Inside Social Innovation

Latest Episodes:

The Nature of the Future: From Institutions to Amplified Individuals May 21, 2014

Show notes

Socialstructing is a new model that empowers individuals, rather than institutions, to create impact by utilizing modern technology to build large networks. In this audio lecture from the 2013 Nonprofit Management Institute, Marina Gorbis describes how micro-contributions from people in these networks enable flexibility and unlock potential in ways that institutions cannot. She shares three stories about successful socialstructing: the transformation of an abandoned building, fostering science education, and collecting crime-related data worldwide. Gorbis explains that, through socialstructing, technology allows individuals to accomplish difficult tasks without money, staff, or management, and generates new types of value that can replace institutional approaches in the future.

Marina Gorbis is a futurist and social scientist. She serves as executive director at the Institute for the Future (IFTF), a Silicon Valley nonprofit research and consulting organization. In her fourteen years with IFTF, Gorbis has brought a futurist perspective to hundreds of organizations in business, education, government, and philanthropy to improve innovation capacity, strategy development, and product design. She has written a book, called "The Nature of the Future: Dispatches from the Socialstructed World," and has written for BoingBoing.net, FastCompany, Harvard Business Review, and other major media outlets. Gorbis holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in public policy from UC Berkeley.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/the_nature_of_the_future_from_institutions_to_amplified_individuals

The Science Behind Compassion May 12, 2014

Show notes

At the Stanford Social Innovation Review's 2013 Nonprofit Management Institute, Dr. James Doty criticizes Silicon Valley's reluctance to attribute success to support and goodwill in favor of personal genius. He argues for the necessity of altruism and funding for both societal and individual benefit. Drawing on his expertise as a neurosurgeon, Doty highlights the mental and physical health benefits that result from compassion. Referencing a "compassion deficit" among the wealthy, he addresses their general fear of "wasting" funds, despite access to vast resources. Finally, using his personal story as an example of the importance of social entrepreneurship and funding support, Doty urges listeners to consider whether the amount of emphasis our society places on compassion is enough.

Dr. Doty is a practicing neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University. He is also director of the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, serves as a chairman of the Dalai Lama foundation (among other nonprofits), and is an active entrepreneur and philanthropist. Facing a test of character, Doty followed through on a promise to give valuable stock to a promising start-up, despite losing most of his wealth in the dot-com crash.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/the_science_behind_compassion

Starting A RYOT In Traditional News May 08, 2014

Show notes

What is RYOT's game plan to change traditional media? They allow people to "Become the News." Bryn Moser and David Darg are humanitarians. They have been on the front lines of some of the world's major catastrophes and have seen positive transformation in communities through human impact. Frustrated with the traditional media's inflexibility in providing actionable context around news, they decided to #ChangeThat by providing a social online hub that does: RYOT. RYOT connects action with each news story so people can get involved in the world's most pressing issues. This month's Social Disruptors podcast is a chat with Bryn and David on their plans to disrupt traditional media.

Edward D. (Ned) Breslin is the CEO of Water For People, widely considered a force for positive change by challenging status quo approaches and offering concrete alternatives to water, sanitation, and transparency in philanthropy and aid, by offering concrete alternatives. Breslin received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2011.

David Darg was one of Esquire Magazine's "2012 Americans of the Year," and spent the last decade as a first responder and frontline contributor for Reuters, CNN, and the BBC. Currently based in Haiti, David is Vice President of Operation Blessing International and has traveled to over 100 countries. David has won numerous awards as a filmmaker, including a Special Jury Mention at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival as Co-Director of "Baseball in the Time of Cholera."

Bryn Mooser was named one of Esquire Magazine's "2012 Americans of the Year" for his work in Haiti. As Country Director for Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), Bryn helped build APJ's secondary school in Port-au-Prince, which now educates 1,400 young Haitians per year. Bryn is also an award-winning film maker. His latest documentary, "The Rider And The Storm", premiered in April in NYC as his third consecutive world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/starting_a_ryot_in_traditional_news

The Whole World In Our Hands Apr 25, 2014

Show notes

In his 2013 Nonprofit Management Institute talk, Kenyon addresses how organizations need to take advantage of the growing intersection between mobile technology and nonprofits. In a digital age that is increasingly personalized, nonprofits should understand how best to utilize mobile devices without invading supporter privacy. Kenyon argues that nonprofits must base social media effectiveness on listening: What content is popular on social media? What is the community interested in hearing about? How can nonprofits use non-voice mobile technology to their advantage? Kenyon presents strategies for answering these questions and using technology to improve nonprofit outreach.

