Entries For: December 2005
2005-12-23
On the road again
Even
cowboys need to take a vacation. Global X is currently on a road trip
on Route 66, somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico. He left without his
Mac, and he won’t blog until his return in 2006.
Don’t cry! He took his Tréo with him, and you can still visit his wimoblog (wireless mobile blog) to see what he is up to.
Don’t cry! He took his Tréo with him, and you can still visit his wimoblog (wireless mobile blog) to see what he is up to.
Nauru stranded without a plane
Filed Under:
Global X is a big fan of Pablo Halkyard's World Bank PSD blog.
Last week, Pablo ran a great story about Nauru, a country-island whose wealth came from bird droppings. Apparently, the country is going bankrupt while trying to reinvent itself by gathering foreign intelligence for the US. It just lost its only airplane in the process...
Global X was wondering if more stories like this will be written in 50 years about oil-producing countries...
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
Last week, Pablo ran a great story about Nauru, a country-island whose wealth came from bird droppings. Apparently, the country is going bankrupt while trying to reinvent itself by gathering foreign intelligence for the US. It just lost its only airplane in the process...
Global X was wondering if more stories like this will be written in 50 years about oil-producing countries...
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-22
Theresa Williamson, the social entrepreneur from Rio (3/3)
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Theresa Williamson, the social entrepreneur from Rio, was born in England from a British father and a Brazilian mother. She was raised in the U.S., and she describes herself as “a product of globalization.”
One thing she discovered as she was launching Catalytic Communities is how important it is to know oneself. This may be true in any profession, but it is even more so in social entrepreneurship. “Even though I have a Ph. D. in City & Regional Planning, I knew all along that I was an activist, not an academic.”
It is also crucial to be knowledgeable about fundraising. She started when she was 9 years old, raising money for UNICEF. Her father taught her what a matching grant was: “I discovered that if I could raise $2, my dad would actually send a check for $4. That had a huge impact on me.”
Being creative is also a requirement to succeed in social entrepreneurship. Right now, Theresa Williamson is raising money through PledgeBank, a very innovative way to involve the whole community in her efforts. Her pledge: "I will set up a $10 monthly donation to CatComm (or $120 annually) but only if 199 other people will too."
Our global social entrepreneur also knows about direct marketing and the impact of rewards. She is offering a trip for two to Rio. Just in case!
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
One thing she discovered as she was launching Catalytic Communities is how important it is to know oneself. This may be true in any profession, but it is even more so in social entrepreneurship. “Even though I have a Ph. D. in City & Regional Planning, I knew all along that I was an activist, not an academic.”
It is also crucial to be knowledgeable about fundraising. She started when she was 9 years old, raising money for UNICEF. Her father taught her what a matching grant was: “I discovered that if I could raise $2, my dad would actually send a check for $4. That had a huge impact on me.”
Being creative is also a requirement to succeed in social entrepreneurship. Right now, Theresa Williamson is raising money through PledgeBank, a very innovative way to involve the whole community in her efforts. Her pledge: "I will set up a $10 monthly donation to CatComm (or $120 annually) but only if 199 other people will too."
Our global social entrepreneur also knows about direct marketing and the impact of rewards. She is offering a trip for two to Rio. Just in case!
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-21
Theresa Williamson, the social entrepreneur from Rio (2/3)
Filed Under:
Theresa Williamson launched Catalytic Communities in 2000. She had noticed that many communities were very good at innovating at the local level, but they couldn’t share their innovations with other communities. Conversely, they couldn’t learn from other communities’ solutions. “I realized that there was a need for a urban municipal solution database, one that would track all the solutions to the same problem, be it an open sewage system or any other city planning issue.”
Theresa Williamson first searched for a mentor. She approached Jeremy Rifkin, a visionary thinker who is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends. “He told me that my idea was a winner. That helped me a lot.”
Her personal background was also extremely helpful. Both her parents are economists: her mother was with the World Bank, and her father (John Williamson), is with the Institute for International Economics.
One can imagine the dinner conversations in the Williamson household. Considering how quantitative her parents are, Theresa Williamson was a bit worried about her dissertation, which is quite unconventional. The fact that she received an award for best Ph. D. dissertation in International Planning by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning must have helped her come home at night!
