Learning Objectives

By the end of this class, students will be able to:

• Propose, develop, and evaluate social enterprises, considering altruism, agency theory, and the use of capitalism to effect social change in a world facing interconnected crises.

• Identify, educate, learn from, and understand the needs of key stakeholders in a venture, with particular attention to shifting social priorities in our hyperconnected era.

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, recognizing the roles of activism, tribalism, and emotional intelligence in building sustainable social ventures.

Course Topics (subject to change)

• History and Definition of Social Entrepreneurship (From Andrew Carnegie to Muhammad Yunus to contemporary thought leaders like Jose Andrés)

• Social Entrepreneurship in an Era of Ecological and Geopolitical Crisis

• Stakeholder Theory

• Altruism, Activism, and Tribalism

• Agency Theory

• Social Return on Investment & Theory of Change

• Corporate Social Responsibility & Cause-Related Marketing

• Impact Investing

• Entrepreneurial Skills (Identifying Problems, Resilience, EQ)

• Developing Knowledge & Relationship Resources

• Supply Chains, Multipolar Tensions, and Hyperobjects

• Emerging Technologies: AI and Social Media

• Failure & Resilience

• Mining Problems for Solutions

Course Components:

Quizzes — Weekly readings and other short assignments will be discussed in the following week’s class, and the quizzes are used to ensure that each class discussion is an informed one.

Semester-long project (THE DECK) – Over the course of the semester, all students will deeply explore a particular social issue, and develop a proposed social enterprise to address the issue. The best of class will present their social enterprise pitch deck at the GEE Innovation Tournament in on May 1, 2020.

“About” Paper – Near the midpoint of the semester, students will complete a paper demonstrating knowledge of the concepts, practices, opportunities and challenges of social entrepreneurship. The topic will be provided two weeks before the paper is due.