The new pillars of global society

What are social entrepreneurs, and can they really change the way business is run and be at the forefront of alleviating the world's ills?

These are grand aims, but then entrepreneurs are known for aiming high. They've long been the driving force of business and innovation, but this new breed of socially-minded entrepreneur is focussing on creating businesses that have social growth rather than profits at their heart.

"They are rebelling against the idea that the problems that surround us are so big that ordinary men and women can't make a difference," said Jeff Skoll, co-founder of eBay and the moneybags behind the Skoll Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

As a dot com billionaire, Jeff Skoll is just one of a number of high profile, altruistic types who are funding social programs initiated by big-thinking individuals. But the men and women who are enacting change don't all come from Silicon Valley or have millions of dollars in the bank.

No mater what their background, Sally Osberg, President of the Skoll Foundation calls them "professionals in creating transformational change."

Previous Principal Voices contributors, Victoria Hale and Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus are two examples, but social entrepreneurs operates on local and global levels and as Skoll says, are "ordinary men and women."

From social innovator Michael Young in the UK who set up the Open University to our Principal Voices, social entrepreneurs apply their innovative ideas to whatever issue or problem they think needs to be addressed. Like Victoria Hale and OneWorld Health, and Kailash Satyarthi and his work ending bonded labor in India, they step in to correct the imbalances of the market or fill in where governments are failing to provide solutions to their country's problems.

Our Principal Voices, Kailash Satyarthi, Rick Aubry and Rory Stear all come from different backgrounds, but what links them is their desire to enact change.

It's a growth area. Over 700 delegates representing ventures from across the globe were at the Skoll World Forum for Social Entrepreneurship in Oxford in March 2007, working on projects as diverse as teacher training programs in Afghanistan to providing translation services for health care workers in the East End of London.

Bill Drayton's Ashoka and the Schwab Foundation have been joined by support institutions funded by new sources of wealth. As Jeff Skoll joked: "Last year Google hits for Britney Spears went up by 75 percent, while hits for American social entrepreneur Bill Drayton more than doubled."

TRANSFORMING CAPITALISM?

But it is not just transforming individuals' lives or creating systemic change. Some believe that social entrepreneurs are at the sharp end of changing the very nature of capitalism and the way traditional businesses and the not-for-profit sector is run.

"In the past, social working and non-profits haven't been about changing the circumstances of why people are poor, they have been cogs in a poverty machine. That's changing thanks to new models of business coming from a blending of ideas from companies, not-for-profit organizations and social innovators," said Jed Emerson, Senior Fellow of Generation Foundation, who set up his own not-for-profit organization at the age of 26.

The food company Danone has joined forces with Muhammad Yunus' Grameen company to open a factory in Bangladesh to alleviate poverty and malnutrition, where the focus in on maximizing benefits the people it serves and placing all profits in similar ventures across the country.

This may be a flagship venture, and one made possible by the charisma and vision of a Nobel Prize winner but there maybe signs that other companies who are often painted as profit-hungry behemoths, such as Wal-Mart, GE and Home Depot, are maturing their CSR policies.

"Less developed countries have a chance to create better companies created from the bottom up that deal with social issues as much as with profits and money," said Emerson.

"Social entrepreneurs there might be using different techniques to Europe and the West, but we're drawing from the same well and aiming for the same things."

What do you think? Have your say on any of the issues surrounding social entrepreneurs.

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As long as we continue to use an economic system which depends on increasing profit making to survive, I feel all the lovely ideas about caring for people and ending poverty are of limited value.

Though the idea seems good but what are the targets of this new innovation? If it is poverty reduction, then are we talking about just raising the standards of poor from subsistence level to a point where they can be self sufficient? Or is it through social entrepreneurship we can only feed hungry mouths?

The Principle of Sharing is the key for the future of humanity. Social entrepreneurs are taking the first steps for creating a new world order based on the Divine Principle of Sharing. Right human relations will free us from guilt and fear.

As I tell many people who hypocritically call themselves socialists, it's not capitalism per se that needs to be changed, it's the people who practice it. Social entrepreneurs are the first breed of a new generation of socially responsible "world citizens" and they surely won't be the last.

I believe social entrepreneurship is vital to get rid of capitalism, which is being run by specific groups. This economic system has failed to do justice for people as the rich are getting richer the and poor are poorer.

