, to hear the World Vision story, to hear what you guys are doing in the world to make the world a better place. And, I just appreciate your time. Thank you so much for sharing your time with me. Dr. Greg Allgood
Thank you, Lisa. It's been a pleasure to spend the time with you. Lisa Nichols
It's been awesome. Thanks so much. Announcer
Something extra with Lisa Nichols is a Technology Partners production. Copyright Technology Partners Inc twenty nineteen. To learn more about this week's guest, check out the show notes at tpi dot co slash podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review. Thank you for listening to Something Extra. 
