Giving Business Some Soul

Characteristics of Social Entrepreneurs

Recognize when a part of society is stuck and provide new ways to get it unstuck.

He or she finds what is not working and solves the problem by changing the system.

Committed with a vision and determination

Are driven to produce measurable impact.

Usually seek to generate “social value” rather than profits.

Jim FruchtermanDeveloped optical character recognition (OCR)

technology that allows computers to read virtually all printed text.

He founded a nonprofit social enterprise that produced reading machines for people with visual disabilities.

Nikhil Arora and Alex Velez

Mushrooms that can be grown using recycled coffee grounds.

Business based on a waste stream souned

Jeffrey SkolleBay’s first employee

and president.

Skoll Foundation

Investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs dedicated to save the world’s problems

Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson

FEED projects

Created simple reusable bags

Proceeds from sales went directly to World Food Programme

Now proceeds go all over the world and the US

Kenneth Cole

Kenneth Cole$400 million shoe-and-clothing company

He lent his name to social issues – AIDS, homelessness, gun control, abortion.

“I tell that story often because we need to remind ourselves that in business and in life, the best solution isn’t necessarily the most expensive one, but it’s almost always the most creative one,” Cole says.