Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Good to Great and the Social Sectors Review

Brilliant business writer, Jim Collins, lent his expert knowledge of business greatness to the social sector in Good To Great and the Social Sectors. This is a must read for anyone with a leadership role in a social venture.

Collins explains that true leadership exists if people follow when they freedom not to. Most social ventures rely on donors, volunteers, and underpaid idealists that are not required to follow every command of the CEO. To truly lead in the social sector one must become a true leader.

Without executive all saying power social venture leaders navigate diffused power structures employing a governance style of leadership called legislative. Employing Legislative leadership requires leaders to place the cause, the movement, the mission first- not themselves proving they will do whatever it takes accomplish the objective.

Good to Great the and the Social Sectors will give you insight form, lead, focus, and grow your social venture. Read it.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Empower Playgrounds Empowering Children


I recently came across an innovative social venture taking place in Accra, Ghana. Ben Markham, founder of Empower Playgrounds, with help from 15 BYU students is installing merry-go-rounds power generators at poor schools in Ghana.

The concept is brilliant in its simpleness. Providing the children with recreational diversion and using their abundance of energy to store power for the school. The organization plans to install 8 generators this year.

This is another great example of how the social venture movement is changing the world. To learn more about Empower Playgrounds visit their website at empowerplaygrounds.org