In his next post, Global X will tell what this social entrepreneur from Rio, who describes herself as “a product of globalization,” learned as she was launching Catalytic Communities.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
Theresa Williamson first searched for a mentor. She approached Jeremy Rifkin, a visionary thinker who is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends. “He told me that my idea was a winner. That helped me a lot.”
Her personal background was also extremely helpful. Both her parents are economists: her mother was with the World Bank, and her father (John Williamson), is with the Institute for International Economics.
One can imagine the dinner conversations in the Williamson household. Considering how quantitative her parents are, Theresa Williamson was a bit worried about her dissertation, which is quite unconventional. The fact that she received an award for best Ph. D. dissertation in International Planning by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning must have helped her come home at night!
In his next post, Global X will tell what this social entrepreneur from Rio, who describes herself as “a product of globalization,” learned as she was launching Catalytic Communities.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-20
Theresa Williamson, the social entrepreneur from Rio (1/3)
Filed Under:
Not too long ago, Global X met Theresa Williamson, a social entrepreneur who strongly believes in fate. As she was at the University of Pennsylvania completing her Ph. D. dissertation in City Planning, she received a job offer to work in Rio.
This was her lifetime ambition. Born from a British father and a Brazilian mother, she knew, since she was 12, that she wanted to live in Brazil. She even wrote all her papers in high school about that country.
However, as she was packing to move there, she found out that the job description had been changed. She was not interested in the position anymore. But that didn’t stop her.
“That was fate! I decided, right there and then, to start a nonprofit!” she says. She jumped on the opportunity, realizing that she was free, like most 25-year olds are. “I had no children, no mortgage; I was not even in a relationship. If I were not going to jump then, was I ever going to do it? I prefer to regret what I did, rather than regretting what I didn’t do.”
She did it. Theresa Williamson, the social entrepreneur from Rio, launched Catalytic Communities in 2000.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
This was her lifetime ambition. Born from a British father and a Brazilian mother, she knew, since she was 12, that she wanted to live in Brazil. She even wrote all her papers in high school about that country.
However, as she was packing to move there, she found out that the job description had been changed. She was not interested in the position anymore. But that didn’t stop her.
“That was fate! I decided, right there and then, to start a nonprofit!” she says. She jumped on the opportunity, realizing that she was free, like most 25-year olds are. “I had no children, no mortgage; I was not even in a relationship. If I were not going to jump then, was I ever going to do it? I prefer to regret what I did, rather than regretting what I didn’t do.”
She did it. Theresa Williamson, the social entrepreneur from Rio, launched Catalytic Communities in 2000.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-16
Case study: What happens when a social entrepreneur hits the blogosphere (4/4)
Filed Under:
Latest update:
• Since Kiva entered the blogosphere, Matt Flannery resigned from his day job and became a full-time social entrepreneur.
• Kiva now has such a backlog of users that the organization took the opportunity to expand. They started operations in Kenya and Tanzania. “I posted these on our Web site and within 24 hours, we had raised $2500 in loan capital. There was no email or blog announcement. People just find out when we list businesses and swarm onto our site.”
• Kiva was recently covered in the Village Voice.
• Matt Flannery was recently interviewed for the Wall Street Journal. Kiva will probably be included in a larger article about how to get involved in micro-finance.
• Matt Flannery adds that the blogs are useful not only for promotion, but also to get new ideas. It also shows you how people perceive you. “In many cases, people were taking the concept to places we didn't anticipate. People were seeing it as a bigger idea than even we had considered.”
• Even people in Africa started reading the blogs. Some entrepreneurs noticed that they were being viewed all over the world, and “this makes them feel more responsible to pay back the loan. The Internet is creating a reputation for them that will keep them more accountable.”
• “The European Tribune recently covered us, thus creating another big surge. We now have many users from Canada, England, Australia and The Netherlands.”
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
• Since Kiva entered the blogosphere, Matt Flannery resigned from his day job and became a full-time social entrepreneur.
• Kiva now has such a backlog of users that the organization took the opportunity to expand. They started operations in Kenya and Tanzania. “I posted these on our Web site and within 24 hours, we had raised $2500 in loan capital. There was no email or blog announcement. People just find out when we list businesses and swarm onto our site.”
• Kiva was recently covered in the Village Voice.