John Kenyon (@jakenyon) is the Principal at Kenyon Consulting, and is a technology educator and strategist who's advised nonprofits for more than 20 years. He educates nonprofits about using technology strategically through his consulting, as well as through teaching seminars and writing articles, knowing that they can help organizations operate more effectively and efficiently. Kenyon authored the chapter "Effective Online Communications" in the book Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission. With Beth Kanter, he helped craft curriculum for and present the "We Are Media" social media training for nonprofits, and frequently speaks on social media topics. Kenyon is a member of the Executive Consultants Select Group at the Alliance for Children & Families, and is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. Kenyon has been a featured speaker across the US, England, Australia, and online.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/the_whole_world_in_our_hands

Achieve Great Things: The Art and Science of Aspirational Narrative Apr 23, 2014

Show notes

Aspirational communication focuses on mobilizing ordinary people to support a cause. In this audio lecture, recorded during the 2013 Nonprofit Management Institute, Doug Hattaway of Hattaway Communications outlines the components of an effective communication campaign: crafting an exciting goal, motivational and non-technical language, and a compelling call to action. Drawing on psychological and anthropological studies, Hattaway describes the types of messages that appeal to a nonprofit's audience. Such messages are emotion-based, intuitive, and communicated in simple language that can be easily spread via word-of-mouth. Hattaway argues that an organization must speak to the heart before it speaks to the mind; it must connect with audiences by using aspirational communication to place human stories in the context of a larger narrative.

Doug Hattaway is president of Hattaway Communications. In his 25 years of experience in the field of communication, Hattaway has served as a spokesperson and consultant to high-profile leaders in politics, government, business, advocacy, and philanthropy. He has worked closely with many global leaders, such as Hillary Clinton and Al Gore, and has traveled extensively to work with government leaders, political parties, and civil society organizations all over the world. Hattaway earned a bachelor of science degree in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a master's degree in English from Florida State University.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/achieve_great_things_the_art_and_science_of_aspirational_narrative

Social Enterprise Enables Hazelnut Farming in Bhutan Apr 15, 2014

Show notes

Operating a successful social enterprise requires providing meaningful economics to people, in both income and personal worth. In this audio lecture, Daniel Spitzer, founder of Mountain Hazelnuts, describes his experience in applying specific approaches to supply chains and value-creating tools to develop a successful hazelnut farming social enterprise in Bhutan. In this podcast episode of Stanford University's Social Innovation Conversations, Spitzer details how he enhances supply chains through corporate citizenship and leverages data of all kinds captured from Android phones with specialized apps. From his hands-on experience dealing with supply chains, Spitzer describes why there is nothing is more important than people in operating a profitable business that delivers value to all stakeholders through corporate social responsibility.

Daniel Spitzer is Chairman & CEO of Mountain Hazelnuts Group. Daniel has spent most of the past twenty years as Chairman and/or CEO of companies in Asia. Daniel founded several ventures that have successfully combined financial objectives with social and environmental goals, including Plantation Timber Products Group (PTP), which he built into China's largest sustainable forestry company. PTP established US $200 million of new facilities to process logs grown by 700,000 farmers in the interior of China. Daniel spent the first ten years of his career in finance, and was Managing Director of a global merchant bank and Partner & Managing Director of a major private investment fund. He received his Bachelor's degree from University of California, Berkeley and his Master's from Stanford University.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/social_enterprise_enables_hazelnut_farming_in_bhutan

Rodney Mullen: Innovation Doesn't Exist In A Vacuum Apr 15, 2014

Show notes

Walk down most city streets and you will see a skateboarder doing tricks. Skateboarders see opportunity, not constraints, along any handrail and over any curb of urban architecture. Head to a ski slope and you will undoubtedly see snowboarders doing tricks, making jumps, and adopting skateboarding culture through their clothing, attitude and general embrace of experimental freedom. Skateboarding is a constantly evolving sport where anyone can bring something new and inventive to the table. The world of skateboarding has the power to illustrate artistry, innovation, trial and error and growth. The ethos of skateboarders can inspire social entrepreneurs in myriad ways. Join Ned Breslin as he speaks with Rodney Mullen, a great friend and a motivation to many. Rodney, at the vanguard of innovation, openness, and sharing, will talk about how skateboarding can serve as an important guide to social entrepreneurs everywhere.

Edward D. (Ned) Breslin is the CEO of Water For People, widely considered a force for positive change by challenging status quo approaches to water and sanitation, philanthropy and aid transparency with concrete alternatives. Breslin received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2011.

