As a young social entrepreneur, Mark Swift was passionate and full of ideas. But he didn’t imagine the hurdles he would face developing Wellbeing Enterprises. He shares his lessons in collaboration, persistence, kindness and authenticity.
The CEO of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance speaks to Tim West about solving your own problems, how Africans turn “embarrassing” issues into entrepreneurial opportunities and how he came to realise his love and pride for Africa.
IMPACT 101: ‘Social outcomes partnerships’ is the new term – at least in some countries – for ‘social impact bonds’. But what are they exactly? And what are outcomes funds? The experts at GO Lab have the answers.
Ready to network, learn and get inspired? Don't book your diary without the Pioneers Post roundup of impact economy events coming soon – for social entrepreneurs, impact investors and all those working within the global impact economy.
The tools and insight you need to do good business, better. Get expert advice, practical insight and frontline examples on key business management topics from our network of social business practitioners and advisors.
PART 10: As a social entrepreneur, you need to be a bit of a maniac to think your unreasonable ideas will succeed. Just as vital, though, is an “inner minder”, who can tend to the boring but vital stuff – and tell the maniac to slow down sometimes.
Katie Buckingham started Altruist Enterprises aged just 19 following her own experience of mental ill health. She tells Tim West why she’s an optimist – and why outside support was crucial in taking her business to the next level.
PART 9: Leadership can be deeply fulfilling – but if the buck stops with you, you’re on your own. The key is knowing that bouts of intense isolation and loneliness don’t make you a bad leader. And if you expect it, you can find ways to deal with it.
Fairphone sold over 100,000 phones last year in 16 countries. But can the disruptor brand keep up with the industry giants? CFO Noud Tillemans tells us why brand awareness is now crucial – and how recent impact investment will play a part.
PART 8: How do you handle a workplace drenched in sexism? Liam Black – who is himself still “unlearning the misogyny” that shaped his formative years – shares strategies taken by some of his female mentees. Plus: why men need to step up.
Good jobs change lives. But creating those opportunities and investing in people can be resource-heavy, especially for small social enterprises. Insider tips on how to put job creation at the heart of your mission.
WISE Ways to Lead: Supporting employees through menstruation, fertility issues, pregnancy and menopause should be fundamental to a well-run social enterprise. Find out how you can be a great employer for all your staff in our latest webinar.
How do you make social investment truly inclusive? Three UK initiatives – Good Finance, Ubele Initiative and CAF Venturesome – working to widen access to support and funding share what they have learned.
Azzees Minott, co-founder of SE100 winner 2-3 Degrees, on turning academic rivalry into a force for good, proving the naysayers wrong – and overcoming suspicions of taking on investment to lead her social enterprise to the next level.
