The Happiness Tipping Point

By: | | Other
Happiness

“I think it’s here,” Prof. Martin Seligman said as he made a blue dot only millimeters to the left of the tipping point on the diffusion of innovations graph I had sketched in my Moleskine notebook. Martin Seligman, the “father of positive psychology” had just lectured on Well-being at Work to over 500 business professionals at the Positive Business Forum in Milan. The two-day conference can be understood as the latest manifestation of a larger global phenomenon, labeled by the media as the “happiness movement” or “happiness industry”. With initiatives springing up in every sector – academic, cultural, spiritual, economic, public and private – what is the big picture? Does it matter?

Filed under: Business, Business & Society, Policy, Topic Specific, happiness

Why Future Business Leaders Need Philosophy

By: | | Humanities and Social Sciences in Management Education, Copenhagen Business School Workshop 2013, Copenhagen-Denmark
Walknboston-flickr

In the wake of the financial crisis, an era of severe turbulence, rapid changes and increasing complexity has emerged. A black cloud hangs over the past decade’s economic prosperity and global consumption habits, which fundamentally challenges the purpose of business. All too often the approach to business practices has been one-dimensional, lacking in richness and depth. This goes for both the cheerleaders and the critics of the current business practices. In these times, it is important to be able to view the world in different shades – one of possibilities, rather than constraints.

Filed under: Insights from Academia, Transforming Education, business, leaders, management education

How to Pitch Your Story to an Editor

By: | | Other
NYTimes

So you’ve been researching on a topic for your Masters thesis for while and have developed an interesting angle. Or, maybe you’re attending a conference and would like a unique way to connect with thoughtleaders or key figures in your field by hunting down interesting stories. Either way, pitching and publishing as a contributor in a newspaper or magazine is a great way to publicize and establish a voice and expertise in your respective field. Here are some tips from those in the field for aspiring freelance writers – also known as, disciplined, hustling idea generators. Build your digital profile.

Filed under: Editors' Brief, blogging, conference, Journalism, media

Street Football Shaping FIFA: Football Industry’s Perspective on Social Development

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Street Football, Photo taken in Marrakech, Morocco

For someone who still believes he has trouble articulating his ideas and vision for the future, Juergen Griesbeck, CEO and founder of streetfootballworld has gained enormous clout in the football industry for effectively illuminating the tremendous potential football has in social development. In 2002 Griesbeck created streetfootballworld, an organization that employs a network model to connect organizations all over the world that use football as a tool to tackle social issues such as homelessness, HIV/AIDS and landmine awareness.

Filed under: Business & Society, Enterprising Philanthropy, Entrepreneurial Tales, Entrepreneurship, Features

The Making of South Pole Carbon: How to Become a Social Entrepreneur?

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Team after concluding one of the first deals for myclimate. Photo from R. Heuberger.

Many people dream of starting their own business. Some do it to make money and some want to make a difference to the social and environmental issues that matter to them. How does one then become a social entrepreneur? What is the story behind those who managed to do it? The path of the successful entrepreneur, Renat Heuberger, is a perfect Hollywood story.

Filed under: Entrepreneurial Tales, Entrepreneurship, Features, Technological Miracles, Technology

Ciudad Saludable – Teaching the Business of Recycling

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Ciuad Saludable

When you talk with her, it’s hard to find the moment that you could use to ask your following question. Albina Ruiz is one of those. She has the drive and focused energy of the ones who have fought for their vision to come true. For nearly three decades she has been building up a model of social enterprise, at first in Peru and progressively all over South America. She is now working to develop it in Asia.

Filed under: Enterprising Philanthropy, Peru, recycling, social entrepreneurship, South America

Finding the Needle in the Haystack: The Story of Refugees United

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Refugee United

For Refugees United, 10 minutes is worth more than 10 dollars. It may sound like an odd approach for raising money, when it is a product that the majority of the donors will never have any use for. But to CEO Jens Briksten, it is a matter of having a product that appeals to something more than needs and desires. It is about having a product that appeals to one of the strongest human emotions: the fear of losing your family. The reason he would rather have ten minutes is therefore quite simple and pragmatic.

Filed under: Enterprising Philanthropy, Entrepreneurial Tales, Features, Philanthropy, Technology

For Inveneo, Addressing the Global Digital Divide Calls for Business, Not Charity

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Photo Courtesy of Inveneo_Children in Maasai Mara

Children in Maasai Mara, Kenya use technology deployed by Inveneo, a nonprofit social enterprise. Photo courtesy of Inveneo. A rumor that the FCC released a proposal last month for nation-wide, free, public Wi-Fi was quickly dismissed as wishful thinking, but sparked a much-needed national conversation about the digital divide. Kristin Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Inveneo, has been preoccupied with disparities in technology access at a global level since 2004. Inveneo, a nonprofit social enterprise, delivers affordable (but not free), reliable, and sustainable broadband to communities in developing countries.

Filed under: Business & Society, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Technology, growth

Youth for Technology Foundation: Reinvigorating Rural Communities through Reverse Migration & Youth Empowerment

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Njideka Harry, YTF Founder & CEO

When Njideka Harry answers the phone, her voice is warm and smooth. As she begins to tell me about the foundation she started twelve years ago, her tone conveys both humility and confidence. Before long, it becomes clear that these qualities are a trademark; something embedded in the very fabric of her organization and passed on to the youth who come through the Youth for Technology Foundation's programs in six developing countries across Africa and Latin America.

Filed under: Entrepreneurial Tales, Entrepreneurship, Features, Multimedia, Technological Miracles

A 4P Future: People, Planet, Profit, and Plastics

By: | | Huffington Post / Schwab Foundation - Social Entrepreneurship, 2013
Cassava field; Source: Tirta Marta

“Don’t say no to plastic. Say no to plastic which is non-degradable.” Speaking at a TEDx conference in his home country of Indonesia last year, Sugianto Tandio – President Director of PT Tirta Marta – shared what he is calling his “redemption story.” Formerly in the conventional plastics business, he explained his current passion for solving the global plastic waste problem as both an activist and a social entrepreneur. The 3P’s of people, planet, profit – also known as the Triple Bottom Line – is the holy grail for business sustainability practitioners. Can plastics, Mr. Tandio’s redemption story, fit in? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jON7MvJ1xOk&w=640

According to a report commissioned by PlasticsEurope, and authored by British futurologist Ray Hammond, plastics will continue to play an important role in meeting many of the world’s crucial future challenges.

Filed under: Entrepreneurial Tales, Entrepreneurship, Technological Miracles, Technology, Asia