Social entrepreneurs are driven by visions of economic inclusion, effective healthcare, enriching classrooms and healthy ecosystems. Business leaders are motivated by the thrill of the deal, the quest for efficiency and the opening of markets. There is enormous shared value opportunity when these two types of individuals join forces. With increased empathy and understanding between the business and social sectors, the solutions they devise together will change the world.
Some business leaders already are partnering with social entrepreneurs—as investors, mentors, and colleagues—to implement market-driven, sustainable solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
“In the future, we won’t be talking about entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship; we’ll just be talking about the right way to do business,” says Hans Hickler, the former U.S. CEO of DHL Express, who now devotes between 30% and 40% of his time to working with social entrepreneurs
But the success of such alliances requires patience, mutual understanding, and shared goals. Ashoka strives to connect its 3,000+ social entrepreneurs, elected as Ashoka Fellows, with a global network of partners, advisors and investors. Many of these business leaders are, like Hans, members of the business.com
In facilitating collaborations between traditional enterprise and social entrepreneurship, Ashoka has learned five tips about what makes these partnerships work, and how business leaders should approach their social sector colleagues
1. Social entrepreneurs aren’t just looking for donors and mentors—they need partners.
It’s about more than writing checks for a good cause and a tax deduction. Social entrepreneurs aim to move their ventures away from a reliance on charitable giving and other forms of direct assistance. And while a social entrepreneur can benefit from a business leader’s strategic guidance, it shouldn’t mean a one-way relationship. Ultimately, the mentor-mentee dynamic may blossom into a true collaboration between partners.
