Topic: Social Entrepreneurship

When do great artists produce their greatest art--and great social innovators make their most significant contributions? In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, economist and creativity researcher David Galenson debunks the myth that high achievement is the domain of youth and genius. Applying lessons from lives of artists and leaders, he considers the creatives' style differences and time horizons, emphasizing that social innovation is more about slow burn than flash in the pan.

Ten years ago, "entrepreneur" didn't exist in the lexicon of many parts of the world. Now, thanks to the work of a nonprofit called Endeavor, entrepreneurs are emerging in countries where such activity was once impossible. In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, co-founder and CEO Linda Rottenberg shares how her organization has gone from a "crazy" idea of two business school graduates to an important engine for empowering entrepreneurs in Latin America and beyond.

Join host Sheela Sethuraman for this interview with Beulah Thumbadoo, founder of Everyone's Reading in Africa. She shares her experiences promoting adult literacy, first from within government and university, and then through her own organization. She also shares some advice from her own experience on social entrepreneurship.

With valuable advice for all types of entrepreneurs, this panel from the second annual Social Entrepreneurship Day at Stanford University offers a unique perspective for funding a social entrepreneur start-up. Kriss Deiglmeier, Executive Director of the Center for Social Innovation, leads an engaging discussion between funders and social entrepreneurs that provides actionable advice and insightful lessons.

While volunteering at a charter school, Rafael Alvarez was confronted with some shocking information--hardly any students in the senior class had plans to attend college. So, in true social entrepreneurial fashion, he decided to match up this under-served market with another under-served market, entry level IT. He explains to host Sheela Sethuraman how Genesys Works prepares students technically and professionally to enter a corporate environment and change their lives.

If you're living on this planet you probably sense that the world is in a time of tremendous change. Ashoka founder William Drayton calls it "Revolution" in his keynote address on the occasion of receiving the Purpose Prize Entrepreneurial Leadership Award. In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Drayton offers inspiring words about the nature of the times we are in, and how becoming a changemaker is critical for seizing opportunities that are emerging in these unprecedented times.

AIDS in South Africa has left millions of children without parents or any resources to help themselves. In this episode of Design For Change, host Sheela Sethuraman gets Kim Feinberg to describe how her organization, the Tomorrow Trust, uses education to help these children grow into self sufficient, economically productive, and socially included adults.

In parts of Nicaragua, nearly 80 percent of the population goes without electricity, leaving them cut off from critical opportunities for betterment and development. Kriss Deiglmeier, executive director of the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, interviews Mathias Craig, founder of blueEnergy, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing electricity to marginalized communities in this region of the world. The project won the 2007 Accenture Award for economic development, administered by the Tech Museum.

Kyle Zimmer is the cofounder of First Book, a not-for-profit organization that matches books with low income students on an increasing scale. Taking lessons from business, she shares with host Sheela Sethuraman the evolution of her startup from just an idea in 1992, to an organization with hundreds of employees and a warehouse filled with millions of books. Zimmer discusses how applications borrowed from best business practices have led to providing a scalable model of entrepreneurship.

During turbulence and social upheaval most people retreat into themselves and focus on only one task -- survival. Fortunately for the women and children of Afghanistan, Sakena Yacoobi is not one of those people. Escaping the oppressive regime of the Taliban, many Afghanis found themselves as refugees in Pakistan but with only $20,000, Yacoobi formed what is now the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). In this interview with host Sheela Sethuraman, she explains her vision for AIL as well as her incredible journey and experiences along the way.