The countdown is on, to Oxford and the 2005 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship!

• Which events would you be sure to attend?
• Which people would you want to learn what from?
• Which topics would you like to build networks around?
• What kind of partnerships would you be looking for?
• What information apart from funding resources would you expect to take away from the scheduled dialogues?

Just reading the program is already exhilerating. The list of speakers (that list includes links) is awesomely impressive.  As your Skoll Social Edge community delegates to this year's event entitled Making Networks Really Work, we are this network's designated eyes and ears. Our job is to serve as your proxy - attending the events you'd attend, asking the questions you'd ask, and linking up with the folks who are going to be there that you'd be wanting to meet.

The Sohodojo team and I are very much looking forward to the privilege of sharing this exciting event's dynamism and practical take-aways with you in "virtually" any way we can.  You can help us out, by describing your dream visit to the Skoll World Forum here. Your answers to any or all of the questions above will help us plan the time we spend at the Forum on your behalf.

Additionally, you are invited to submit specific questions to SWF speakers that we will make every effort to get answered for you.

Thanks in advance for participating on the Edge to make this year's Skoll World Forum a webbed event to remember!

Christina (Kirabo) Jordan
Life in Africa Network
http://lifeinafrica.com/

Sohodojo Jim and Timlynn - Mar 15, 2005 5:02 pm (#1 Total: 13)
Sohodojo


If you really want a detailed look at what will be going on be sure to read the detailed 2005 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship Program. This document opens in a new browser window and is PDF format. So you will need a free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it if you don't already have one.

This document will really help you identify the events that you want to suggest for on-line coverage.

Pamela McLean - Mar 17, 2005 4:37 pm (#2 Total: 13)


Christina

Regarding Networks and Talking groups - sorry I lost the proper thread - but hope its okay here as is part of building networks before the Forum.

I just replied to your message about contacting the Nigerian team and explained why what you asked is not practical. I failed to say what I *can* do...

I can give you information *on behalf of* the SIGs - but only if the information that is coming towards them from the bandwidth-rich justifies the time and effort that it will take me to provide information from the bandwidth poor.

If the bandwidth rich are offering affordable, implementable ideas then of course I am interested. If however they want to discuss theoretical, or partially ready ideas, or ideas that can only be implemented if we can then manage to track down funding then it is no good to us - and is simply a tease. We can't afford the luxury of joining in (other than through an intermediary like me).

If bandwidth-rich individuals or groups value input from the rural Nigerian side about what will or will not work in practice - then we need the bandwidth rich to help us pay the costs of join in the discussion. (Costs which are trivial in the context of "rich" economies but prohibitive the poor rural economies where CawdNet is active). We do not have the resources to risk and possibly waste through joining in discussions that may not lead to practical action.

On a personal level I will do what I can.

Pam

Toby Beresford - Mar 18, 2005 2:13 am (#3 Total: 13)
MicroAid


Hi Christina

I'm looking forward to finally meeting all those people I've only met via Social Edge and on the web - people like you, the social edge team, global giving team and the sohodojo team.

Thanks
Toby
----
MicroAid - get your own web system specially for your local community group

Rachel Elliott - Mar 18, 2005 6:45 am (#4 Total: 13)
Ibstock Community Enterprises Ltd

Hi - you asked what I would attend (easiest question to answer - as much as possible).  However, I would be fascinated to get your take on the following from a non-UK perspective.

Workshop 2 - Government and Social Enterprise - Apart from Mark Moore from Harvard, all the other participants are UK based and my sense is that the term Social Enterprise has a very distinctive flavour in the UK.  There are all kinds of policy drivers in the UK from Government towards social enterprise, not least the desire for us all to deliver significant elements of public service in the future.  How different does this all feel to you?

I would be interested to know if any established UK social enterprise practitioners are present, and if so, how they react and contribute.

Masterclass 3  - Measuring Social Impact - Again, I would be interested in a non-UK take on this one.  The pressure is on us here in the UK to 'up the ante' in terms of impact measurement.  Having received 'gift capital' from the Government, I am supposed to be devising measures for the social return on that investment with support from NEF.  However, it still is extremely difficult to identify suitable proxy indicators that would avoid the need for me to do significant amounts of tracking.

However, if it is purely someone standing up and telling you how to do it, with no chance for input or challenge, I will understand if you decide to duck out (I know I would find that hugely frustrating).  If that is all it is, can we get the handouts/material posted on Social Edge so that we can all benefit?

Case Study 3 - Venture Philanthropy - Having contributed to this, I would be interested to see what progress the students have managed to make.

