About us
Impact
Since our founding, we’ve pioneered new technologies and business methods that harness the power of markets for social good, meaningfully improving employment and income outcomes for those with the greatest barriers to formal work. Our impact prioritizes creating conditions for our team members and communities to thrive, minimizing our effect on the planet, and working with our customers to help them achieve their own impact goals.
Our Responsibility
At Sama, we believe responsible actions lead to positive impact. We have a duty to put people and the planet at the core of our everyday business decisions. Our model, and its goals, help us to be socially accountable to ourselves, our customers, and the world. Responsibility is a journey, and we are committed to being purposeful in our approach at every step along the way.
Responsibility to our people means creating conditions that allow our team members and their communities to learn, work and thrive.
Responsibility to the planet means actively working to minimize our negative impact on the planet by minimizing waste and advancing climate actions strategies through a human-centered approach.
Responsibility to our customers means aligning to advance common social impact and sustainability objectives.
One of the first AI companies to be certified as a B Corp, a company dedicated to building a sustainable and inclusive economy. It’s in our DNA.
Why We Started
Leila Janah, our late founder, firmly believed that providing meaningful, dignified, living wage work is the best way to lift people out of poverty. She founded Sama in 2008 driven by the belief that “talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.”
Using cutting edge social enterprise models, she oversaw the development of version one of our platform, expanded our operations to three continents, and impacted over 50,000 people.
Where We Are Today
Today, our vision is to pioneer new technologies and business methods that harness the power of markets for social good, leveling the playing field for those who do not share equally in the benefits of human progress.
Sama continues to provide equitable access to work opportunities and growth. Our entry-level workforce development strategy focuses on creating access to employment and supporting professional advancement.
“Don’t underestimate the ripple effect of what you do. These kinds of actions have toppled empires.”
Leila Janah, Founder, Sama
Certified B Corp
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to serve as a force for good. B Corps are accelerating a global cultural shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Sama is one of the only AI companies with B Corp Certification, named Best for the World 2021 in the Workers area.
Verifying The Impact of Our Model
In 2021, MIT and Innovations for Poverty Action released findings from a multi-year Randomized Control Trial (RCT) on Sama’s impact-focused business model. This study found those with access to training and work at Sama had significantly higher employment rates and earnings. Read the results here.
Measurement and Accountability
Social and environmental responsibility cannot exist without measurement and accountability. Third party verification, alignment with global standards and ongoing research and evaluation are essential to understanding the impact we are having and where we need to do more.
Review our latest impact metrics here.
65K+
Lives impacted since 2008
20
Businesses funded through the Leila Janah Foundation since 2018
25K
Skill building trainings completed in 2022
