Reclaiming Social Entrepreneurship | Daniela Papi Thornton | TEDxBend

Summary

The speaker discusses the limitations of the current social entrepreneurship movement, which often focuses on creating businesses that address social issues rather than fundamentally changing broken systems. Using the example of a bag made from reclaimed fire hose, the speaker argues for a shift towards system change leadership, where social entrepreneurs like Cressy work not just to sell products but to change the systems that create waste. The talk calls for a reimagining of social entrepreneurship education to produce leaders who are focused on solving problems and changing systems, rather than just starting businesses.

Takeaways

• 🛍️ The story of a bag made from reclaimed fire hose illustrates the potential of social entrepreneurship to address waste and support charitable causes.
• 🔄 Social entrepreneurship traditionally focuses on fixing broken systems, not just making money or donating to charity.
• 🏢 The current social entrepreneurship movement has shifted towards promoting social businesses, losing sight of the broader goal of systemic change.
• 👩‍🏫 Education plays a critical role in shaping social entrepreneurs; current systems often teach students to start businesses rather than change systems.
• 🌐 System change requires collaboration across sectors, including businesses, nonprofits, and governments, to address complex societal issues.
• 🌱 The true essence of social entrepreneurship lies in its ability to create change across various sectors, not just in starting a business.
• 👩‍💼 Social entrepreneurs like Wendy Kopp and Ma Jun have made significant impacts by focusing on systemic change rather than business growth.
• 🎓 Universities should adapt their metrics of success to measure the impact of their graduates, moving beyond traditional business school rankings.
• 🔧 Social entrepreneurship education should equip students with the tools to understand and engage with complex problems, not just to start businesses.
• 🌟 The potential of social entrepreneurship lies in fostering system change leaders who are passionate about solving problems and transforming systems.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker identifies with the current social entrepreneurship movement?

The speaker identifies that the current social entrepreneurship movement is overly focused on starting and growing social businesses rather than addressing the broken systems that create social and environmental problems.

What is the significance of the bag made from reclaimed fire hose in the story?

The bag made from reclaimed fire hose symbolizes the potential of social entrepreneurship to repurpose waste and create value, but also highlights the limitation of only focusing on business solutions without addressing the systemic issues.

What does the speaker suggest is missing from the story of the bag and the social entrepreneurship movement?

The speaker suggests that what's missing is the broader system change that social entrepreneurship was initially about, which includes not only creating social businesses but also engaging with governments, nonprofits, and other sectors to address systemic issues.

How does the speaker differentiate between a social business founder and a system change leader?

A social business founder is focused on starting and growing a business with a social goal, while a system change leader is focused on addressing the root causes of social and environmental problems through various means, not limited to business ventures.

What role does the speaker believe universities should play in shaping social entrepreneurship education?

The speaker believes universities should shift their focus from solely teaching how to start social businesses to equipping students with the skills and understanding to become system change leaders who can address and fix broken systems.

Why does the speaker argue that the current social entrepreneurship education system needs to change?

The speaker argues that the current education system is producing social business founders rather than system change leaders, which is not effectively addressing the complex and systemic nature of social and environmental issues.

What is the 'hero entrepreneur' concept that the speaker critiques?

The 'hero entrepreneur' concept refers to the idea that an individual can single-handedly solve large-scale social problems through their business ventures. The speaker critiques this concept for overlooking the complexity of systemic issues and the need for collective action.

What changes does the speaker propose for business plan competitions in universities?

The speaker proposes changes such as allowing alumni to participate, requiring applicants to demonstrate a deep understanding of the problem they aim to solve, and shifting the focus from pitching solutions to pitching a comprehensive understanding of the problem and existing solutions.

How does the speaker describe the ideal mindset of a system change leader?

The ideal mindset of a system change leader, according to the speaker, is one that is deeply concerned about a specific problem and is open to using various tools and approaches, including but not limited to starting a business, to bring about systemic change.

What example does the speaker give of a system change leader in action?

The speaker gives the example of Cressida, who not only runs a social business making bags from reclaimed fire hose but also works with governments and corporations to promote waste reduction and reuse, demonstrating a commitment to systemic change beyond her business.