Reclaiming Social Entrepreneurship | Daniela Papi Thornton | TEDxBend

Social Entrepreneurship is a buzz word. In Daniela Papi-Thornton's talk, she explores how the concept has narrowed down over time and is often used simply to refer to social businesses. But, as she explains, "we don't need more social businesses, we need more social change" and that requires more than just starting new businesses. It requires system change leadership. Daniela explores the difference between being a social business founder and a system change leader and then unpicks how we talk about, fund, and educate for social entrepreneurship, as well as what needs to change in our education and funding systems to fuel more system change leaders. Her talk is useful for anyone who is interested in social change, for educators looking to teach the next generation of system change leaders, and anyone who has heard the term social entrepreneurship but wants to know what it's really all about. 

Daniela Papi-Thornton has a unique perspective on social entrepreneurship, developed as result of six years working for social change in Cambodia and her role as an educator at Oxford’s Saïd Business School. When focused on the role of the social entrepreneur as a “hero,” volunteer travel and social change education can have negative impacts on future social change leaders. Instead, she offers tools and perspectives that will help educators, parents, and budding change makers reposition themselves and rethink how we teach, fund, and incentivize social entrepreneurs. Addressing “heropreneurship” can help us better equip the social change leaders of the future to tackle our global and local challenges.

[l.boothsweeney]

Brilliant! Thank you Dani. Find people who are married not to their solutions, but to solving a problem and change a system. YES!

[adamherz]

What an insightful and inspiring talk about system changes and recognizing that it's an ecosystem and not straight line. She is bright, I love her passion and vision.

[doe]

Daniela has pin-pointed a BIG problem with business pitch contests and more importantly nailed that educators focused on "leadership skills" are missing the need for "system change-makers". Every educator and aspiring entrepreneur will benefit from this presentation!!

[EvelinaLundqvist]

Inspiring speech!! Very much captures what's missing in the social entrepreneurship sphere!

I loved this quote: "Almost every entrepreneurship course and accelerator program ends in some sort of pitch day. Where the students need to pitch their world-changing solution. [...] We're spending more time teaching [students] how to perfect their sales pitch than we are trying to teach them to understand the problem they claim to be trying to solve. And the judges of those contest often know more about business scaling then they do about the impact and social change."

[sergeypetrov]

I admire the elegant overview, provided by Daniela Papi-Thornton. Great problems require a great hivemind to collectively solve them.

[nidhiprabhatewari]

Beautiful! Made me reflect on my own journey and how to failed to run an organisation but remain committed to solving the problem . Thanks Daniela

[kateham]

Great talk! Definitely frustrating living in Silicon Valley and seeing how so many people are focused on the wrong things.

[silrana]

One of my absolute favourite Ted Talks - truly an idea worth spreading. Brilliantly done, thank you for spreading this knowledge/idea! 💕🍀☀️🌙🌿💖🌱

[MsWoodlandelf]

As an SE veteran, this is spot on, great presentation.

[syedazhararizvi]

Best presentation so far on this subject, best of luck to Daniel and her great efforts !

[NicolaGrace]

What an insightful video. I notice how a clear vision took action in a system to make an important change improve the social enterprise where is being applied, not only the enterprise but the world.

[Feedili]

brilliant brilliant brilliant talk - thank you SO MUCH Daniela Papi-Thornton!!

[Lilfairtrade]

Excellent talk! :)

So refreshing to hear how individuals can change systems with passion, dedication and innovation.

I adore Daniela's enthusiasm and passion for her work in this talk.

I would definitely be interested to learn more about social entrepreneurial courses at Oxford Said Business School and how they could assist my work.

[bagasmuktiwibowo]

When the first time I heard about social enterpreneurship I was wondering what is the different between social enterpreneurship and CSR (Customer Social Resposibility) program? Then I start to research and I get the answer that there is no difference. Then I keep start finding the answer by books and internet till right now. I still believe that the real answer is about building collective community and measure more than just money. Now I started a free public class find a wilingness academic lecturer to teach about philosophy, politics, and critical thinking. And I try join any collective education communites.

[mirriamchishachimba]

wow... thank you for helping me understand the value of a systems changer vs a social entrepreneur. This was an amazing talk. funding for an apprenticeship with a problem. amazing. it's true as a young person who is passionate about social change i have often found I lack knowledge on the system i am trying to change. Understanding the problem is key. nice

[yashvirchawla]

"Every entrepreneurship course or accelerator program ends on a Pitch day, we are spending more time helping them perfect their sales pitch than helping them understand the problem about the problem they are trying to solve."
- Daniela Papi Thornton

[jembwilliams]

"System change needs to be this generation's core work..." (7:58)

[SBA_]

Best Talk I ever heard about Social Entrepreneurship

[rennymulala]

Wow this is just amazing. Very insightful

[victoriaachukwu]

This is a brainstorming ideas Danielle 💙. I believe it will create more significant impact with great results.