Objective:
The objectives of this session are for students to:
- Learn from inspirational social entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds
- Gain insight into the ups and downs of social entrepreneurship
- Understand the lessons the speakers learnt along the way
Overview:
A session led by social entrepreneurs from under-represented backgrounds (alumni from UAL and LSBU). Students hear of the social entrepreneurs’ journeys and learn what support their University offered to enable them to launch their start-up. After explaining what their business does and which communities they engage with, the speakers then reflect upon the challenges they have experienced.
Activity:
Students listened to 3 speakers followed by a Q&A.
Areas covered by each talk include
- How to identify opportunities that support your journey in becoming a social entrepreneur.
- How to identify which communities your social enterprise will engage with and understand the mutual benefit.
- Consider the ethical implications of the business and challenges of maintaining its authenticity.
- How to find support and funding to accelerate the reach of the business.
- How to track impact to inform future planning.
Skill Development:
- Engage with social entrepreneurs diverse journeys and experience; draw practical insights, inspiration and know-how from stories and examples.
- Critically contrast a range of perspectives from individuals who were led by their own values and motivations (consider how your students could be mobilised on similar or different trajectories).
- Learn about the ups and downs of being a social enterprise from a social entrepreneur including aspects of sustainability, authenticity, community and planning. Apply this knowledge to your own mission and business model.
- Participate in a Q&A; generate and ask questions specific to your own entrepreneurial/enterprise examples, gain from expert advice and guidance.
Resources:
- Post-its or similar sticky pads
- Pens
References:
- Key authors
- Books
- Links
- Web -sites