The common denominator – Exchanging experience in Social Entrepreneurship

Victoria Kisyombe, Norbert Kunz and Lo Chay (from left to right) are three persons from three continents with three different stories.

Victoria is from Tanzania. She founded SELFINA, realizing a micro-leasing arrangements to increase incomes of self-employed women. Norbert from Germany, runs iq consult. An agency for social innovation that offers training, coaching, micro-financing and mentoring for disadvantaged groups to increase employment. 1001 fontaines, started by Chay, offers a simple, durable, and low-cost solution to supply drinking water in small communities in developing countries.

As different as their fields of engagement may be, they all share their commitment for social change and social innovation. They, along with around 30 other participants from 20 countries, gathered at the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Program in Singapore from the 28th of November till the 2nd of December 2012.

INSEAD designed this program with two aims. Create an opportunity for exchange of experience and networking between the active social entrepreneurs themselves and allow for constructive interaction between them and the INSEAD academic environment.

During the week the participants were offered a host of different workshops and lectures. In the analysis of case studies and underlying theoretical questions the great experience and different backgrounds of the participating social entrepreneurs led to vibrant discussions. The different formats kept the tension high and allowed for surprising insights, always facilitated by the highly professional INSEAD staff.

In fact given this opportunity there was no holding back. Everyone was more than keen to use the opportunity to get back to some of the basic questions of social entrepreneurship and discuss motivations, attitudes and concepts as well as their final impact on everyday business.

The week in Singapore went by in a rush, but some things are for keeps: the insights into examples of Social Entrepreneurship from all over the world, the great INSEAD staff and all those inspiring conversations.

Last but not least some participants became friends like Victoria, Norbert and Chay. Because after all, everyone shared a common denominator: a passion for social change.

Norbert Kunz

Editors Note:
Norbert Kunz, Managing Director, iq consult, Germany; Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010, Germany