This is how wellbeing drives social change and why cultural leaders need to talk about it

Social entrepreneurs are disruptors in the services of others, especially in situations where the traditional actors or the market have failed. The Schwab Foundation Impact Report, showed how social entrepreneurs in the Foundation community alone have made an impact on the lives of 622 million people in more than 190 countries.

Social entrepreneurs are tackling the world’s most urgent issues, but they often work under intense pressure in chronically under-resourced environments. As they seek to address the needs of the most vulnerable, marginalized and forgotten, social entrepreneurs and their staff often overlook their own wellbeing, which in contrast can seem trivial.

The result: high incidences of burn-out, serious mental health issues and personal relationship breakdowns, which have a severe impact on organizations and the whole social change sector.

This figure is alarming, especially considering that these are the “most successful” social entrepreneurs with highly evolved operations. But it is not entirely surprising.

There is increasing evidence that effective change can only be achieved if the wellbeing of the change-maker is secure. It can be cultivated in the first instance through greater awareness and a better understanding of self. This in-turn can have a positive ripple affect across organizations, improving innovation, collaboration and creativity.

The Schwab Foundation was one of the first organizations of its kind to recognize the interdependency of wellbeing and well-doing. It was the first to launch programmatic work for its social entrepreneur community around mental health, and provided these change-makers with a safe space to discuss their unique struggles.

“Making the world a better place shouldn’t require sacrificing your mental and physical health. And yet, too often, that’s exactly what happens to those on the frontlines of social change”, says François Bonnici, Head of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. “There is a profound need to support the wellbeing of changemakers, so they are able to continue addressing the global challenges of society. The Schwab Foundation conducted its first survey on mental health and wellbeing over a decade ago, and has been actively creating spaces for peer support for many years. Today we recognize that this is more critical than ever, particularly if we value the sustainability of social change work”, he said.

Along with others supporting social entrepreneurship such as Skoll, India Development Review and Stanford Social innovation Review, the Schwab Foundation is promoting a global movement, through its Wellbeing Series. The idea is to support the human aspects of entrepreneurship to unleash the potential for social change.

As part of the movement, a series of thought pieces will be published to explore the integral yet often overlooked link between wellbeing and transformational social change. The series aims to be a resource for all those in the social-change sector looking to nurture greater individual, organizational and societal wellbeing and well-doing.

The Schwab Foundation is partnering with the Forum’s Cultural Leaders’ network to explore the nexus between culture, wellbeing and social change. The idea that art and culture frames consciousness and processes individual experiences is not new. Throughout history, people have used art to heal and to make sense of the world. In turn, many insights into society’s systems, failures, aspirations or successes are captured by cultural outputs.

Creative expression has taken on a sense of urgency during the COVID-19 crisis – for example – illustrating the power of art to address existential threat.

A Canadian business survey conducted in 2008 found that 86% of respondents believed art made for more integrated and healthier communities, while 88% thought it had a positive impact on health and well-being. In economic terms, art more than pays its way. Another report published by the World Health Organization confirms that art and culture have positive overall effects for mental and physical health at all stages of life.

“Culture is the glue of society. It is what ties communities together and its role is crucial in shaping social change in a constantly evolving world”, says Linda Peterhans, Specialist, Cultural Leaders, World Economic Forum. “The Cultural Leaders network brings this voice to the wider remit of the Forum, engaging all stakeholders to empathise and think creatively about how to shape a more resilient and inclusive world”.

Cultural Leaders appeal to hearts and minds, and are drivers of social change. Through this series, these pioneering voices will connect, inspire and elevate the social entrepreneur community to encourage them to keep fighting the good fight.