We’ve been ruminating lately on something that may ruffle a few feathers. It’s about the definition of social entrepreneur. Traditionally, an entrepreneur (the “mainstream” species) is a person who runs an enterprise or a venture. She is an ambitious leader, likely the founder, who is held accountable for the risks and outcomes of the operation. She is the face, the talking head, the company personified.
Did you notice anything in the description above? Other than the fact that we chose to use she instead of he, what’s interesting is that we think of an entrepreneur as the proverbial “King – or Queen – of the Mountain.” Go it alone. Winner takes all.
Somehow, it seems strange to apply this logic to social entrepreneurs and social enterprises. From what we see, social enterprise, as a sector, is unique: its focus is on the change that an enterprise creates. How a community is transformed. How the environment benefits. You get the drift.
Of course, social entrepreneurs are part of the cult of respect. Some would argue that only certain kinds of (often unreasonable) people are capable of being successful social entrepreneurs. They are driven, passionate, and possess a “don’t quit” attitude. (Harvard, at their Entrepreneurial Finance Lab, is even pioneering the use of psychometric testing to measure people’s natural predisposition to entrepreneurship. Results pending — look for more information in a future issue of Beyond Profit).
We agree, social entrepreneurs are unique. And amazing. But, what about the crew that supports the enterprise, and augments the work of the entrepreneur? If we are not all born with the “right” combination of enterprising traits, should we throw in the towel? More importantly, where do the employees of a social enterprise fit on the scale of entrepreneurial abilities?
From our experience at Beyond Profit, we know that employees of a social enterprise feel a strong sense of ownership over their enterprise, of their enterprise’s mission, of their work. Often, since many social enterprises are in start-up phase, all team members are forced to be entrepreneurial in both their thinking and in their actions. So then, don’t we all have the capability to be socially entrepreneurial? Can we call ourselves social entrepreneurs even if we aren’t the president/founder/supreme leader? Why do we need to draw a line in the sand?
We would love to hear your thoughts!
Editor’s Note: Guest blogger Adrienne Villani is an Associate at Intellecap, where she is involved in the conceptualization and creation of content for Beyond Profit, Intellecap’s publication on social enterprise and social entrepreneurship, both in print and online. Trained as a demographer, she received her M.Sc. in Population and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she concentrated on the demographic and socio-economic effects of son preference on the north Indian marriage market.
One Comment
I think you are addressing two issues here – one is the drive to create something socially relevant and financially healthy. And two – what it takes to make any enterprise successful – a healthy and interdependent team.
The first is a passion – a drive that some feel more intensely than others – and that could inspire anyone in any position or stage of life. Whether they turn their passion into a reality and build something around it or not is the question. Nobody has a monopoly on passion!
The second question is one of organisational structure – I believe that a social enterprise could also question conventional top down approaches to management and create structures which recognise passion in people at all levels and give them the support to express it!
For us at eCoexist, the dream may have been one persons to start with but we are where we are today because of those who share this dream – who have taken it beyond what she could do and who are creating systems and networks to nourish this dream.
If an enterprise was to depend solely on the energy of its creator it would hardly grow! A successful social enterprise to me is one that creates change in society – and what better place to start than within its own team. If it can give its members the confidence that they too can make a difference then it has already begun to change society!