Managing Director Ojala Naeem’s Takeaways from the 2017 Social Innovation Summit
ewalsh • June 16, 2017
Last week, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the Social Innovation Summit (SIS) in Chicago thanks to our partners at the Travelers Foundation. SIS is an annual event that represents a global convening of “black swans and wayward thinkers.” And I’m still in awe of all the amazing talent, passion, and impact that the Summit managed to amass. With more than 1,000 people in attendance, I had the opportunity to meet, engage, and learn from the top leaders in Social Enterprise. Most importantly though, it felt really good to be surrounded by people who got it – everyone there was motivated to utilize business as a vehicle for change, and everyone understood that impact is often easier to sense than measure.
While there were many important takeaways from the conference, there were a few themes that stood out to me:
- To be social innovators, we need to truly understand the pains and frustrations of those we want to impact. We need to get down to the ground level and try to understand what the greatest challenges and barriers in our communities are. And only then will we be in a position to innovate, while exhausting the resources around us to evoke change. (CNN Commentator Van Jones had a great talk on this point – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYDo_w4Alww&index=17&t=4s&list=PLAeY_wVCZGZE3ZCG9Qh2uG_Xfneg-5rHD)
- Social innovation is the future for a healthy society and economy. We cannot and should not rely on government and philanthropy to solve all of the critical problems that society faces. We all have the potential and capability to make a difference and impact what we believe in – we are already seeing that with the surge in private support for organizations like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU in the face of budget cuts. Many of our largest cities are tying in social innovations to approach civic problems – Amanda Daflos leads the innovation team for the Mayor of Los Angeles, and Dan Ko, the Mayor of Boston’s Chief of Staff, is utilizing social innovation to fill in gaps where the public sector can’t.
- Culture is critical for Social Innovation. Lulu Mickelson from the Rockefeller Foundation lead a roundtable on the importance of culture within an organization to promote positive, creative outlets and retention of talent and ideas. Culture also means being diverse and inclusive, not just in leadership but in the ideas and sourcing of ideas to tackle some of society’s biggest problems.
For a deeper dive into the conference’s takeaways, here’s a helpful write up from a new friend – http://sparktrackconsulting.com/2017/06/social-innovation-a-shift-from-information-to-invitation.
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Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for reSET's Retail Incubator and Digital Marketing Mastermind Programs Hartford, CT – July 17, 2024 – reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, is excited to announce that applications are now open for two separate programs designed to help entrepreneurs grow with impact: the Retail Incubator and the Digital Marketing Mastermind. Both programs are set to run this fall, providing invaluable resources and mentorship to early-stage and established entrepreneurs alike. Applications close at midnight on July 21, with classes set to start mid-August and run through October. “Both of these programs were developed because of demand from our alumni and local entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “The Retail Incubator has been popular with Hartford-area founders preparing for fall and holiday markets, or opening their own storefronts. We developed the Digital Marketing Mastermind to help local entrepreneurs build an online business presence and stand out in the online world.” Retail Incubator The Floor-Plan Retail Business Incubator is a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio. Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to support product-based businesses in their stages of entrepreneurship. Participants will learn to understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, all to prepare their businesses for fall and winter markets. Entrepreneurs will gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.resetco.org/retail-incubator . Digital Marketing Mastermind The Digital Marketing Mastermind is tailored for entrepreneurs who already have a business and are looking to elevate their digital marketing efforts. This program will provide advanced strategies to boost online presence, engage with target audiences, and convert engagement into sales. Participants will learn from seasoned marketing professionals and peers, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the digital marketplace. Entrepreneurs interested in more information on the program and application should visit https://www.resetco.org/digital-marketing-mastermind About reSET reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact-driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator, and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org). # # #
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