• Matt Flannery was recently interviewed for the Wall Street Journal. Kiva will probably be included in a larger article about how to get involved in micro-finance.
• Matt Flannery adds that the blogs are useful not only for promotion, but also to get new ideas. It also shows you how people perceive you. “In many cases, people were taking the concept to places we didn't anticipate. People were seeing it as a bigger idea than even we had considered.”
• Even people in Africa started reading the blogs. Some entrepreneurs noticed that they were being viewed all over the world, and “this makes them feel more responsible to pay back the loan. The Internet is creating a reputation for them that will keep them more accountable.”
• “The European Tribune recently covered us, thus creating another big surge. We now have many users from Canada, England, Australia and The Netherlands.”
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-15
Case study: What happens when a social entrepreneur hits the blogosphere (3/4)
Filed Under:
Matt Flannery, founder and President of Kiva, and PR expert Krista Van Lewen, told Global X what happened after Kiva entered the blogosphere.
On October 28, Kiva ran out of businesses to fund. “Traffic numbers were greatly affected by the fact that users could not do anything on our site after that date. It quickly became public knowledge,” says Matt Flannery. “We think we would have maintained much higher numbers if our site had been able to fulfill the demand.”
Indeed, Kiva’s Web site visits are largely driven by whether or not visitors can fund developing-world businesses. Amazingly for Kiva, very few people complained that they could not lend money. They just waited.
Third lesson for fellow social entrepreneurs: Be prepared to be successful. You may actually get what you wish!
Tomorrow, Global X will give the latest update on Kiva: the Village Voice, The Wall Street Journal, the European Tribune…
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
On October 28, Kiva ran out of businesses to fund. “Traffic numbers were greatly affected by the fact that users could not do anything on our site after that date. It quickly became public knowledge,” says Matt Flannery. “We think we would have maintained much higher numbers if our site had been able to fulfill the demand.”
Indeed, Kiva’s Web site visits are largely driven by whether or not visitors can fund developing-world businesses. Amazingly for Kiva, very few people complained that they could not lend money. They just waited.
Third lesson for fellow social entrepreneurs: Be prepared to be successful. You may actually get what you wish!
Tomorrow, Global X will give the latest update on Kiva: the Village Voice, The Wall Street Journal, the European Tribune…
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-14
Case study: What happens when a social entrepreneur hits the blogosphere (2/4)
Filed Under:
“First we got picked up by BubbleGeneration, then by DailyKos. Our daily traffic went from 320 to 3,200 in three weeks,” says Matt Flannery, founder and President of Kiva.
PR expert Krista Van Lewen adds: “On November 1, BoingBoing picked us up, and that gave us 30% more visits than DailyKos. Kiva recorded 9,976 unique visits that day!”
This is the yellow bar on the November graph. [Please note that the scale on this graph is different from the October traffic graph posted yesterday. It would be misleading to put them next to each other.]
Summary for the 6-week period, in daily unique visitors:
• Average for the week of October 1-7: 320
• October 13 (the BubbleGeneration effect): 968
• Average for the week of October 15-21: 650
• October 27 (the DailyKos effect): 7,261
• Average for the October 28-31 period: 3,200
• November 1 (the BoingBoing effect): 9,976
• Average for the week of November 5-11: 1,000
Thanks to a terrific idea (online micro-lending) and a very good press release, traffic went from 320 unique visitors a day to 1,000, with peaks close to 10,000.
Matt Flannery and Krista Van Lewen confirm that they had no real control over what was happening to Kiva’s presence in the blogosphere: “Over 200 blogs covered us in the span of two weeks, but we never posted comments or tried to get on more blogs. Or fewer.”
Second lesson for fellow social entrepreneurs: Get the news out, even if it means that you may lose control.
There is a third lesson, a painful one. “We ran out of businesses to fund on October 28,” explains Matt Flannery. One would think that most social entrepreneurs would dream of gaining so much visibility, so quickly. Things turned out a bit differently. Tomorrow, Global X will explain what happened next to Kiva.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-13
Case study: What happens when a social entrepreneur hits the blogosphere (1/4)
Filed Under:
Last week, Global X had breakfast with Matt Flannery, founder and President of Kiva, the online microlending venture that recently got a lot of attention in the blogosphere. Krista Van Lewen, Kiva’s PR expert, joined us to talk about what happened during these six weeks on the Internet. And in Africa.
