The 5 Principles of Social Impact | Marian Spier | TEDxErasmusUniversityRotterdam

Summary

The speaker discusses the five principles, or 'C's, of social impact, reflecting on why some people succeed in creating change while others do not. Drawing on experiences as a manager and entrepreneur, they share insights from meeting social entrepreneurs and professionals worldwide. The speaker highlights key traits like seeking opportunities, clarity in goals, passion, an entrepreneurial mindset, and determination. By sharing stories of impactful figures such as Estee Lauder and Lex Peters, the talk emphasizes the importance of working hard to create meaningful social change beyond personal gain.

Takeaways

• 💡 Two people with the same opportunities and education can have different levels of impact due to various factors.
• 🌍 Social entrepreneurs aim to create societal change, which distinguishes them from regular entrepreneurs.
• 🚀 Opportunities are key to creating social impact, as seen with examples like Estée Lauder’s innovative sampling approach.
• 🎯 Clarity and strategy are essential for achieving social impact. Visualizing goals helps in making them a reality.
• 🌟 Passion drives success, but it is important to combine it with a strong, focused mindset, as shown by entrepreneurs like Mariama Tammy.
• 💪 Having an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial. It involves clear strategy, focus, and the ability to articulate goals effectively.
• 🛠 Perfect products alone aren’t enough. Entrepreneurs need to communicate their vision well to investors and collaborators.
• 🔍 Being considerate, determined, and purposeful in one's actions leads to meaningful social impact.
• 👩‍⚕️ Lex Peters, a retired gynecologist, exemplifies purpose-driven work by developing a simple, impactful method to prevent cervical cancer.
• 🏆 The key to social impact is working hard and focusing on improving society rather than just personal success.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speaker's presentation?

The speaker discusses the five principles (the 'five C's') of social impact, focusing on why some individuals succeed in making a significant impact while others do not, despite having similar opportunities.

What key difference does the speaker highlight between a social entrepreneur and a regular entrepreneur?

The speaker explains that a social entrepreneur focuses on creating social impact, aiming to improve society or the community, while a regular entrepreneur may focus solely on business success and profit.

What role does clarity play in creating social impact, according to the speaker?

Clarity is essential because it involves strategizing and visualizing one's goals. The speaker gives the example of Mariama Tammy, who has a clear strategy and vision to teach coding to one million young women worldwide.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset?

An entrepreneurial mindset helps individuals focus not just on creating a perfect product but also on understanding how to achieve their goals and communicate their needs to others, such as investors or colleagues.

Can you explain the significance of being 'purposeful and meaningful' in social impact work?

Being purposeful and meaningful means aligning your actions with a clear mission to improve society. The speaker provides the example of Lex Peters, a gynecologist and oncologist, who remained dedicated to saving lives even after retirement by developing a simple method to prevent cervical cancer.

What does the speaker mean by 'don't become the menu at the table' when discussing passion and teamwork?

The speaker advises that when people aim to have a seat at the table (in decision-making), they should avoid being passive or taken advantage of, ensuring they have an active role in the discussion and decisions rather than being sidelined.

How does the speaker use Estee Lauder’s story to illustrate the concept of opportunity in social impact?

The speaker mentions Estee Lauder as an example of someone who saw an opportunity in the beauty industry by introducing product samples, a practice still used today, which allowed her to create both business and social impact.

What advice does the speaker give to career professionals, entrepreneurs, and students who want to create social impact?

The speaker advises career professionals to pursue their passion, entrepreneurs to have a plan, and students to think about where they want to be in five years, stressing the importance of having a clear direction.

What did the speaker observe as a common characteristic among people who created significant social impact?

The speaker observed that individuals who created social impact were hard-working, had a clear vision, and were motivated not just by personal success but by a desire to change society for the better.

How does the speaker conclude the presentation on social impact?

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that anyone—whether an entrepreneur, student, or professional—can create social impact by starting with just one of the five C's and working to apply it in their life.