Social entrepreneurs, those organizations and individuals who work to improve major social issues, don't have the networks and financial systems of traditional entrepreneurs, Sally Osberg, president of the Skoll Foundation told a Stanford MBA audience. Like Ginger Rogers dancing in a 1940's musical, they face the same issues as traditional entrepreneurs, but must do it backwards in high heels
Sally Osberg can imagine future news headlines that might say, "New AIDS Cases Fall to Zero." Or, "Child Soldiers Exchange Guns for Books in Africa." Or perhaps even "U.S. Imports Last Barrel of Oil."
The president and chief executive of the nonprofit Skoll Foundation suggested those kinds of lofty goals might be achievable through social entrepreneurship. "Social entrepreneurs are first and foremost entrepreneurs. We believe entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs are agents of creative destruction," Osberg told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience Dec. 6.
This piece originally appeared in Stanford Business Insights from Stanford Graduate School of Business. To receive business ideas and insights from Stanford GSB click here: (To sign up: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/about/emails)