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2004 Skoll World Forum

The first annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship took place from March 29 to 31, 2004 at the Said Business School, Oxford University, U.K. The Forum brought together some of the most creative agents of social change who have invented new models that result in sustainable solutions to social problems.

Interview: Patricia Klauer - Women's Technoogy Cluster/Social Fusion

Listen to the interview: Download (mp3) or Stream (m3u)

Social Edge: Tell me a bit about the organization that you work with and what you're doing here at the forum.

Patricia Klauer: Actually I work with two organizations: I am a volunteer and advisor with The Women's Technology Cluster/Social Fusion program in San Francisco and I'm also a consultant affiliate with Orgo Corporation in San Francisco.

I'm here to learn. I'm just here to open up. There's an incredible array of experiences and people here in the social entrepreneur space: from people who do valuable field work to academics who've been thinking about how to move the whole sector forward, and the conversation forward, into the mainstream. I think it's really valuable that everyone is together having these conversations together and I'm really here to learn.

My background has been in building very, very large systems in corporate America. I came to this sector a year ago because I, personally, didn't think my life was used all that well. I didn't think banks really needed another big data warehouse. And I knew that I had a lot of heart and a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge that maybe could be used in a more valuable way. So that's why I'm here.

SE: What are some highlights so far of the forum?

PK: Seeing Muhammad Yunus. Just hearing him speak on the Grameen Bank and the history of that, but just being in the room with him was, I mean, it brought tears to my eyes, this man and the change that he's affected in this world. That was huge for me. And some of the field practitioner conversations were…you could just see the passion and the heart and the differences that these people are making. It's just huge! And the fact that it's now being recognized by an Oxford business school is just bringing it all together.

It was incredible to have the opportunity to be here and it has ignited so many different ideas in terms of how I can apply my skills and work within the community to hopefully help further this.
by Social Edge last modified 2007-03-08 09:28
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