This is a great lesson for all social entrepreneurs, who don’t always know how to control the power of the Internet to help them change the world (read Chip Giller’s comments here).
It all started when Kiva sent a press release on October 12. Traffic (usually 320 visitors per day), started to build up immediately, until it was picked up by a relatively small blog (BubbleGeneration) on October 13. Traffic went up dramatically for a couple of days (to 968), then went back down to 650 visitors, but still at a much higher level than before the press release was issued.
Then, on October 26, DailyKos, one of the most-read blogs in the blogosphere, picked up the news about Kiva. The day after, Kiva reached a peak traffic of 7,261 unique visitors.
Here are the numbers of daily unique visitors, as shown in yellow on the above graph, for the month of October:
• Average for the week of October 1-7: 320
• October 13 (the BubbleGeneration effect): 968
• Average for the week of October 15-21: 650
• October 27 (the DailyKos effect): 7,261
• Average for the October 28-31 period: 3,200
On average 3,200 unique visitors went to Kiva during the last four days of October, a 10x increase over a typical day before Kiva issued their press release.
First lesson for fellow social entrepreneurs: yes, PR works on the Internet – but it works even better with the magic of a product or service that people are looking for, combined with good timing.
But be warned: blogs can get out of control very quickly. Tomorrow, Global X will explain what happened next.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-12
Chip Giller, A Beacon in the Smog (3)
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Chip Giller, the founder and President of Grist, talked to Global X over lunch last week. Here is more advice to help fellow social entrepreneurs around the world.
Use humor: “The situation on the planet is quite grim,” says Mr. Giller, before listing poverty, imbalance in international trade, and overpopulation as major issues that need to be addressed. But precisely because these issues are dramatic, it is important to bring some humor to the conversation. “Otherwise, the debate could be far too cynical.”
Empower your staff: “Trust them fully and wonderful things will happen to your organization. But first, you have to build the best team. And for that, you should spend the money to hire the best people.” Mr. Giller is very proud of his team of 16 (plus 2 interns): “It’s a great crew of people!”
One may want to add one more piece of advice to Mr. Giller’s list: Be an optimist! Undoubtedly, Mr. Giller is an optimistic social entrepreneur. Grist has doubled its membership in the past two years, from 250,000 to 500,000. “We want millions of members!” concludes Mr. Giller.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
Use humor: “The situation on the planet is quite grim,” says Mr. Giller, before listing poverty, imbalance in international trade, and overpopulation as major issues that need to be addressed. But precisely because these issues are dramatic, it is important to bring some humor to the conversation. “Otherwise, the debate could be far too cynical.”
Empower your staff: “Trust them fully and wonderful things will happen to your organization. But first, you have to build the best team. And for that, you should spend the money to hire the best people.” Mr. Giller is very proud of his team of 16 (plus 2 interns): “It’s a great crew of people!”
One may want to add one more piece of advice to Mr. Giller’s list: Be an optimist! Undoubtedly, Mr. Giller is an optimistic social entrepreneur. Grist has doubled its membership in the past two years, from 250,000 to 500,000. “We want millions of members!” concludes Mr. Giller.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-09
Sleepless in Sudan
Filed Under:
While reading the Private Sector Development blog this morning, Global X noticed a post on Sleepless in Sudan. It's definitely worth reading:
[...] An aid worker diary from Darfur, Sudan: real stories, random observations and occasional rants on the lives of Darfur’s two million displaced people and the somewhat bewildered humanitarian agencies who are trying to help them. Sleepless in Sudan is just another website on just another violent conflict in Africa – but uncensored, direct and without the sugar-coating that the tightly controlled and highly politicized environment demands from the official sources.
Would tell you more about myself, but don't really want the Sudanese government to kick me out of the country for this... [...]
Sleepless in Sudan has a Yahoo e-mail. Let's hope that Yahoo doesn't disclose her real identity to the Sudanese authorities...
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
[...] An aid worker diary from Darfur, Sudan: real stories, random observations and occasional rants on the lives of Darfur’s two million displaced people and the somewhat bewildered humanitarian agencies who are trying to help them. Sleepless in Sudan is just another website on just another violent conflict in Africa – but uncensored, direct and without the sugar-coating that the tightly controlled and highly politicized environment demands from the official sources.
