Is there a problem in society that you’d like to see eliminated? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and new ideas? Do you have passion, drive and optimism?
Social entrepreneurship may be the career you’ve been searching for. Not only is it fulfilling to work for yourself as an entrepreneur, but you’re also working for others and for the benefit of all society.
Two leading social entrepreneurs who have helped change the culture surrounding charitable activities and ventures are Canadian brothers Marc and Craig Kielburger. Through their organizations Free The Children and Me to We they have inspired a generation to push for social change.
“Social entrepreneurship is creating a lifestyle to create better choices for a better world,” says Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children and Me to We, who spoke to Career Options at a recent event for young entrepreneurs involved in The Next 36—a national program for top university undergraduate entrepreneurs.
Social enterprises can be either not-for-profit or for-profit—as long as they are working to solve a problem in society. Through domestic programs and international development, non-profit Free The Children aims to free young people from poverty and exploitation, and inspire youth to become socially conscious global citizens.
When the brothers started their charity in 1995, it was “uncool” to care about changing the world. “I spent Grade 9 in a locker,” says Kielburger, adding that making it “cool to care” is an important factor in the social entrepreneurship industry.
“It’s about using peer pressure in a positive way. It’s coming up with actions and opportunities, and using celebrities and Facebook,” he says. The Kielburger brothers have done that through ‘We Day’—a youth empowerment event held across Canada, where guest speakers and performers entertain and engage young volunteers.
In recent years, social entrepreneurship has gained more respect and attention, says Claudia De Simone, Program Director of Venture, Fellowship and University Partnerships at Ashoka Canada, a global organization of social entrepreneurs. “Ten years ago, or even five years ago, people didn’t understand the words ‘social entrepreneurship,’ ” she says. “More and more young people are dedicated to creating a positive difference in the world, and can see themselves actually doing that for a livelihood.”
“Social entrepreneurship is going to be the dominant force within social change, as opposed to traditional charitable activities,” says Kielburger. The time is ripe to start a social venture. “Get on the wave and ride it because this is the opportunity to jump on now. And you’re going to become a leader in a sector as opposed to a follower in something that’s very established.”
So what advice would today’s established and young social entrepreneurs give to post-secondary students? The one, overriding requirement is that you need passion; without that, it will be hard to get through tough times.
“Don’t start until you’ve found a problem that you’re so passionate about solving that it just makes you crazy,” says Heather Payne, who started her own social venture called Ladies Learning Code. Her not-for-profit business has been around for just over a year and has already seen more than 1,700 women (and some men—she doesn’t want to exclude) learn technical skills like website building and photo editing from over 400 volunteers in Toronto’s technology community. Her aim is to reduce the inequality of women in the technology industry.
“We found a way to create a really welcoming, comfortable environment for women where they can learn. Plus, our workshops are accessibly-priced and actually a lot of fun,” says Payne. For $50, women spend a full day with tech experts.
Payne has worked in a tech start-up company, but prefers social entrepreneurship. “I’m not interested in building the next Farmville. I love social entrepreneurship because it’s about looking at an issue in society and saying ‘I think we can come up with a solution that will at least move us in the right direction.’”
Payne, who is 25 years old, says starting a social venture was risky and a bit scary, but it paid off in the end—she’s opening a chapter in Vancouver, and has plans for more in Canada and the United States. Her business background and entrepreneurial mind helped her succeed in social entrepreneurship. “I love the way that social entrepreneurship can combine principles from the for-profit world and the issues we really do need to solve to create really innovative, interesting and sustainable enterprises.”
Once you’ve found the cause that drives you, De Simone says to jump right in. “Just take a risk…If nothing is happening, create something.” She says it’s much easier to attract potential investors or partners when you already have your idea and plan in place.
Kielburger says that once you have the ‘why’ of your venture ready—the social problem you want to fix—then figure out the ‘how.’ He says to be shamelessly idealistic and “come up with a larger vision than you think you can fulfill.”
“Get yourself out of your comfort zone.”
