Your perspective depends on your vantage point. Observing social enterprise from Mumbai probably makes the sector look a lot different than if we were observing it from San Francisco, Cartagena, London, or Lagos. And actually working in the sector adds another layer of nuance, detail, and differentiation.
With this, comes both challenges and opportunities. How do we create a common language for social enterprise – across continents, across cultures, and across languages? How do we make sure we are all on the same page?
The first step, I think, is to get to know your fellow social enterprise practitioners. It is still a small sector, a nascent sector. There aren’t many of us, yet (although this number is increasing by the day!). And luckily, it seems that everyone wants to talk. Everyone wants to bounce ideas off of each other. Everyone wants to collaborate. This is an incredible opportunity.
And there is no better way to take advantage of this opportunity than to attend one of the many sector building events that are being organized around the globe. One with which we are especially excited to partner? The upcoming Social Enterprise Alliance Summit 2010 + World Forum. Taking place in San Francisco, April 28-30, 2010, the Summit 2010 + World Forum hopes to draw over 600 social entrepreneurs (100 from developing countries!) to learn, to grow, to be inspired, to make new connections from around the globe, and to become part of the expanding social enterprise movement. Beyond Profit will be on hand as a media partner.
While we are engrossed in social enterprise on a daily basis, it is often easy to lose track of the fact that it is not yet mainstream. The Summit 2010 + World Forum is an opportunity to change this – to help advocate for wider use of social enterprise approaches, to discover new models, and to make connections to grow impact, both of the sector as a whole and of individual enterprises.
The Summit 2010 + World Forum will kick off with a Social Enterprise Showcase and Reception, and consist of in-depth workshops, an “Angel’s Forum,” speed dating a la Social Enterprise, and special visits to social enterprises in the Bay Area. It will be an opportunity to ask the following three questions: What is happening globally? What are the opportunities nationally? And how do I do this locally?