Would tell you more about myself, but don't really want the Sudanese government to kick me out of the country for this... [...]
Sleepless in Sudan has a Yahoo e-mail. Let's hope that Yahoo doesn't disclose her real identity to the Sudanese authorities...
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-08
Chip Giller, A Beacon in the Smog (2)
Filed Under:
When Chip Giller, the founder and President of Grist, talked to Global X over lunch last week, he mentioned a few ideas that could help fellow social entrepreneurs around the world, and others whose bottom line is also social change.
The most important piece of advice for social entrepreneurs: “Be persistent!” Mr. Giller says that he had to approach “100 people” before meeting the person who was going to help him succeed. “Have faith in yourself. Go out there and talk about your mission to as many people as you can. Keep trying!”
Understand your audience: “Grist is not a green information network!” says Mr. Giller, who previously worked for a trade newswire targeting Washington insiders, which, in his own words, was very dry. “Grist is just the opposite. We use humor to reach the right audience.”
Focus on key target demographics: “The Internet is the perfect medium to reach Gen X and Y. It is widely accessible, instantaneous, perfect for these generations who get their news only from the Web.” As a result, 50% of Grist’s audience are in their 20s and 30s. And very few are members of traditional environmental organizations. They believe instead in communities and social networking.
Tomorrow: More advice from Mr. Giller to fellow social entrepreneurs.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
The most important piece of advice for social entrepreneurs: “Be persistent!” Mr. Giller says that he had to approach “100 people” before meeting the person who was going to help him succeed. “Have faith in yourself. Go out there and talk about your mission to as many people as you can. Keep trying!”
Understand your audience: “Grist is not a green information network!” says Mr. Giller, who previously worked for a trade newswire targeting Washington insiders, which, in his own words, was very dry. “Grist is just the opposite. We use humor to reach the right audience.”
Focus on key target demographics: “The Internet is the perfect medium to reach Gen X and Y. It is widely accessible, instantaneous, perfect for these generations who get their news only from the Web.” As a result, 50% of Grist’s audience are in their 20s and 30s. And very few are members of traditional environmental organizations. They believe instead in communities and social networking.
Tomorrow: More advice from Mr. Giller to fellow social entrepreneurs.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-06
Chip Giller, A Beacon in the Smog (1)
Filed Under:
Last week, Global X had lunch with Chip Giller, the Founder and President of Grist. Michael Beneke, a polyglot who serves as Grist’s Director of Development, also attended the luncheon.
Grist is an influential Web site that delivers news and commentaries about the environment, with an attitude. Grist’s motto is alternatively “Gloom and doom with a sense of humor” and “A beacon in the smog.”
Mr. Giller, who is 34, previously worked for Greenwire, a newswire covering environmental and energy policies for Washington politicians. Subscriptions cost several thousand dollars a year, and it didn’t reach the masses.
Mr. Giller also realized that traditional environmental organizations, like the Sierra Club, attracted mostly middle-aged affluent citizens with no clear political agenda. In the meantime, the younger generation tended to be cynical and to avoid environmental groups.
Mr. Giller launched Grist to address both issues of demographics and audience. He has been quite successful, as Grist now records approximately 500,000 unique visitors a month, many of them women in their twenties and thirties.
In his next blog, Global X will discuss Mr. Giller’s advice to fellow social entrepreneurs.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
Grist is an influential Web site that delivers news and commentaries about the environment, with an attitude. Grist’s motto is alternatively “Gloom and doom with a sense of humor” and “A beacon in the smog.”
Mr. Giller, who is 34, previously worked for Greenwire, a newswire covering environmental and energy policies for Washington politicians. Subscriptions cost several thousand dollars a year, and it didn’t reach the masses.
Mr. Giller also realized that traditional environmental organizations, like the Sierra Club, attracted mostly middle-aged affluent citizens with no clear political agenda. In the meantime, the younger generation tended to be cynical and to avoid environmental groups.
Mr. Giller launched Grist to address both issues of demographics and audience. He has been quite successful, as Grist now records approximately 500,000 unique visitors a month, many of them women in their twenties and thirties.