 

On a personal development note - my goal if I had been able to go would have been to try and work some more on whether or not social enterprises have to be/need to be/can ever be/should ever be totally self-sustaining and when is it appropriate to accept subsidy (from whatever source)?  By subsidy, I don't mean contracts for delivering specified services, I mean grants.  I continue to believe that in order to get equity and working capital into our organisations we need capital subsidy, but I am less and less convinced about revenue subsidy.  I think that taking revenue subsidy suggests something other than 'enterprise'.  However, I am well aware that many SME's and even large corporates in the private sector take public sector subsidy, so why shouldn't social enterprises?  Are we all getting too precious in the UK on our need to be self-sufficient?

Hope this helps - feel free to ignore it and have a good time.

bigchainring - Mar 18, 2005 12:38 pm (#5 Total: 13)

hi there

Wow—I think there will be a lot of very interesting people at this conference…I wish I could go in a future year!

Below are some questions I would try to find an answer for:

 

I read through the program:

Mar31::framing social venture networks…academic roadmap

An academic roadmap as opposed to what? What does academic roadmap mean, and how would that translate into the real world?

Can I get a copy of these notes/speech/audio copy?

 

Workshop3::networks for learning: new paradigms….

What are the new paradigms, and why don’t the current ones work?

What do you mean by social transformation (I think there are many definitions…I want to see what these presenters say).

 

Workshop5::creating infrastructure for sc

What 5 things have to be in place for SC?..is there a template you can apply, and then tweak details according to location?

 

Workshop6::from silos to ponds…knowledge ecologies

I personally think that the “ecology” framework is powerful, but I don’t’ think that just knowledge will get you where you want to go..what else is needed?

How does mary’s view relate to all this social ent stuff?

 

Masterclass1::leverage reputation…

What are the top 5 ways to leverage reputation for social change?

What reputations matter?

Is there a point at which someone/thing is overhyped?

Can I get the notes for this discussion?

 

Masterclass2::how the new social software…

I think that the people we are trying to help the most are not part of this knowledge economy. Is that what this is talking about…or scaling the people that are helping build the communities?

What is a reasonable rate of scale?…at what cost?

Can I get the notes?

 

Masterclas4::ultimate network…

When is a network most effective?

What does this look like?

How are customers involved?

Has Jerr experienced this? Where/when?

Networking salons

I think that some of the best networking is done outside of “formal” arrangements. Ask anyone you can get a hold of about this and there experiences and why they think this is.

 

 

 

April1::how media can push strategy for sc

Can I get the notes for this?

What are the top 5 ways?

 

Working lunch

Are you invited?

Do they talk about second stage capital?..not just money to start projects, but also to keep it sustaining over multiple years?  It seems to me that everybody wants to start projects, but not sustain them..

 

 

Questions for specific people

Zulfiqar: from your experiences, what are 3 of the most powerful ways that people of every color/race are connected?

Are you finding patterns/similarities in what people really want?

 

Alter: apart from funding streams, what are the 3 most important things to focus on for sustainability of an org?

What has winning those awards done for you?

What are the most important things you have gained from an MBA?

Did you know exactly what you wanted when you entered the mba program?

Did you find it?

What were the determining factors? (this could also be asked of anyone else who has an mba…I ask because I am trying to figure out if it would be a good thing for me).

 

Anderson: what are the 3 biggest issues facing social entrepreneurship today?

How did you get involved in developing the public policy course?

 

Austin: HBS faculty since 1972..that’s a long time. What are the 3 biggest changes you have seen?

What 3 things have not changed?

Is there a way I could do a class with you w/o being in the HBS program?

 

Ghosh: “intrapreneuring” …can you tell me more what you mean by that?…because I think that is what I’m trying to do…within the ymca..start the cyberY project.

Have you written anything about this? Or know where I could find more info about intrapreneuring?

 

Handy: what do you mean by “social philosopher?”

What questions do you find most interesting at this conference?…what are possible answers?

 

Harris: is greatest impact the only thing that matters?…even at the expense of program effectiveness? (could be asked of any philanthropy org).

 

Hartigan: economics, public health, cognitive psych…what insight do the combination of these three specialties give you into SE?

 

…that’s as far as I got with the time I haveL

Anybody: what 3 things really make an idea take hold?

thanks!

matt

 

 

K.L.SRIVASTAVA - Mar 19, 2005 10:46 pm (#6 Total: 13)
Researcher and Consultant,Hyderabad,INDIA


Hello Christina,

Thanks for giving this opportunity of sharing our views to all of us.

The list of speakers in this workshop is really inspiring. One can not ask for more! I think it will be a landmark event.

I have a general question. What is the vision of these leaders about SE field? Will it remain a marginalized, neglected and obscure field for longtime to come? If it is an important field that can induce desirable change, it has to be nurtured and promoted. The educators in the business and development schools may have to be convinced to include the SE courses in their curricula.

Unfortunately, nothing significant is happening yet in developing countries like India.

Thanks,

K.L.