Entrepreneurs are good to the extent that a nation with a visionary leadership will encourage them, but here in my country, Nigeria, owing largely to bad regulatory tools and multiple taxation, the entrepreneurial spirit is squashed. The very moment a creative mind sets to business here, if he or he fails to patronize the government the business dies.

I believe that it is only the concept of social entrepreneurship that can help alleviate the social injustices that are being perpetrated by exploitative business bent on making millions overnight at the expense of poor individuals and communities. It is only through such ventures as social entrepreneurship that the world can become a better place for all.

To put every injustice on the government's lack of delivery is not what is needed. The individuals and corporations have more to do on this matter and to show to the government that those initiatives that work need a developmental framework even at large scale. For example, I am looking for partnership to develop an idea that will make it possible for every South African without medical aid to have cheap access to primary health care. I am sure that if we are able to demonstrate at the small level scale that it is working, the government will join our efforts and extend it at national scale. I am waiting people to join me. Just to comment in the debates is not enough.

Where does corporate profit making fit into world development when it impoverishes many and delights corporate investors?

I believe that the concept of social entrepreneurship and the rise of such entrepreneurs is vital for changing the capitalist system that governs our world today. It is essential for people to realise that they can make a difference in the world.

I believe that we, the global community should confront the world's challenges together and become socially-aware citizens. I appreciate the dedication of these social entrepreneurs and hope I will be able to join them someday.

As a businessman at the beginning of my career, I have always thought I should excel in what I do and also be able to tackle the world's social problems. Finding about it here is such an incentive to keep working hard and develop my entrepreneurial skills. A dream already seen to be made real makes it easier for me to find achievement.

The work of social entrepreneurs touches on the very essence of human existence - being your brothers' and sisters' keeper and giving a helping hand and not just aid. There are many of us out there who share this value to be mobilised. It has the potential to create a new world order, reducing tension and conflicts in the world and changing the face of business. It is social action for wealth creation and calls for a systematic approach.

Social entrepreneurs will lead to capitalism being balanced by humanism and socialism responsibility. I hope we will see wealth distribution to a more balanced state, all that all human beings are truly treated as equal.

My experience is that most people think that social entrepreneurship sounds great but don't act. In reality it like life. It should be more about how you live your life than the final goal.

From this point of view, I have the utmost respect for all those people who strive to make money and share it in a good way. Especially those who bring people back into business by providing jobs and support them to increase their self-confidence.

Entrepreneurs are able to be provide and utilize a multiple system of networks now that knowledge is such a powerful tool in business and development.

Social entrepreneurs are the best things to happen and I am sure they will be the leading lights in the time to come. The likes of Bill Gates have shown the world how the business and personal wealth can be used for the good of humanity at large.

They are making the changes - which in all probability will change our outlook and approach. Sure the day is not far off when they will be leading not only the social work but nations, too. I think they will show just what a difference can be made. We as common man should participate in our own way and our own capacity. The future looks bright with social entrepreneurs.

I completely agree with and am very excited about the future potential of social entrepreneurs. I believe very much that when people are authentically aligned with their purpose. They are serving humanity with their unique gifts so the planet and humanity will be transformed into a way of being and living together that has never been seen before. Social entrepreneurs are the drivers of this new age.

The social economy is doing what the government and private sectors have proven unwilling and incompetent to do. Yet, it is ourselves to blame for the social exclusion of millions of people, since we have been unwilling to share societal space will the least advantaged. A good place to start is by being socially responsible consumers. That is where it can hurt the most, both the state and the private sectors.

You can sense it. You can almost even see it. A new era where association with a socially driven enterprise replaces stock share-holding in a profit driven company. This will be the motivation and reward whose enjoyment will be felt by not only the socially-driven individual "stakeholder", but also his or her entire family, and even generations to come. Such multi-dynamic "return on investment" will likely replace the plain monetary profit approach to investment. This will come with the gradual obsolescence of luxury beyond the basic requirements for sustenance, which is currently being ushered by environmental awareness initiatives.

I think changing the whole concept of capitalism is necessary for the further advancement of the human society, the current model is clearly outdated and creates way to many problems for all humans and planet Earth itself.