While a business entrepreneur may thrive on competition and profit, a social entrepreneur has a different motivation: a commitment to leading through inclusiveness of all actors in society and a dedication to changing the systems and patterns of society.
Not all enterprises are driven by a profit motive. If it sounds a little exaggerated, blame it on the low visibility factor. Nevertheless, it is a fact. A new breed of entrepreneurs is taking the plunge—not for profit sake, but for something noble, i.e., social change. Unlike the business world, social entrepreneurs are driven by creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities and their ultimate goal is to remake the world for better. And fortunately, with determination and innovation, even a single entrepreneur can make a remarkable difference with practical solutions to social problems.
These entrepreneurs thrive on challenges—be it related to health, education, labor conditions or human rights. The most frequently quoted definition of social entrepreneur was formulated by Prof. J Gregory Dees of Stanford University, in 1988. He outlines five factors that define the social entrepreneurship: adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value); recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission; engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning; acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand; and exhibiting a heightened sense of accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created. |