In his next blog, Global X will discuss Mr. Giller’s advice to fellow social entrepreneurs.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-05
Social Entrepreneurs in Nicaragua
Filed Under:
Global X has a good friend, Diana Reid, who keeps an interesting blog here.
The most recent entry tells the story of Chris Berry and Jean Brugger, a couple of social entrepreneurs in Nicaragua whose foundation provides school uniforms for students, university scholarships and hands-on job training.
To ensure an ongoing source of funding, the team built the Piedras y Olas Hotel and Resort in San Juan del Sur. It provides money for the foundation and on-the-job training for students who are learning about tourism, business and economics at nearby Nicaraguan universities.
“When he set up the business structure back in 2002, Berry had no idea that he was on the bleeding edge of social entrepreneurship,” writes Ms. Reid here.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
The most recent entry tells the story of Chris Berry and Jean Brugger, a couple of social entrepreneurs in Nicaragua whose foundation provides school uniforms for students, university scholarships and hands-on job training.
To ensure an ongoing source of funding, the team built the Piedras y Olas Hotel and Resort in San Juan del Sur. It provides money for the foundation and on-the-job training for students who are learning about tourism, business and economics at nearby Nicaraguan universities.
“When he set up the business structure back in 2002, Berry had no idea that he was on the bleeding edge of social entrepreneurship,” writes Ms. Reid here.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-02
Leo Burnett is seeking a non-profit organization...
Global X has a good friend, Diana, who recently wrote:
"I came across this press release regarding ad agency Leo Burnett seeking new non-profit partners and thought it might be worth flagging this for your social entrepreneur community."
This friend was right. To summarize:
“Advertising agency Leo Burnett USA is seeking a non-profit organization as a prospective client partner. Burnett is looking to grow a new or unknown entity into a powerful and recognized brand, putting its full range of marketing services behind the partnership. Interested organizations are encouraged to visit packagedgood.org to submit proposals for consideration.”
The (creative) force be with you!
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
"I came across this press release regarding ad agency Leo Burnett seeking new non-profit partners and thought it might be worth flagging this for your social entrepreneur community."
This friend was right. To summarize:
“Advertising agency Leo Burnett USA is seeking a non-profit organization as a prospective client partner. Burnett is looking to grow a new or unknown entity into a powerful and recognized brand, putting its full range of marketing services behind the partnership. Interested organizations are encouraged to visit packagedgood.org to submit proposals for consideration.”
The (creative) force be with you!
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
2005-12-01
Blaise Judja-Sato, Cameroon’s Social Entrepreneur (2)
Filed Under:
When Blaise Judja-Sato talked to Global X over lunch last week, he mentioned a few ideas that could help fellow social entrepreneurs around the world.
Paraphrasing Ann Cotton (blog here), Mr. Judja-Sato emphasized how crucial it was to involve the local community from the very beginning. “Find a good local partner who will be like your eyes on the ground and who will open doors for you, a partner who will facilitate everything.” Also, make sure you have the support from the local government.
It is also important to create a strong board of directors. “Board members will help you open doors,” says Mr. Judja-Sato whose board includes luminaries like President Nelson Mandela, experts like the president of The Vaccine Fund and the CEO of International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), and a Wharton professor of management and public policy.
Mr. Judja-Sato also likes to use public relations to tell his story and reach potential donors. He has been recently profiled in leading US publications, such as Newsweek and Forbes.
Mr. Judja-Sato is making a difference in Mozambique, and soon in other African nations. Social entrepreneurs the world over should learn from his experience.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
Paraphrasing Ann Cotton (blog here), Mr. Judja-Sato emphasized how crucial it was to involve the local community from the very beginning. “Find a good local partner who will be like your eyes on the ground and who will open doors for you, a partner who will facilitate everything.” Also, make sure you have the support from the local government.
It is also important to create a strong board of directors. “Board members will help you open doors,” says Mr. Judja-Sato whose board includes luminaries like President Nelson Mandela, experts like the president of The Vaccine Fund and the CEO of International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), and a Wharton professor of management and public policy.
Mr. Judja-Sato also likes to use public relations to tell his story and reach potential donors. He has been recently profiled in leading US publications, such as Newsweek and Forbes.
Mr. Judja-Sato is making a difference in Mozambique, and soon in other African nations. Social entrepreneurs the world over should learn from his experience.
Global X also keeps a wireless mobile photo blog.
