Social Entrepreneurship: Business with a Higher Purpose

Self-motivation, determination, vision…all this and more is behind the force that drives an entrepreneur.

But what if these desires and visions go beyond the bottom-line, and finds purpose in attempting to make a positive impact on society? 

A large number of entrepreneurships focus on financial success, but not all.  “Distinct from a business entrepreneur who sees value in the creation of new markets, the social entrepreneur aims for value in the form of transformational change that will benefit disadvantaged communities and ultimately society at large.”

Social entrepreneurships and non-profits combine the discipline of business with a passion for making the world a better place for everyone.  This type of entrepreneur is fast becoming recognized as an integral part of social change.

The Duke University Fuqua School of Business advances the entrepreneurial pursuit of social impact through the adaptation of business expertise at its Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) .

Some well-know social entrepreneurs of the past are John Muir, Florence Nightengale, and Susan B. Anthony.  Today, you may be familiar with the work of the Skoll Foundation, Heifer International, and developer of the micro-credit system,  Muhammad Yunus, just to name a few.

Whether you have a sense for business, and want to combine it with your passion for helping the disadvantaged, or you endeavor to tackle social and environmental problems, and are searching for the path to do so, your answer may lie within the realm of social entrepreneurship.