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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
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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.
JimFruchterman • Developed 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 Skoll • eBay’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 • $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.