Quoted as the bible in the field of social enterprise I was eager to discover what lay within my Kindle edition of “How to change the world: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas” by David Bornstein. I was certainly not disappointed, and more so, inspired. The book weaves the tale of Bill Drayton & Ashoka throughout its pages, exemplified by the examples of the Ashoka fellows themselves. And indeed it serves as a message of inspiration, of pioneers and role models of all walks of life that are leading the way into a burgeoning world of solutions based social innovation.
A few highlights of the book below:
Definition of social entrepreneur (Chapter 1)
“The designation “social entrepreneur” has gained popularity in recent years. America’s leading universities offer courses in social entrepreneurship. Journalists, philanthropists, and development workers frequently invoke the term. However, most of the attention focuses on how business and management skills can be applied to achieve social ends—for example, how nonprofits can operate for-profit ventures to generate revenues. While this is an important trend, this book looks at social entrepreneurs differently: It sees them as transformative forces: people with new ideas to address major problems who are relentless in the pursuit of their visions, people who simply will not take “no” for an answer, who will not give up until they have spread their ideas as far as they possibly can.”
“One of the most important things that can be done to improve the state of the world is to build a framework of social and economic supports to multiply the number and the effectiveness of the world’s social entrepreneurs.”
The Role of the Social Entrepreneur (Chapter 8)
“An idea is like a play. It needs a good producer and a good promoter even if it is a masterpiece. Otherwise the play may never open; or it may open but, for lack of an audience, close after a week. Similarly, an idea will not move from the fringes to the mainstream simply because it is good; it must be skillfully marketed before it will actually shift people’s perceptions and behavior.”
If ideas are to take root and spread, therefore, they need champions—obsessive people who have the skill, motivation, energy, and bullheadedness to do whatever is necessary to move them forward: to persuade, inspire, seduce, cajole, enlighten, touch hearts, alleviate fears, shift perceptions, articulate meanings and artfully maneuver them through systems.”
Four Practices of Innovative Organizations (Chapter 16)
- Institutionalize Listening
- Pay Attention to the Exceptional
- Design Real Solutions for Real People
- Focus on the Human Qualities
Six Qualities of Successful Social Entrepreneurs (Chapter 18)
- Willingness to Self-Correct
- Willingness to Share Credit
- Willingness to Break Free of Established Structures
- Willingness to Cross Disciplinary Boundaries
- Willingness to Work Quietly
- Strong Ethical Impetus
The Ashoka Fellows’ interviewed by David Bornstein are listed below. Their stories tell the tale of persistence and believing in their vision which shaped their lives in an unexpected journey. Most didn’t set out thinking they would achieve the results they have today. They were housewives, nurses, social workers, academics and doctors, yet each of them today exemplify the Ashoka fellow social entrepreneur definition.
Gloria de Souza
Fábio Rosa, Brazil: Rural Electrification
Jeroo Billimoria, India: Child Protection
Vera Cordeiro, Brazil: Reforming Healthcare
J.B. Schramm, United States: College Access
Veronica Khosa, South Africa: Care for AIDS Patients
Javed Abidi, India: Disability Rights
James Grant, United States: The Child Survival Revolution
“Since 2012, IKEA has been collaborating with social businesses – pioneers with the ambition to create business that is ethical in all dimensions. This is the story of business done differently, which aims to create 95,000 jobs that positively impact 500,000 lives. And that’s just the beginning.
IKEA social entrepreneurship is a program that started with the vision of honouring unique skills and competences and gives them a global platform to stand on – resulting in better lives for those who need it most. This has been accomplished by partnering with enterprises that produce products and services that in turn empower people who struggle to provide for themselves and their loved ones. The result is financial independence and life-changing opportunities for families and communities; with improved health care, education and gender empowerment.
IKEA has high standards for all suppliers through something called IWAY. IWAY sets social and environmental requirements for all IKEA suppliers; making sure that people are well treated, resources are protected, and workspaces are healthy and safe. A social business meets these standards, but chooses to go beyond IWAY to reach people furthest from the job market.
Focus areas
Inclusion
Supporting social entrepreneurs who strive to improve the terms on which individuals and groups take part in society. This involves providing jobs, incomes, capabilities and tools to those who are vulnerable and marginalised irrespective of their individual or group characteristics.
Equality
Working with social entrepreneurs who look to make society more equal in terms of income, status, rights and opportunity. This involves supporting individuals or groups, but also changing systems, with a view to allow people to earn a decent and sustainable living.
Livelihood
Ultimately aiming to lift people out of poverty by having the opportunity to earn a decent living. With increased inclusion and equality comes a better chance of a dignified life, where people have the possibility to provide for themselves and their families in a sustainable way.
Partnerships that inspires change
Through real business
Partnering with social entrepreneurs at a business level, IKEA designs and produces products and services that are sold and offered at IKEA stores worldwide. It is a win-win situation with high quality products manufactured and vulnerable peoples lives changed through the jobs created.
IKEA co-worker engagement
What’s really unique about IKEA is how it uses colleagues as a resource. Their involvement ranges from operational support for social entrepreneurs who make products for IKEA, to strategic development for the ones that don’t provide products or services for IKEA. At the same time, it gives IKEA the opportunity to learn how to become more circular, sustainable and entrepreneurial in the business. It’s a relationship built on knowledge sharing, a mutual exchange of competences and inspiration.
Financial support to the partners
Since the characteristics and needs of each social entrepreneur are different, IKEA will customize its financial support. This will be a choice between grants – without the demand for repayment or financial return -, loans and equity investments.”
Read more here: https://ikea.today/social-entrepreneurship/
Source: https://www.ikeasocialentrepreneurship.org/en