Rodney Mullen is a professional skateboarder, company owner, inventor, and public speaker who practices freestyle and street skateboarding. Mullen is credited with inventing numerous skateboarding tricks that are regularly performed in modern skateboarding. Mullen has appeared in over 20 skateboarding videos and authored an autobiography, entitled "The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself." In 2013, Mullen was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/rodney_mullen_innovation_doesnt_exist_in_a_vacuum

Leveraging Social Innovation Apr 07, 2014

Show notes

Supply chains are increasingly using innovation and collaborating with civil society and government to bring novel solutions to social problems. In this panel discussion, experts describe innovations that are benefiting society and delivering economic value, including responsible e-waste recycling efforts that generate revenue, innovative methods to end child labor in the carpet industry, and environmental supply chain innovations. They discuss keys to success for notable innovations, and how corporate supply chains can leverage social innovation to build shared value and make change on a large scale. The panel was part of the 2012 Responsible Supply Chains conference at Stanford.

Lakshmi Karan is director of global strategy with Riders for Health, a social enterprise delivering transportation solutions to millions. In the social sector, most recently she was the Skoll Foundation's director of impact assessment. She has also served as a strategic advisor to global non-profits. In the private sector, Karan was a technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies.

Dara O'Rourke is associate professor at UC Berkeley and co-founder of GoodGuide, the most comprehensive source of consumer information on the health, environmental, and social performance of products and companies. He has consulted to organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. O'Rourke was previously a professor at MIT.

Steven Rockhold is global program manager for product reuse and recycling for Hewlett-Packard. This includes responsibility for operational strategy, volume, cost goals, metrics, international product take-back standards development and compliance, HP global policies, and communications. In addition, he manages HP's vendor standards for reuse and recycling, vendor audit protocols and processes, and third-party vendor audits.

Nina Smith is the executive director of GoodWeave USA. She oversees the development of GoodWeave's child labor-free certification, which monitors weaving supply chains down to sub-contracted village and home-based production. She was formerly the executive director of The Crafts Center, a nonprofit organization providing marketing and technical assistance to indigenous artisans around the world. Smith was also president of the Fair Trade Federation.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/leveraging_social_innovation

Environmental Sustainability in China Advanced Through Supply Chain Transparency Apr 07, 2014

Show notes

Publishing over 97,000 pollution violations in an online open source database has been effective in advancing environmental sustainability in China. In this audio lecture, Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, describes the positive results achieved through the China Water Pollution Map, which provides each supplier's detailed pollution data on a publicly searchable website. At the Stanford Global Supply Chain Management Forum, Jun describes how a group of NGOs made tangible gains toward environmental sustainability by motivating corporate brands to influence their supply chain partners to correct their pollution violations. In this episode of Stanford University's Social Innovation Conversations, Jun relates how the Green Choice Alliance is successful in achieving environmental sustainability through corporate social responsibility.

Ma Jun, Founding Director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE), was ranked first in Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2012. He is an influential Chinese environmentalist and writer. Jun led the development of the IPE China Water Pollution Map, an open source online database created to monitor corporate environmental performance. As a result of his work, Jun was named as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world by Time magazine in 2006 and received an award from the Nature Conservancy and the group Society, Entrepreneur & Ecology (SEE) in 2009. Jun also received the 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/environmental_sustainability_in_china_advanced_through_supply_chain_transpa

Environmental Sustainability through "Waste to Worth" Vision Apr 04, 2014

Show notes

In this audio lecture, Jill Boughton describes a proven way to environmental sustainability, as demonstrated through the "Waste to Worth" program at Procter & Gamble (P&G). At the Stanford Global Supply Chain Management Forum, Boughton, as Associate Research and Development Director at P&G, shares details of P&G's long term vision of getting to zero waste in landfills in emerging markets. Boughton discusses the disruptive innovation portfolio that she developed at P&G, a broad vision of innovation in creating zero waste. She outlines the mechanisms that stimulate and catalyze infrastructure. In this Social Innovation Conversations, Stanford University podcast, Boughton relates practical steps in eliminating waste going to landfills and explains how she improved environmental sustainability through corporate social responsibility.

Jill Boughton began her career at Procter & Gamble (P&G) in 1988 after obtaining a BS in chemical engineering from Ohio State University. She has managed product development activities for several of P&G's businesses, from personal health care to paper products. Her time with P&G included a seven year stint in Caracas, Venezuela, giving her firsthand knowledge of social/economic issues important to emerging regions. While at P&G, Boughton led P&G's "Waste to Worth" program, which supports the company's long term environmental sustainability vision: having zero consumer waste entering landfills.

In 2013, Jill Boughton was appointed CEO of Sustainable WasteResources International, a foundation formed to address the crisis caused by billions of tons of waste produced worldwide.

https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/environmental_sustainability_through_waste_to_worth_vision

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