Why Defining “Social Entrepreneurship” isn’t a Total Waste of Time

Lauren Gardner, COO

I recently read a post by a good friend and former classmate titled “Why Defining Social Entrepreneurship is a Waste of Time”.  Suneet’s point is that for the most part it doesn’t matter if you (or other people) use the term social entrepreneur – it just matters if you’re making an impact.  That summary doesn’t do his article justice and I recommend reading it in its entirety.  Although I do largely agree with Suneet I want to build on one point he didn’t touch on.

After working with the large number of undergraduate volunteers that serve here at the Emily K Center I have a theory about the importance of defining the term “social entrepreneurship”.  I agree with Suneet that once a person is being a social entrepreneur it doesn’t matter how we define it, however while we’re educating the next generation at our universities it’s very important. 

The people who are going be the future change-agents are the energetic, passionate, and driven young people with significant talent.  These are the same young people that are encouraged by parents, peers, and societal pressure to be the best doctor, lawyer or CEO and follow other traditional paths to “success”.  What does defining, teaching, and advocating for social entrepreneurship do?  It makes it a valid, noble, and prestigious way for these students to define their career path as they leave school.  It allows them to explain to their parents why they didn’t take that corporate job.  It lets them tell their peers about Wendy Kopp and how they’re going to transform their idea into a national movement like Teach for America.  It validates their decision to pursue a career and life with a mission. 

In my opinion, even if this is a little bit of the hubris Suneet talks about, it is also infusing us with a whole generation of talent willing to take a different path and in the long-run that is going to create major social change.

March 27, 2009 at 12:51 pm | Our Movement | 3 comments

3 Responses to “Why Defining “Social Entrepreneurship” isn’t a Total Waste of Time”

1. Suneet Says:
   March 27th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

   Hey Lauren! Great to see your post up here and thanks for reading! I don’t think we’re too far off, but thanks for calling me out a bit and forcing me to clarify a point. I agree that social entrepreneurship requires a definition–I guess my post should have been titled “Why Defining Social Entrepreneurship FURTHER is a Waste of Time”.

   My primary point is that SE has already been defined (starting with folks like Yunus and Drayton decades ago, and further clarified in the mid to late 90’s by people like Professor Dees). To spend time trying to add restrictions and arbitrary standards to a definition on the front-end, in my opinion, is a misdirection of intelligent, valuable resources.

   It also inhibits our ability to do the things you’re talking about, such as educate children about why this is a valid discipline or career path for them going forward. I feel the industry needs to galvanize behind a broad, acceptable definition of SE and stop petty infighting or tactics geared at making the term more “exclusive”, and instead, focus on determining quality.

   The definitions exist and have credibility, not only because of the authorities who have defined it, but because of the logic they’ve employed in arriving at that definition (i.e., showing how the definition of “social entrepreneur” is a clear derivative of the definition of “entrepreneur”).

   Hope that helps clarify, if not, I love the continued chatter.

2. Nick T Says:
   April 6th, 2009 at 10:59 am

   Hi Lauren. I’m fully with Suneet on this one. It’s about what you do, not what you call it. And exclusivity should be anathema to this movement.

   For example, your article kind of implies that social entrepreneurs mostly come from universities…but those people traditionally viewed as ‘benficiaries’ are also potential leaders and social entrepreneurs. Often the people who know the ‘problem’ the best are best placed (and most motivated) to develop the solution.

   Just to challenge a bit more, why assume (as is implied) that social entrepreneurs will only be young? In the UK (as in the US) we have a growing elderly population of retirement age who are seeking purposeful work and activity for the next 30 years. We also have (increasing numbers of) career changers who may have been made unemployed or decided to seek more meaning from their work…etc, etc.

   In our opinion, we need new entrants to social entrepreneurship across the piece from a wide range of ages, backgrounds, races, sectors, project areas.

   Cheers

3. admin Says:
   April 9th, 2009 at 9:50 am

   Thanks for the replies Suneet and Nick. I agree with you Suneet that “further” definition is a waste of time compared to actual further work in a field. A field that is at an exciting time in its development.

   Nick, I totally agree with your point that social entrepreneurs aren’t just young people coming out of universities. At the moment I would say most are older people that are bringing life experience from other industries. Our CEO here at Emily K is a perfect example - she began this organization after years of military, corporate, and consulting experience that she has brought to a whole new sector. And I think that is a great and needed route to making real impact - one that is essential for diversity of ideas, skills, and people.

   But I think that route to the social sector has been the more traditional and may be shifting. A lot of young people were told, “go work for a company, get some experience and when you’re older you can have the security to help people”. I think now high schools and universities are saying more and more, “The social sector is going to be one of the most important agents of change, it is a challenging and rewarding field, and it can be your career that you pursue from the day you enter the workforce”. Any thoughts on this? Is a real shift occuring?

   Lauren

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