As I continue to puzzle over social entrepreneurship, it becomes apparent that business is at the center and "social" is a slight modifier. In my search, I discovered that PBS has materials in this realm. Within their Resources section, all of the research organizations based in universities are housed within Bizness Schools: Harvard, Duke, Columbia & Stanford. All wonderful places but also not where one would expect a strong advocacy and social consciousness to pervade and inform the work. I'm not yet ready to abandon social entrepreneurship just yet, but I need to develop some financial savvy first.
One should recall that much of this thinking (by me) was prompted by the Yale SOM Education Leadership Conference on Friday, March 25. What I have discovered is an interesting conceptualization of leadership. In this scenario, it isn't so much the first individual who starts something new but the first and second people who follow. Metaphorically speaking, a good leader is the first guy to start dancing. You don't have to be especially good at dancing (done!). But you must be easy to follow. There are risks
involved with attempting to lead as well as risks in deciding to be the first few who elect to follow. This might sound very familiar. Seeing it represented as a dance at Sasquatch, complete with leadership narrative, really drives this home. Perhaps millions of dollars are required to be a social entrepreneur. But good timing and a sense for what the people can do is all it takes to lead.
One should recall that much of this thinking (by me) was prompted by the Yale SOM Education Leadership Conference on Friday, March 25. What I have discovered is an interesting conceptualization of leadership. In this scenario, it isn't so much the first individual who starts something new but the first and second people who follow. Metaphorically speaking, a good leader is the first guy to start dancing. You don't have to be especially good at dancing (done!). But you must be easy to follow. There are risks
involved with attempting to lead as well as risks in deciding to be the first few who elect to follow. This might sound very familiar. Seeing it represented as a dance at Sasquatch, complete with leadership narrative, really drives this home. Perhaps millions of dollars are required to be a social entrepreneur. But good timing and a sense for what the people can do is all it takes to lead.