INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship

Welcome to INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship

2009 2010 2011

Events

INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Conference and Reunion "An Ecosystem to promote Business for a Better World"

The 2011 INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Conference and Reunion took place in one of the most exciting cities on the planet; Belin! INSEAD partnered with the prestigious Centre for Social Investment of Heidelberg University and the Hertie School of Governance and developed a stimulating, invigorating and inspiring gathering. The conference took place on Friday, 7 October and focused on the potential for business partnerships and the role of public policy in promoting social entrepreneurship. The ISEP reunion took place on the 8 October and brought together our ISEP executive education graduates from all nine ISEP sessions from both Fontainebleau and Singapore.

Research

Landmark UBS-INSEAD Study Reveals Changing Face of Asian Philanthropic Giving

Much is known about the growth in wealth in Asia over the past few decades. Yet the accompanying transformation of Asian philanthropy remains largely undocumented. UBS and INSEAD investigated the changing face of family giving in the region to shed new light on family philanthropy and support its development.
Read the UBS-INSEAD Study on Family Philanthropy in Asia.... Asia’s wealthy engage in philanthropy primarily to ensure the continuity of core family values and to create a lasting legacy in areas such as health and education, according to study on family philanthropy in Asia published today by UBS in association with leading business school, INSEAD. However, among younger and second-generation philanthropists, a "giving while living" approach is also evident, characterized both by increased support for the arts and the environment and a global mindset.

News

Interview of Hans Wahl

Business schools teach that markets and best practice should be leveraged to increase profits. But can they also be used to create social change? Hans Wahl, co-director of the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme believes social entrepreneurs the world over are already making this happen.

The development of skills and capabilities in this emerging and important field within social entrepreneurship has been the focus of the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme (ISEP) for the past seven years. It typically aims to work with organisations which are at least three to five years old, have a proven concept and are looking to scale up their operations and extend the value of the services they provide.

"The intensive ISEP week focuses on issues of scaling and growth, issues of business model innovation, of leadership, of transition from one level of organisation that is often local or community-based to something that is national and sometimes international," says Wahl. “To succeed at these challenges, we have found they then need some solid business tools and principles and that some lessons and frameworks that come from the corporate and business community can be adapted and applied."

Education

INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme: A Thriving and Dynamic Global Network

Some of the most innovative social entrepreneurs from over 30 countries participated in INSEAD’s Social Entrepreneurship Programme (ISEP) In Fontainebleau and Singapore in 2010.

"I enjoyed discussing the mindsets of individual social entrepreneurs and what makes them different from others. At the base of the discussion on mindsets were different skills of discovery and delivery. It was interesting to compare our individual results with those of other colleagues on interestingly designed individual and group charts.

Finally, the most interesting part of the executive programme was the tension between the social and commercial goals of our enterprises. Clearly, there is no one model that calms this tension as different things work in different environments. Still, I think these discussions were groundbreaking and many of us went home with a profoundly different way of looking at the work we are doing."

Zoran Puljic, Director, Mozaik Foundation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Regional Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Central and Eastern Europe, 2009
Read more...

Registrations for next year are already being accepted, so if you're interested in attending ISEP in 2011, make sure to register early.

The dates for ISEP in 2011 are:
France: 14-18 November in Fontainebleau
Singapore: 28 November-2 December

Catalyst

INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship: The Launch of A Social Entrepreneurship Catalyst for Passionate MBA's

This year, we are happy to announce the launch of the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Catalyst. The goals of the catalyst are to make INSEAD the most attractive business school for MBA students who are passionate about social entrepreneurship and to create a central, thriving network linking current MBAs with INSEAD alumni and other industry players involved in social entrepreneurship. Through an integrated sequence of events and workshops, networking opportunities, and projects that will engage MBA students from the start of the programme at INSEAD, we hope that the Catalyst will allow students to understand social entrepreneurship, expand their potential for impact, and act effectively on their social entrepreneurship interests and passions. This program will be seamlessly integrated into the formal MBA curricula of courses and events. Please contact Christine Driscoll, for more information at christine.driscoll@insead.edu. In her role as Associate Director of the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, she will be heading up the Catalyst and tying in individuals from our vast and impressive network, including current MBAs, faculty, alumni, participants of our ISEP program, and partners.

Research

The Social Entrepreneur: Getting Results where Angels Fear to Tread

What is the role of social entrepreneurship in society? How are social entrepreneurs different from commercial entrepreneurs, social activists or charitable work? Our academic director, Professor Filipe Santos published an INSEAD working paper called "A Positive Theory of Social Entrepreneurship", in which he tackles these issues. He proposes a new conceptual framework for social entrepreneurship based on newly published case studies on Banco Compartamos and Gram Vikas.

Network

Social Entrepreneurship Focus: Real Ideas Organisation

Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) is a social enterprise that works with young people to help them make real changes to their lives and the communities in which they live. RIO offers a wide range of services and products to schools, local authorities, government departments and national partners. These customised packages of diverse, yet complementary initiatives are brought together under an integrated RIO umbrella service plan. All the profits are invested back into RIO’s work with young people “providing them with the opportunity and support to make change happen using their own ideas, energy and ability.”