|
Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs act
as change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving
systems, inventing new approaches and creating sustainable solutions to change
society for the better. Unlike business entrepreneurs who are motivated by
profits, however, social entrepreneurs are motivated to improve society. But
social entrepreneurs are just as innovative and change-oriented as their
business counterparts, always searching for new and better ways to solve the
problems that plague society.
In our case, social entrepreneurs are Dartmouth undergraduate students
and/or community leaders of the Upper Valley with an innovative, sustainable
idea or model to improve social and/or economic opportunities for disadvantaged
members of the local community.
In the broader society, social entrepreneurs
are:
- Ambitious: Social entrepreneurs tackle real social issues,
from increasing the college enrollment rate of local low-income students to
increasing job opportunities for the unemployed (or underemployed) to providing
needed social services more effectively. These entrepreneurial leaders may be
individuals or may operate within non-profit organizations, social purpose
ventures such as for-profit community development banks, and hybrid
organizations that mix elements of nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
- Mission driven: Generating social value -
not wealth - is the central criterion of a successful social entrepreneur.
While wealth creation may be part of the process, it is not an end in itself.
Promoting sustainable social change is the real objective.
- Strategic: Like business entrepreneurs, social
entrepreneurs see and act upon what others miss: opportunities to improve
systems, create solutions and invent new approaches that create social value.
And like the best business entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs are intensely
focused and hard-driving - even relentless - in their pursuit of a social
vision.
- Resourceful: Because social entrepreneurs operate within a
social context rather than the business world, they have limited access to
capital and traditional market support systems. As a result, social
entrepreneurs must be exceptionally skilled at mustering and mobilizing human,
financial and political resources.
- Results oriented: Ultimately, social entrepreneurs are
driven to produce measurable returns. These results transform our communities,
open up new pathways for the marginalized and disadvantaged, and unlock
society’s potential to effect social change.
Social entrepreneurs share a commitment to pioneering innovations that
reshape society and benefit humanity. Quite simply, they are solution-minded
pragmatists who are not afraid to tackle society’s problems, at the local
levels.
Social entrepreneurs see opportunities where others see intractable
problems. They apply innovative solutions to social, economic and environmental
issues, empowering people and communities to create positive change. Their work
can reduce economic disparities, increase opportunities for the disadvantaged,
promote healthier communities and increase the interpersonal and intercultural
understanding that is the foundation for a better community and a better
world.
|
