A CHANGING OF THE GUARDS

A changing of the guards, or perhaps a little respite, seems to be on the minds of social enterprise stalwarts as they herald in the young social entrepreneurs through the development of networks, enterprises and skills building activities.



Many are represented at the Conference including SAGE, a global movement that engages high school students in developing social enterprises. It’s mission?


To help create the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders whose innovations and social enterprises address our world’s major unmet needs.

Wrapping Up...

It’s been an intense, but rewarding two days at the 2010 World Social Enterprise Conference and Summit. Practitioners from across the globe have shared their stories and provided valuable insight into the world of establishing, maintaining and building business ventures that traverse a range of social issues.
The thirst for more is clear. More knowledge, more support, more understanding and more enterprising and innovative approaches to dealing with the world’s problems.


Key note speakers Chip Heath and Dan Pallotta inspired, ignited debate and provided insight into the broader philosophical discussion of how we see change and charities. While neither Chip nor Dan show signs of letting up, a changing of the guards, or perhaps a little respite, seemed to be on the minds of social enterprise stalwarts as they heralded in the young social entrepreneurs through the development of networks, enterprises and skills building activities.

Social Enterprise Stories

I am settled into my digs in San Francisco and learning a great deal from delegates of the Social Enterprise World Forum.
Read some of my blogs by going to SAN FRANCISCO STORIES

San Francisco - here we come!

I will be winging my way to California in 13 days to become the official blogger for the Social Enterprise World Summit in San Francisco. This forum attracts social and financial entrepreneurs from around the world who are working with some of the most disadvantaged communities.

Stay in touch during this time by going to the blog at www.sea-alliance.blogspot.com or check in on our Branching Out blog.

This is a fantastic opportunity to ask the experts about how the arts and creative industries can become more enterprising and see first hand some of the innovative approaches in the many arts initiatives in the city.
Check out San Francisco stories

'An idea is like a play. It needs a good producer and a good promoter even if it is a masterpiece. Otherwise the play may never open; or it may open but, for lack of an audience, close after a week. Similarly, an idea will not move from the fringes to the mainstream simply because it is good; it must be skilfully marketed before it will actually shift people’s perceptions and behaviour', from How to Change the World by David Bornstein.

If you want to learn more about Social Enterprise and see it in action this is a good read. Bornstein combines his personal experiences of these amazing enterprises with reflection about how social enterprise principles can work.

Excerpt from Sirolli website-interview online

Before he explains his methodology, Sirolli insists I understand the idea at its core: A successful business requires three essential components—product, marketing and financial management—and no single human being is capable of delivering all three with equal passion and competence.

"The death of the entrepreneur is solitude," he says. "If you're alone in business, you'll die." This isn't some casual observation, but the core of his faith, what he has come to call "the trinity of management."

On the face of it, this idea doesn't strike one as particularly radical, but it goes against what Sirolli considers a pernicious but enduring myth: To start a successful business, you must be able to handle all three aspects yourself. Not one to shy away from absolutes, Sirolli lets me have it:

"Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Bill Gates: None of the greatest companies in America was started by one person! I've done the research. Not even one! It's always two, three, four people."
www.sirolli.com

December Update...

Working closely with Business and Employment, Australian Business Arts Foundation and other business, arts and community organisations, we are exploring the best models that could work for the regionally based groups to enter the world of Social Enterprise.

When starting any new venture there is an element of calculated risk and a moment of jumping in with either investment money or resources. We are now at that point.

We are continuing to work alongside a dedicated group of people in Sheffield on a Community Gallery Social Enterprise, currently teasing out the financial viability and pulling together an updated business plan.
The work with Interweave in Launceston has been really dynamic with the group identifying a range of opportunities, but determining one avenue that could support and profile the art produced by artists in the Launceston area.
Branching Out is a challenging and exciting project with two key components: 1 the strategic Management-including research, networking and establishing partnerships and 2 the Operational and implementation of the pilot projects. Including identifying key skill requirements, community needs and working with the groups to move the projects forward.