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Social Edge: What is your interest in Social Entrepreneurship?

Chirag Jain: I am a practitioner in the field. I've been running a program in West Bengal for the last year, looking at, essentially, helping children get into mainstream education by providing the support they need in the family infrastructure and the community as well.

SE: What sparked your interest and passion in that originally? What is the part of you that has guided you there?

CJ: I'm not sure. I started off as somebody really ambitious, you know? MBA and these high, fancy goals. And suddenly sort of realized, "What am I really doing this for?" I don't know, it's just something that comes from within.

SE: How would you describe what social entrepreneurs need? What are the core resources that you've felt like you've needed as you've worked in the field?

CJ: I think one of the core resources one needs is a network, really. Because you come to an event like this and you say, "Oh my god, there are so many people doing such good work!" If you could have 5 minutes of each of their time, you could probably get a lot of help. I don't think you could need more than that.

SE: What have you gotten in particular? What were the highlights of this forum for you?

CJ: I think the highlight of this forum was a jolt of inspiration, you know? Seeing so many people doing so much good work. It makes you say, "I want to go out there and make it happen."

SE: What are you bringing home with you--your take-back with your work and is it the one core experience here?