In this panel discussion at the 2007 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship, speakers consider the question: How do we make more social enterprise and innovation happen? John Elkington facilitates the discussion with Bill Drayton and Ed Milibrand. What results is an interesting exploration of how society’s public and private institutions and frameworks need to change at local, regional, national, and international levels. The speakers affirm the power of entrepreneurs and social enterprise to enact social change, and they reflect on the role of government in championing such reform.
John Elkington is the chief entrepreneur of SustainAbility, an advisory to clients on the risks and opportunities associated with sustainable development and corporate responsibility. Prior to founding the organization in 1987, Elkington served as trustee and director for Earthlife Foundation. He is the author or coauthor of 17 books, including the bestselling The Green Consumer Guide and Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business.
Bill Drayton is the CEO, chairman of the board, and founder of Ashoka, which strives to shape a global, entrepreneurial, competitive citizen sector. Prior to Ashoka, Drayton was a McKinsey & Company consultant, and served as assistant administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He also served briefly in the White House, and has taught both law and management at Stanford Law School and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Ed Miliband is the labour MP for Doncaster North, and the minister for the third sector based in the cabinet office. Before becoming minister, Miliband was chair of the All Party Group on Young People. Prior to his election, he had worked since 1997 as a special advisor to Gordon Brown in the treasury, most recently as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. In 2003, he was a visiting lecturer in the Department of Government at Harvard University, and a visiting scholar at the Center for European Studies.
This free podcast is from our Skoll World Forum series.
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