How to Build Social Entrepreneurs

The Case For Social Entrepreneurs

Is it possible to create social entrepreneurs? Imagine the impact such an accomplishment would have on society — the hungry fed, the destitute supported, and the environment restored etc.

Amidst Covid-19, we have witnessed unprecedented political upheaval and economic struggle as thousands die daily. Governments are losing control over their populace, and Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) are seeing steep declines in donations at a time when they are needed most. The future of our region rests heavily on a group no other than our beloved Social Entrepreneurs.

The “Top-Down Approach” employed by governments and larger organisations seldom work for tackling societal issues because of the fact that they are complex and interconnected with other facets of society. Instead, these issues (or what we call “Wicked Problems”) often require a prolonged, coordinated collaboration of multiple stakeholders on-the-ground to be alleviated.

Social Entrepreneurs are able to utilise the “Bottom-Up Approach”, oftentimes even working with lone individuals to move the needle on social issues. The financial surplus generated from their social enterprises are then able to be redirected back into their work, catalysing their impact created.

Beyond categorising social causes into colourful boxes, tomorrow’s leaders need to realise the importance of creating more social entrepreneurs. The question is… How?

Beyond categorising social causes into colourful boxes, tomorrow’s leaders need to realise the importance of creating more social entrepreneurs. The question is… How?

For the past 10 years, I’ve trained hundreds of young people and conducted field explorations to nearly all countries in ASEAN. I am increasingly confident in discovering The Secret to Social Entrepreneurship.

This post will attempt to paint a big picture overview of the “DNA” of a Social Entrepreneur, and shall be the first of future posts that will deep dive into the various make up of a Social Entrepreneur, based on my opinion and experience.

Values

As “values maketh a man”, values maketh a business. The reason why a Social Entrepreneur’s values are so important is because they determine the company’s vision and mission. These 2 guiding principles point the company towards its true north in the midst of any storm. Additionally, values are what determines the company’s principles and culture, which will in turn guide employee decision-making.

Social Entrepreneurs start social enterprises because they believe there are current social needs, and existing structures are unable to sufficiently address these needs. Acting in accordance to their values, they feel a great need to do something about the societal issue. Therefore, they create social enterprises. Whether driven by Empathy or Sympathy, I believe that true Social Entrepreneurs value Justice, driving them to “right” what’s “wrong” in their world.

Whether driven by Empathy or Sympathy, I believe that true Social Entrepreneurs value Justice, driving them to “right” what’s “wrong” in their world.

Of course, the combination of values in each Social Entrepreneur differs. It is our job to help them identify and crystalise the values important to them, so they can be grounded for the tumultuous journey ahead.

Mindsets

Google searches for the word “Mindset” has seen a 140% increase over the past 5 years. The world is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the mind. Yet, beyond having a Growth mindset, are there certain kinds of mindsets that sets Social Entrepreneurs apart?

In my experience, these are 3 critical mindsets a Social Entrepreneur must have, which I will expound on in a series of future posts:

1. Opportunism

Beyond adaptability, Opportunism means being able to make the most of any opportunity. Being Opportunistic allows one to make win-win partnerships and ride on existing trends. These are crucial especially in the early years of a social entrepreneur’s journey where resources are scarce. Being prepared and knowing what to look out for when the time is right increases one’s odds of success immeasurably (Luck = Opportunity + Preparation).

Nonetheless, it is important to understand trade-offs and juggling between big picture thinking vs focused thinking. It is even more crucial to learn how to walk away from attractive offers that may be a distraction to your mission.

2. Resilience

“Starting is easy, persistence is an art”. Resilience is more than perseverance; it is grit, powering forward despite multiple setbacks, not giving up hope. To succeed, Failure must be embraced and celebrated.

Resilience is knowing “90% of start-ups fail”, yet picking yourself up every time you fall down. You must be your own cheerleader, nobody’s going to do that for you.

3. Continuous Learning

At today’s pace of technological disruption, it is important to keep abreast of technology and its effects on your industry, or risk irrelevancy. To do this, one must believe in learning new things, and having an internal culture of innovation.

Continuous learning means having both pride and humility at the same time: Pride in your work and in what you know; Humility to accept that you may be wrong.

Soft Skills

Having good values and mindsets are not enough. Social Entrepreneurs must also possess a variety of soft skills that allow them to succeed in what they do.

Soft skills like Leadership and Communication helps them lead high performing teams to accomplish the visions they set for themselves. However, it is the great Social Entrepreneurs who lead not only themselves and their team, but lead movements that eventually influences society as a whole.

Great Social Entrepreneurs lead not only themselves and their team, but lead movements that eventually influences society as a whole.

In solving complex problems, Social Entrepreneurs can break things down into First Principles, allowing them to decide what area to prioritise. Thereafter, a relentless, Focused Drive often pursues, allowing social entrepreneurs to deliver great feats despite the odds stacked against them. Having the soft skill of Focused Drive and the mindset of Resilience is a powerful problem-solving combination.

Last but not least, Creativity. Creativity allows Social Entrepreneurs to dream of new products and business models to improve society’s way of life. Creativity lies at the heart of innovation.

In conclusion, there is no fixed way to building Social Entrepreneurs because everyone is unique. But, I believe there are certain similar attributes that make up the “DNA” of a Social Entrepreneur. These unique values, mindsets, and soft skills are essentially what forms The Secret of Social Entrepreneurship.

To any young person wanting to create a change, stay tuned for future posts. Alternatively, check out my social enterprise Bamboo Builders. We work with schools and organisations to equip and empower young people to change their community through social entrepreneurship.