News on The Edge – November 25, 2008

Ethical MarketsSRI/ESG News

Welcome to the Social Edge update!

Global X had a chance to interview Bill Drayton, the founder of Ashoka, as they both traveled to the same European city a few months ago.

In the two-minute segment we are showing this week, Bill Drayton describes the magical instant when a social entrepreneur discovers that the moment to change social structure has arrived.

Listen to him as he begins the interview with these words: “I was in India as an undergraduate…”

This is the first of a series of four video interviews. Next week, Bill Drayton will talk about empathy, followed by why he feels fellow social entrepreneur Rodrigo Baggio is so successful. The series will conclude on December 16 with his take on social entrepreneurship.

Many parts of the world are currently celebrating holidays with Diwali last month, Thanksgiving this week, Id al-Adha, Hanukah and Christmas next month. It is therefore fitting to host a conversation around holiday giving, with a social entrepreneurship angle.

Social Edge Web Marketing Manager Jill Finlayson is our host this week. As she puts it: “Social Entrepreneurs are being asked to be good at a great many things. So in the spirit of being supportive, this year’s Holiday Gift Guide for Social Entrepreneurs is designed to help social entrepreneurs measure up to the task… and still have some fun.”

What will you give your favorite social entrepreneur this year? A book about impact management, advice on successful fundraising, a virtual laser keyboard, an Equal Measure measuring cup, or a fancy Tesla electric car? Join Jill Finlayson in the conversation.

Join this Week’s Live Discussions

Holiday Gift Guide
2008-09
How about finding gifts that do good? Jill Finlayson helps you select gifts that will help your favorite social entrepreneur measure up to the task.

Mobile Phones and Development at the BoP
How can the mobile phone be used to better serve those at the bottom of the pyramid? Join David Lehr in the conversation.

Sustainable Capitalism in Emerging Economies
Should private companies serve the BOP, or is this responsibility better left to the public sector or NGOs? Join Mike Lee in the conversation.

Taking Risks
Social entrepreneurs are inherently risk-takers. What risks have you taken to make the difference you want to make?

Watch the X-Interview
Bill Drayton
In this two-minute interview (the first in a series of four videos), Bill Drayton, the founder of Ashoka, describes the magical instant when a social entrepreneur discovers that the moment to change social structure has arrived.