Today marks the end of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013. Here at YouthActionNet we have spent the week celebrating stories of young people who turned ideas into action. Their bottom lines may be mission-based, but their sustainability plans and strategic partnerships make it clear: they are entrepreneurs in the truest sense of the word.
Last week, Thunderbird School of Global Management hosted a panel discussion, “The Future of Social Entrepreneurship.” The event was moderated by Robert Hisrich, director of Thunderbird’s Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship, and featured four emerging social entrepreneurs and students of Laureate International Universities.
Daniel Uribe, a Fellow from YouthActionNet's Premio Yo Creo program in Costa Rica, participated in the discussion. A Biology student at Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, Daniel is also the President of Costas Verdes, an NGO working to rebuild and protect coastal forests and beaches in Costa Rica. As a young leader, Daniel has learned a lot about how to be both visionary and practical in his changemaking endeavors.
During the panel, Daniel gave tips for other social entrepreneurs:
1. Make financial stability your number one priority: You can't expand your reach or deepen your impact if you are constantly worried about funding.
2. Learn to say no: The hardest thing is to say "no" to potential partners with attractive offers--remember to stay focused on tackling the issues central to your mission.
3. A leader doesn't do it all: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Remember to delegate--build a team who you trust to manage the details.
4. Leave time for yourself: Your organization may be sustainable, but are you? If you are always burned out, you aren't open to experiencing the joys of working on issues you are passionate about. Take a step back and remember why you are doing this work.
Watch the video below to hear responses from the other social entrepreneurs. Additional videos from the event can be found here.
To learn more about how Laureate supports young social entrepreneurs, click here.
Last week, Thunderbird School of Global Management hosted a panel discussion, “The Future of Social Entrepreneurship.” The event was moderated by Robert Hisrich, director of Thunderbird’s Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship, and featured four emerging social entrepreneurs and students of Laureate International Universities.
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| Project photo from Costas Verdes |
Daniel Uribe, a Fellow from YouthActionNet's Premio Yo Creo program in Costa Rica, participated in the discussion. A Biology student at Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, Daniel is also the President of Costas Verdes, an NGO working to rebuild and protect coastal forests and beaches in Costa Rica. As a young leader, Daniel has learned a lot about how to be both visionary and practical in his changemaking endeavors.
During the panel, Daniel gave tips for other social entrepreneurs:
1. Make financial stability your number one priority: You can't expand your reach or deepen your impact if you are constantly worried about funding.
2. Learn to say no: The hardest thing is to say "no" to potential partners with attractive offers--remember to stay focused on tackling the issues central to your mission.
3. A leader doesn't do it all: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Remember to delegate--build a team who you trust to manage the details.
4. Leave time for yourself: Your organization may be sustainable, but are you? If you are always burned out, you aren't open to experiencing the joys of working on issues you are passionate about. Take a step back and remember why you are doing this work.
Watch the video below to hear responses from the other social entrepreneurs. Additional videos from the event can be found here.
To learn more about how Laureate supports young social entrepreneurs, click here.
