For all its momentum, the social revolution of the 21st century – as in social finance, entrepreneurship and innovation (on my more disillusioned days, it’s the ‘soc drawer’) – is at a critical tipping point. Simply put, we need to move beyond theory to the practical ‘how to’.
It’s amazing how many thought leaders in this space are coming to this conclusion.
For the first time in his working life, Caleb Bethune doesn’t dread waking up to another day of work, not since he began his career as a software tester with the Calgary-based social enterprise Meticulon. Meaghan Thompson, a fellow employee, shares a similar story of being inspired and energized by her work with Meticulon.
The five days of Beakerhead officially get rolling today with the world’s largest pop-up gallery, called a String (Theory) of Incredible Encounters, with a circumference of five kilometres.
The series of public art installations is an exploration in creativity at the crossroads of art, science and engineering, and can be seen by touring from Inglewood to East Village to Victoria Park, 17th Ave and Kensington. The home base or hub for Beakerhead this year is at Station B (the Beakerhead moniker for installations at Fort Calgary).
Scott Crockett, Director of Marketing & Communications of the Calgary Chamber expresses his excitement for the ground-breaking and innovative event: “Business has incredible power to change the world for good. In fact, business has been one of the greatest forces in human history for raising people out of poverty and solving our greatest challenges as humans. With the rise of social entrepreneurship, it’s clear that doing good in the world can be a great business strategy. I can’t wait to hear from these 5 innovators about how they are doing good and doing well at the same time!”
“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.” –Mark Weiser
One of the challenges of working in the dynamic social entrepreneur culture is that of staying mission-centred. Twenty-three-year-old social entrepreneur Eden Full is all too aware of this.
Ecovative Design
Written by: Sue Van Hook
Two years ago, Aspire Food Group was just an idea for a pitch contest generated from five MBA students. That vision won the prestigious Hult Prize in 2013 and has transformed into a company at the forefront of the crickets-for-food movement.
Fellow Calgarian native Eden Full has known since she was 3 years old that she wanted to be a scientist. Now, at just 23 years old, Full has established herself as an accomplished inventor and social entrepreneur, securing her spot on the Forbes’ 30 Under 30: Energy list three years in a row.
On September 17, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Calgary’s Glenbow Museum Theatre (130 9 Ave SE) will see a remarkable panel discussion that will bring together an eclectic and inspirational collection of entrepreneurial organizations that are showing how directly taking on the world’s biggest challenges is good business