Here at Schoolrunner, we often have team members flying around the country to attend interesting conferences on both education and edtech. Being the data-dorks that we are, we love taking notes on all the things we see and learn at these talks.
Recently, the ladies of Schoolrunner spent the day at the WILD Summit – a daylong conference featuring Women Inspiring Leadership Development. It was an action-packed day, heavily attended and true to its promise of inspiration.
I had the opportunity to attend a couple of breakout sessions, and of course I scribbled down some notes for those of you who weren’t able to make it. Hope you find some inspirational tidbits here as well!
Session:
SOUL OF A NEW PROFIT MODEL: WEAVING SOCIAL IMPACT INTO YOUR TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
Speakers:
Rebecca Rose, Maria Barsallo, producer Gale Dunlap
Rebecca:
- We need more accessible social impact models
- Surrounding yourself with women who are doing big things can imbue you with a greater sense of possibility
- Seek out inspirational women in your field and ask them for advice: reinforce your “I can do it’ feeling
- Seek out your company’s pain points and look for creative, socially impactful ways to address them
- Look to your community to enact changes; contact your representative/congressperson if there’s legislation hindering your progress
- Ask: How can you create a new kind of selfless business?
Maria:
- Using for-profit models to create social change
- Consider working with a hybrid model:
- The for-profit arm, for example, provides market access, serves as an online hub, strategic sales partner, and promoter of brands and artisans,
- while the non-profit umbrella can help sustain artists who are currently living below poverty level, providing them with product development, preparation for local sales, customized trainings, and community project opportunities
- Take advantage of your resources!
- People create opportunities: Mentors, donors, brand investors, non-profit partners, volunteers
- Look for fellowships, seed funding, incubators; all these can be networks of support
- Community resources:
- Utilize the small business development center at your local Chamber of Commerce
- See if a lawyer will take you on pro bono
- People create opportunities: Mentors, donors, brand investors, non-profit partners, volunteers
- Theory of Change: Plot your long-term outcome, then adjust: use the influence of your stakeholders to create the impact you want
- Triple bottom line (I didn’t know what that was, either!) is the intersection of:
- People
- Profit
- Planet
Key takeaways:
- Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable
- Roadblocks will show up: PIVOT! And see them as potential opportunities
- Communication is key: Keep in touch with your network with regular updates. Reach out when you hear of grant opportunities, contact potential donors
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
- If you don’t have the proper training to accomplish something, use the tools you do have, and look to your relationships – these will open up opportunities that can help you get the training you need to succeed
