Module 2: What Makes a Social Entrepreneur?

The Defining Characteristics of Social Entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurs are(1):

• Social Catalysts – They are visionaries who create fundamental social changes by reforming social systems and creating sustainable improvements. According to J. Gregory Dees, “though they may act locally, their actions have the potential to stimulate global improvements in their chosen arenas, whether that is education, health care, economic development, the environment, the arts, or any other social field.”(2)

• Socially aware – Social improvement, as opposed to the creation of profit, should be the ultimate goal of the social entrepreneurs. The success of their endeavors is measured by their social impact, not by the amount of profits generated.

• Opportunity-seeking – They pursue their goals relentlessly, seeing every obstacle as an opportunity to develop and fine-tune their business models.

• Innovative – They are creative, willing to think outside the box and ready to apply ideas to new situations. They understand that not every innovation will be a success, and they see failures as learning opportunities even as they strive for success.

• Resourceful – Their visions are not limited by the resources that they have. Besides optimizing the use of existing resources, they actively expand their resource pool through collaboration with others.

• Accountable – Social entrepreneurs are accountable to their beneficiaries, and they often ask themselves, “Am I creating value for the people I am serving? Do I understand their needs?” This is because social entrepreneurs want to know that they are actually making an impact. They are also accountable to investors who want to know that their contributions are indeed stimulating social improvements as promised by the social entrepreneurs.

Footnotes

(1) Adapted from Dees, J. Gregory. "The Meaning of "Social Entrepreneurship". (8 June 2009), 4 - 5.

(2) Ibid.