“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one”
– John Lennon
Our world is beset by challenges on all fronts, be it equality, poverty, healthcare, education, climate change, and so much more. 2020 alone has thrown a curveball by way of the healthcare and economic challenges brought on by Covid-19, and it is time we come together to combat these forces as one.
This calls for a new breed of leader, who is more inclusive and deeply embedded in the welfare of our communities, economies, and industries. The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has championed the cause of exactly such leaders for more than two decades now, and the value-driven, compassionate model of leadership they espouse is gaining greater traction the world over.
Here then are 6 important lessons so you too can ascend to be the kind of compassionate leader showing the way for all.
Empower those around you
The best of social entrepreneurs lift up those around them and empower them to be all they can be, or as in the case of Meagan Fallone, quite literally empower a cause. Meagan is the CEO of Barefoot College, and the Founder and Director, Barefoot College International, a hybrid social enterprise driving change across the globe. Barefoot College demonstrates that illiteracy is not a barrier to poor communities developing themselves and that the most sophisticated technologies can be disseminated by poor rural men and women who can barely read and write. In fact, Barefoot-educated architects and masons proved the quality of their training programme by constructing the only fully solar-powered college in India, a feat that is quite simply electrifying, if you don’t mind us saying so.
No room for ego
Jeroo Billimoria is not a name you might have heard before, but this serial social entrepreneur has been a quiet and prolific changemaker.
Recently, Billimoria revealed how she would make a list of all the relevant organisations that could help her pet causes and spend countless hours cold-calling them, with no room for ego.
Today, Billimoria’s Childline India and ChildHelpline International initiatives have facilitated a global movement for the protection of children and youth and are active in more than 181 countries, responding to more than 160 million calls. Talk about an indomitable spirit.
Ask for help when you need it
Asking for help is often construed as a sign of weakness, but there is no way to solve the Rubik’s cube of global challenges we face unless we work in unison. Some of these challenges are too large for one person or organization to tackle. As Kyle Zimmer, CEO and co-founder of First Book, an organization that aims to provide education access to children says, “Reach out to others, because someone out there has the experience, knowledge or contacts — or all three — that can help you”.
Kyle’s trailblazing work has seen First Book ship 1.3 million books during this pandemic, in addition to learning toys and basic-needs items, and distributed digital access codes for more than 2 million children, with the help of their network of 6,000 members and support of diverse partners, including global publishing houses Disney Publishing Worldwide, DK and HarperCollins Publishers.
Compassionate leadership to the fore
Social entrepreneurs demonstrate deep reserves of compassion and empathy, and it is something we can all learn from. While most social entrepreneurs are driven by the desire to make the world a better place, and alleviate suffering, studies indicate that greater compassion could also significantly increase productivity.
One such foundation is The Clothing Bank, founded by Tracey Chambers to realize her goal of empowering township residents to start their own businesses and lift themselves out of poverty. The idea is simple; The Clothing Bank partners with top retail companies, who donate their excess stock to the Bank. The Bank then sells this inventory at deeply discounted prices to women, who start their own small business, creating a model of social entrepreneurship that is equitable, inclusive, and profitable.
The Clothing Bank also provides training programmes that work on the softer side of business skills, building confidence, essential skills women need to succeed, and a sense of commitment to community. By addressing critical areas of physical, mental, and social wellbeing, the organization leads by example with head and heart.
Looking after those that look after the world
“Making the world a better place shouldn’t require sacrificing your mental and physical health,” said François Bonnici, Head of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, alluding to the fact that taking care of the health and wellbeing of these changemakers is essential, for they addressing the greater needs of society in a purposeful manner that will benefit us all. Some things need to be above profit.
The Schwab Foundation walks the talk on this one; it conducted its first survey on mental health and wellbeing more than a decade ago and has been actively creating spaces for peer support for many years, recently launched a Wellbeing Series in an effort to fully unleash the potential for social change.
