Welcome to Global Good’s Impact Interview series. This interview series is designed to tell the stories of the people and companies working to drive impact in society.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role?
I’m Dr Alison Metcalfe, the CEO and Founder of LOHA, where I lead a fantastic team committed to improving the emotional well-being of young people. As the CEO, I have overall responsibility for setting the strategic direction of the company. As the founder and the person with the expertise, I’m also responsible for product design and development.
Of course, as a digital tech startup, we also have to run as economically lean as possible, so keeping the finances balanced requires care and diligence, too.
How did your LOHA come about, and what was the motivation behind it?
My background before starting at LOHA was in academia. I was Professor of Health Care Research at King’s College London, and later Pro Vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University. I was also a clinician and have worked in the NHS, or partners with colleagues for research studies.
When I was working in academia, I did lots of work with families, charities and the NHS. Projects included co-designing interventions that help families communicate effectively, and manage their emotional wellbeing particularly when they are in challenging circumstances. I also ran workshops and talks to provide support to families. As my work progressed, more and more people invited me to run workshops and events. However, time and availability were increasingly more difficult, especially as my role became more senior.
Then the pandemic struck. I took a year’s sabbatical to care for my Mum, who was seriously ill, and during this time I had the idea of setting up a company that used digital technology to deliver interventions to help families communicate more effectively, and assist parents in helping teens with their emotional wellbeing. Hence, the idea for LOHA was born, and once the idea was clear, I decided not to return to university work and prepared to set up LOHA.
Can you describe your LOHA’s mission and values?
We are a profit-for-purpose company, and our mission is to facilitate the connection between parents and their teenagers. By improving the quality of this relationship, it gives young people the skills and insights they need to manage their mental health and build happy and successful relationships. Skills that will last them their whole lives.
What are some of the most pressing social issues that LOHA is working to address through its technology?
We use technology, including AI and LLM, to facilitate the growth of the relationship between parents and teens. The skills and insights parents develop mean they can help young people manage many of the challenging situations they experience.
How does your LOHA measure the impact of its work in creating positive change?
We collect evaluation data from the families we work with. Charities or healthcare providers, or corporate wellbeing organisations, can also have a dashboard to explore how the families they support are progressing. We are also carrying out a health economic analysis to ascertain the evidence of effectiveness for healthcare providers.
In your opinion, what impact will technology have in creating a better future?
Technology has to be used wisely. It is not just about replacing humans in work chains or in activity. It is about using technology to enhance the quality of our lives.
What advice do you have for other companies looking to use tech for good and positively impact the world?
The one thing I have learnt is the importance of holding on to your vision and mission. Remind yourself every day of who you are helping and why. When things get tough, which some days will be, being able to remind yourself of what you are doing and why keeps you focused and driven.
LOHA participated in the Super Connect Series, powered by Empact Ventures and supported by Global Good which you can submit an expression of interest to join here
