Changing the world through social entrepreneurship: Willemijn Verloop at TEDxUtrecht

Summary

In this inspiring talk, Helena Bowen advocates for the importance of being 'unreasonable' to drive progress and social change. She highlights the role of social entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges, citing examples like WarChild, Microfinance, and initiatives by Text To Change and Specialisterren. Bowen emphasizes the need for systemic change and urges everyone to support social enterprises, suggesting a transformation in capitalism where success is measured by social impact.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The speaker advocates for being 'unreasonable' to drive progress and innovation, challenging the Western cultural norm of being 'reasonable'.
• 🌟 Progress, according to George Bernard Shaw, relies on those who are unreasonable, as they are the ones who challenge the status quo.
• 🌐 Unreasonable ideas often lead to significant innovations, such as the moon landing and the creation of the Internet.
• 🌱 The speaker's own experience with WarChild illustrates that unreasonable dreams can indeed come true and have a real impact.
• 💡 Muhammad Yunus' concept of microfinance, providing unsecured loans to the world's poorest, is highlighted as a successful unreasonable idea.
• 🌍 The world faces major challenges like depletion of resources, HIV/AIDS, poverty, and wealth disparity, which require new, unreasonable solutions.
• 💼 Social entrepreneurship is presented as a key driver for creating change and progress, especially when combined with unreasonable thinking.
• 🔑 Four characteristics of social entrepreneurs are identified: having a theory of change, focusing on impact, using market-based solutions, and aiming for systemic change.
• 📱 Text To Change's use of SMS for education and healthcare in remote areas is an example of an unreasonable idea that has made a significant impact.
• 🧠 Specialisterren, a company that employs autistic individuals, challenges perceptions and demonstrates the potential of focusing on abilities rather than disabilities.
• 📱 Fairphone's creation challenges the electronics industry by addressing conflict minerals and promoting ethical manufacturing practices.
• 🌱 Social entrepreneurs aim to scale their impact by sharing their models, not just by growing their own enterprises.

Q & A

Why does the speaker believe we need more unreasonable people?

The speaker believes that unreasonable people are essential for progress because they challenge the status quo and push boundaries, driving innovation and change in society.

How does George Bernard Shaw define unreasonable people, according to the speaker?

George Bernard Shaw defines unreasonable people as those who try to adapt the world to themselves rather than adapting to the world. Shaw believes that progress depends on such unreasonable individuals.

What personal example does the speaker give of being considered unreasonable?

The speaker shares that when she started WarChild at 24 years old, many people called her unreasonable because she had no experience in war zones, aid organizations, or fundraising. Despite this, WarChild now supports a million children annually.

Who is one of the speaker’s unreasonable heroes, and what did he accomplish?

One of the speaker's unreasonable heroes is Muhammad Yunus, who created the concept of microfinance, providing unsecured loans to the poorest people, especially women. His Grameen Bank has now provided billions in loans to help people escape poverty.

What are the four characteristics of a social enterprise according to the speaker?

The four characteristics are: 1) A theory of change aiming to solve a societal issue, 2) A viable business model based on market solutions, 3) A focus on impact and sustainability, and 4) The ambition for systemic change.

What example does the speaker give of a social enterprise using mobile technology?

The speaker mentions Text To Change, a social enterprise that uses mobile phones to send SMS messages to promote healthcare and education in remote areas, such as using an HIV/AIDS quiz in Uganda to encourage people to get tested.

How does Specialisterren, a social enterprise mentioned by the speaker, employ an unconventional workforce?

Specialisterren is a software testing company that only employs people with autism, recognizing their exceptional abilities in concentration and detail, and creating job opportunities for people who are often excluded from traditional employment.

What is Fairphone, and what systemic change is it attempting to bring?

Fairphone is a company aiming to create ethical smartphones by ensuring that the materials used are sourced responsibly, workers are treated fairly, and the phones are sustainable. The company is challenging the electronics industry to be more transparent and ethical.

What is the share economy movement, and how does the speaker view its potential?

The share economy movement encourages people to share resources, such as cars, instead of owning them individually. The speaker believes this movement has the potential to create significant societal changes by promoting sustainability and social cohesion.

How does the speaker suggest individuals can support social entrepreneurship?

The speaker encourages people to support social entrepreneurship by choosing socially responsible products, services, and platforms, such as hiring from Specialisterren, using car-sharing services like SnappCar, or purchasing Fairphones and ethically sourced products.