Promise, Pitfalls, and Potential of Social Entrepreneurship
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Description
This book dives into the heart of social entrepreneurship as the authors share the latest research, global experiences, the authentic private conversations, and diverse narratives around this widely popular concept.
The idea and practice of social entrepreneurship has swept the world, taken up with enthusiasm by business leaders, non-profit practitioners, and public policy makers alike. In this book, the authors argue that social entrepreneurship is surrounded by great promise, and that this high expectation has contributed to its pitfalls, setting it out as separate and different from other kinds of non-profit organising, public service provision, and business for social benefit. After exploring the problem of inflated expectations, the authors rescue the concept from ‘perfection’ – overly positive normative judgements – by presenting practical ways forward.
The book sets out how to really unleash the power of social entrepreneurship so that it can actually deliver on its promise to improve how we organise for social purpose. This potential revolves around four key themes that are levers for social change: innovative individuals, social impact, scaling social enterprises, and the power of ecosystems. Through these themes, the book covers a wide range of approaches to social enterprise illustrated by specific examples and experiences from five continents.
This accessible book is a valuable resource for a variety of practitioners, upper-level students, instructors, and business scholars, particularly those with an interest in social/environmental impact, entrepreneurship, business ethics, sustainable business, ESG and CSR.
Concepción Galdón, PhD, is deeply immersed in the realms of sustainable business and social innovation, currently serving as the Vice-Dean of Business with Purpose at IE Business School. In this capacity, she guides the Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation and shapes IE’s Career Pathway in Sustainability, collaborating with fellow vice-deans to infuse unique sustainability-focused elements into the diverse programs.
As the Director of IE’s Center for Social Innovation and Sustainability, Concepción leads a committed team working towards meaningful global social change.
Her academic journey is marked by dedication, including a degree in Economics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, a Master’s in Public Administration and International Development from Harvard Kennedy School, and a Ph.D. in International Economy and Development from Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
In addition to her leadership roles, Concepción contributes to education by teaching courses in sustainable business and social innovation at IE University and in-company programs. She also serves as the academic co-director of IE’s Executive Education program, Sustainability, Your Competitive Advantage.
Beyond academia, Concepción actively engages in research, media contributions, and international speaking engagements. Her commitment extends to co-founding the Social Venture Puentes Global and serving on Ashoka Spain’s Venture Board. She collaborates in various civil society initiatives dedicated to fostering a purposeful approach to business.
Sheila Cannon is Assistant Professor in Social Entrepreneurship at Trinity Business School (TBS), Trinity College Dublin. She conducts research and teaches about social purpose organisations, including social enterprises, non-profits, and civil society organisations. Her research contributes to knowledge on how organisations influence and respond to socio-cultural change, publishing in high-impact academic journals. She has studied contexts including peacebuilding, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, digital disruption, just transitions, and sustainability.
Her doctoral research, “Surviving the Peace: Processes of organisational identity work in response to deinstitutionalisation of Irish Peacebuilding,” received the 2015 Rudney Memorial Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Nonprofit and Voluntary Research. She has won Research and Teaching Excellence awards, as well as the Trinity Benefactions fund award in 2023.
In 2021 she won the Trinity Civic Engagement Award and she helped to design and create the Centre for Social Innovation, where she was appointed Associate Director, responsible for civic engagement in 2019.
As well as research and teaching, Sheila has expertise in project development and management, grant writing, and facilitating groups of practitioners. Sheila worked in peacebuilding for over 12 years, in the Balkans and in Ireland. She was Director of Development at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, and Programme Director at the Centre for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe. She has a Bachelor’s degree in The Classics from Vassar College.