C Kirabo - Mar 20, 2005 4:40 pm (#7 Total: 13)
Webbed Strategist, Life in Africa Foundation

Dear K.L.,

as an Ashoka Fellow I feel it's my duty to disagree! The global network to which I am honored to belong was inspired by people in India, and even bears the name of an Indian king!

I do feel what you are saying though, and sincerely believe that our global industry suffers from a lack of visibility. By our nature, we are not the kind of people who blow our own horns like the corporates do. But our growth is nonetheless astounding over the past 30 years, and is now just beginning to get organized.

While I do not personally doubt that the industry is going somewhere, I wholeheartedly share your curiosity about the visions these leaders have about how we will be moving forward, and will be sure to share :)

My best to you,
C

C Kirabo - Mar 20, 2005 4:55 pm (#8 Total: 13)
Webbed Strategist, Life in Africa Foundation

Over in the other thread where you can post specific questions to individuals at the forum, Toby Beresford wrote:

A thought to put to all speakers is "how can we implement your idea in practice at a very local level."

Thank you Toby - I'm agree this should be on our team checklist of things to report on across the board.

K.L.SRIVASTAVA - Mar 20, 2005 7:16 pm (#9 Total: 13)
Researcher and Consultant,Hyderabad,INDIA


Hello Christina,

While I agree fully with you that there are some very good practitioners in social entrepreneurship in India, and the Ashoka foundation has made an excellent contribution to this process, I am concerned about the dearth of educational programmes in this area. Personally I do not subscribe to the view that the social entrepreneurs can not benefit from systematic academic programs. There are a large number of prestigious business and development schools in India. But where are courses on SE? Where are faculty members specialized in SE? If so many reputed universities in the developed world are moving fast to develop SE courses, why it is not happening in the countries like India. Historically, the management education came to India from the western countries in 1960s and there was time lag for local adaptations. I am afraid that same thing may happen to SE. In this process, local capacity for educational innovations and effectiveness is weakened.

I get opportunity to interact with students and staff of some universities here. The term "Social Entrepreneurship" is new for nearly all of them. This is not something to be proud of!

Hope you understand my concern. Thanks

K.L.

Dominique Callimanopulos - Mar 21, 2005 3:10 am (#10 Total: 13)
Elevate, Inc.


We at Elevate, Inc (www.elevatevents.com) are begining to organize seminars, networking events and retreats for Founders of non-profits, social enterprises and social value ventures.

My experience working with both experienced and novice Founders has informed me that Founders face ongoing challenges that there has been scant attention to. Many suffer from isolation and a lack of peer conversation around these issues.

We would be interested in hearing from Founders on the Edge about what issues concern them most--organizational and personal. We plan to spend the next few months talking with Founders and launching our Global Founders Circle events beginning in September. We are also available for individual coaching and consulting.

Jewel - Mar 21, 2005 4:55 am (#11 Total: 13)


Too many forums/conferences/seminars present lots of exciting ideas and then send people home without practical tools for using the ideas.  My hope is that presenters and participants keep in mind the issue of "transferability," i.e., making it as easy as possible to put ideas into organizational practice by means of providing tools (checklists, sample news releases, etc) that can be easily used and shared with other social entrepreneurs.  Thanks for listening.

Sohodojo Jim and Timlynn - Mar 30, 2005 6:18 am (#12 Total: 13)
Sohodojo


Dear K. L.,

We have been fortunate to have read a copy of the paper you will be presenting at the International Social Entrepreneur Research Conference coming up in Barcelona in April. In it you present compelling reasons why there need to be educational programs for social entrepreneurship. We absolutely agree.

Successful social entrepreneurs must develop skills in building networks, in developing cross-sector partnerships, in developing and maintaining collaborative alliances, and in using basic business processes.

Although we would like to believe that we know how to use social networks and how to develop alliances, in reality there is much to learn about the skills involved in doing so. For example, moving one's own agendas forward while helping others to do the same with their own agendas takes real skill in identifying and building win-win scenarios. These skills can be learned!

There are several sessions here at the Skoll Forum that may touch on the educational aspects of SE. We will be sure to capture the thoughts here and share them.

C Kirabo - May 14, 2005 2:52 pm (#13 Total: 13)
Webbed Strategist, Life in Africa Foundation

If there's one thing I learned from the SWF experience, it's that you can't predict how you're going to spend time at an event like this, since the event is not just about the planned presentations, but also the people you meet.

Sorry we weren't able to be everywhere at the same time, nor field all the questions some had posted. Somewhere around here, Timlynn described our time at the Forum like "drinking from a firehose." That's sure what it felt like!

What we have managed to do, however, is convince the Skoll team to let the Social Edge site be an exploring ground for more of the planning for next year's forum... so stay tuned, and you'll get to play a more upstream role in designing your visit in 2006.  I'm told next year's theme is about funding social entrepreneurs.