What business entrepreneurs are to the economy, social entrepreneurs are to social change. They are the driven, creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities, refuse to give up–and remake the world for the better. David Bornstein tells the awesome stories of these remarkable individuals of which many are in the United States, others in countries from Brazil to Hungary, providing an In Search of Excellence for the social sector. In America, one man, J.B. Schramm, has helped thousands of low-income high school students get into college. In South Africa, one woman, Veronica Khosa, developed a home-based care model for AIDS patients that changed government health policy. In Brazil, Fabio Rosa helped bring electricity to hundreds of thousands of remote rural residents. Another American, James Grant, is credited with saving 25 million lives by leading and “marketing” a global campaign for immunization. Yet another, Bill Drayton, created a pioneering foundation, Ashoka, that has funded and supported these social entrepreneurs and over a thousand like them, leveraging the power of their ideas across the globe. These extraordinary stories highlight a massive transformation that is going largely unreported by the media, around the world. The fastest-growing segment of society is the nonprofit sector, as millions of ordinary people,social entrepreneurs are increasingly stepping in to solve the problems where governments and bureaucracies have failed. How to Change the World shows, as its title suggests, that with determination and innovation, even a single person can make a surprising difference. For anyone seeking to make a positive mark on the world, this will be both an inspiring and an invaluable book. It will change the way you see the world.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Social Entreprenueurs
2.1 Historical examples of leading social entrepreneurs
2.2 Present day leading social entrepreneurs
3. The Silent Impact
4. What Do Social Entrepreneurs Do?
5. Why "Social" Entrepreneur?
6. Who is Bill Drayton?
6.1 Biography
7. Bill Drayton
8. Drayton’s Criteria
9. Drayton's piece in Policy Innovations
9.1 Everyone a Changemaker: Social Entrepreneurship's Ultimate Goal
10. Transforming the Youth Years
11. The mosaic meeting findings
12. Successful qualities of the social entrepreneurs
12.1 Willingness to Self-Correct
12.2 Willingness to Share Credit
12.3 Willingness to Break Free of Established Structures
12.4 Willingness to Cross Disciplinary Boundaries
12.5 Willingness to Work Quietly
12.6 Strong Ethical Impetus
13. Blueprint Copying
14. Conclusion/Summary
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay aims to explore the transformative power of social entrepreneurship in addressing global systemic problems. It investigates how innovative individuals leverage inspiration, creativity, and direct action to dismantle inequitable structures and create sustainable, scalable social impact. The work seeks to define the characteristics of successful social entrepreneurs and their role in catalyzing a new, empathetic generation of changemakers.
- The distinction between business and social entrepreneurship
- Case studies of historical and contemporary social entrepreneurs
- The strategic role of empathy and youth empowerment
- The methodology of "blueprint copying" for social innovation
- The essential qualities required for successful social venture leadership
Excerpt from the Book
The Silent Impact
Like many young tourists from Europe, Sebastien Marot arrived in Cambodia in the early 1990s with a backpack and a dream of continuing on to find work in Tokyo, Japan. What he found when he arrived in Phnom Penh altered the direction of his life, and his subsequent work as a social entrepreneur has improved life for hundreds of thousands of children and family members. The capitol city of Cambodia, ravaged by years of conflict, revealed to Sebastien a community with little internal structure, thousands of children struggling daily for survival, and seemingly ineffective efforts by foreign NGOs to help.
While exiting a restaurant one night, Sebastien was struck by the contrast of a shiny black Mercedes passing a group of homeless children who slept on flattened cardboard boxes at the edge of the road. Compelled to help, he began bringing food to these street children. But after several days of this, he discovered he was one of many tourists feeding street children and effectively keeping them well fed and on the streets.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter highlights the emergence of social entrepreneurs as creative individuals who challenge the status quo to solve systemic problems where governments have failed.
Social Entreprenueurs: Defines social entrepreneurship as a driver for transformational change, distinct from business models, and lists historical and contemporary figures in the field.
The Silent Impact: Illustrates the journey of Sebastien Marot and his work with displaced children in Cambodia as a prime example of effective social intervention.
What Do Social Entrepreneurs Do?: Explains that these individuals are ambitious visionaries who create new systemic patterns rather than merely patching existing societal failures.
Why "Social" Entrepreneur?: Differentiates the role of social entrepreneurs as societal change agents who invent new approaches to implement large-scale solutions.
Who is Bill Drayton?: Provides a profile of Bill Drayton, the founder of Ashoka and pioneer of the term "social entrepreneur."
Bill Drayton: Details the professional background and career trajectory of Bill Drayton, including his work with McKinsey and the EPA.
Drayton’s Criteria: Outlines the five fundamental pillars, including innovation and ethical fiber, that Ashoka uses to select fellows.
Drayton's piece in Policy Innovations: Discusses the broader goal of an "everyone a changemaker" world through the story of Rodrigo Baggio.
Transforming the Youth Years: Explores how social entrepreneurs are redesigning education by empowering young people with empathy and leadership skills.
The mosaic meeting findings: Examines the common patterns found across global social initiatives, particularly regarding the role of youth in problem-solving.
Successful qualities of the social entrepreneurs: Identifies six core traits, such as the willingness to self-correct and cross disciplinary boundaries, required for lasting success.
Blueprint Copying: Analyzes the efficiency of "blueprint copying" as a mechanism for accelerating social innovation and scaling solutions globally.
Conclusion/Summary: Concludes that social entrepreneurs are pragmatists committed to leveraging human potential for enduring social benefit.
Keywords
Social Entrepreneurship, Ashoka, Bill Drayton, Innovation, Systemic Change, Empathy, Changemaker, Youth Empowerment, Blueprint Copying, Social Impact, Non-profit Sector, Human Capital, Social Reform, Sustainability, Leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay explores how social entrepreneurs function as engines of change by applying innovative, systemic solutions to the world's most intractable social problems.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the transformation of the social sector, the importance of ethical leadership, the empowerment of youth, and the strategic replication of successful social models.
What is the ultimate goal of the work described?
The primary goal is the realization of an "everyone a changemaker" society, where citizens are equipped with the skills to address societal issues proactively.
What methodology is highlighted for scaling success?
The author advocates for "blueprint copying," a method where detailed, successful project models are adapted and replicated across different regions rather than reinventing the wheel.
What does the main body address regarding entrepreneur traits?
It details six essential qualities for success, including the willingness to self-correct, share credit, and cross disciplinary boundaries.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Primary keywords include Social Entrepreneurship, Systemic Change, Innovation, Empathy, and Blueprint Copying.
How does the author define a "social entrepreneur"?
A social entrepreneur is defined as a person who identifies systemic failures, develops creative solutions, and implements them on a large scale to provide enduring social benefit.
What is the significance of the "mosaic" process?
The mosaic process is an Ashoka initiative that synthesizes universal principles from hundreds of successful projects to create scalable impact in education and youth programs.
How do social entrepreneurs approach the "digital divide"?
The text uses the case of Rodrigo Baggio to demonstrate how entrepreneurs leverage local community organization to provide technical infrastructure where governments have failed.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Osemeka Anthony (Author), 2009, How to change your world, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/158333
