Social Innovation Podcasts: SpokenWord.org (Think Social Innovation)

Creating Powerful Partnerships: Inspiring Greater Community Investment in Your Cause

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:05:59 EDT

It is a tough truth to embrace, but your mission is bigger than you or your organization. Although you have a “mission statement” that describes what you do, other organizations in your community may address the same or similar human or societal need that you address. How you meet that mission may differ, but donors don’t understand why we don’t work together to leverage their investments and solve community problems. The needs in our communities continue to grow, and the answer is not to create more organizations: it is to work together as powerful partners to inspire community investment. Through collaborations and informal partnerships, and by learning to speak about our larger mission and not just about our organization, we can inspire much greater community investment from a much wider constituency. Join a provocative and interactive session that guarantees to give you a new perspective on your true mission and how to engage donor-investors at all levels. Presented by Kay Sprinkel Grace

Paul Pastorek and Andres Alonso - Education: Tackling the Turnaround Challenge

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Can schools be turned around, and can the system change? Yes, say an experienced district and state school leader in this panel discussion during an education conference at Stanford. Navigating questions by moderator Jordan Meranus, they talk about what they are doing in Louisiana and Baltimore to radically reform schools so that more children can meet state standards and receive an excellent education.

Jeffrey D. Sachs - Financial Crisis and a Changing Business World

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

The financial crisis started on Wall Street but continues to have a profound impact around the world. Among those affected are the poorest of the poor. In this audio interview, Stanford MBA student Joy Sun talks with Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute and a professor at Columbia University, about how the financial crisis is shaping international relations and countries' paths toward economic development.

TEDTalks : Elizabeth Pisani: Sex, drugs and HIV -- let's get rational - Elizabeth Pisani (2010)

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 09:16:00 EDT

Armed with bracing logic, wit and her "public-health nerd" glasses, Elizabeth Pisani reveals the myriad of inconsistencies in today's political systems that prevent our dollars from effectively fighting the spread of HIV. Her research with at-risk populations -- from junkies in prison to sex workers on the street in Cambodia -- demonstrates the sometimes counter-intuitive measures that could stall the spread of this devastating disease.

TEDTalks : Shaffi Mather: A new way to fight corruption - Shaffi Mather (2009)

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:50:00 EST

Shaffi Mather explains why he left his first career to become a social entrepreneur, providing life-saving transportation with his company 1298 for Ambulance. Now, he has a new idea and plans to begin a company to fight the booming business of corruption in public service, eliminating it one bribe at a time.

TEDTalks : Itay Talgam: Lead like the great conductors - Itay Talgam (2009)

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:00 EDT

An orchestra conductor faces the ultimate leadership challenge: creating perfect harmony without saying a word. In this charming talk, Itay Talgam demonstrates the unique styles of six great 20th-century conductors, illustrating crucial lessons for all leaders.

Jed Emerson - Value Creation

Thu, 1 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT

The nonprofit sector delivers social value and the for-profit sector delivers economic value, right? Wrong! Speaking at Bridging the Gap, the 2005 Stanford Net Impact conference, Jed Emerson argues that value is non-divisible, whole, and blended. He invites us to think beyond philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, social enterprise, and other limiting mindsets.

Courtney Bourns Discusses Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST

Courtney Bourns, Director of Programs at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), discusses Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field, a co-publication with the Council on Foundations that examines evaluation approaches and real-life examples of their implementation.

Tom Tierney - Pursuing Social Enterprise, Making a Difference

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

When you begin to wonder - Am I in the right job? - it may be time to try social enterprise on for size. In this audio lecture, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Tom Tierney shares how he threw caution - and a big salary - to the wind when he first decided to found the Bridgespan Group. He talks about his challenges, fears, and ultimately, triumphs in establishing this organization dedicated to helping nonprofits and philanthropy achieve breakthrough results.

Jonah Lehrer: Creative Insights

Author Jonah Lehrer explores the power of outsider intelligence. At PopTech 2009, the best-selling author of How We Decide and Proust Was a Neuroscientist, notes that, paradoxically, lacking expertise on a subject can be an asset. “It’s what allows us to see the connections, to see the problems that no one else can see.”

Esther Duflo: Ending Poverty

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:00:28 EST

Esther Duflo, MIT economist and co-founder of the Poverty Action Lab, asks why the world’s poorest people tend to stay poor. Duflo’s pioneering research applies randomized trials, used extensively in drug discovery research, to development economics. What she discovers are strategies for transforming current approaches to development policy.

Chip Heath - Nonprofit Management and Making Change

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Those in nonprofit management constantly adapt to move their organizations forward. In this audio lecture sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Chip Heath, Stanford professor and coauthor of the book Switch, provides a framework for change. He demonstrates in case studies that three principles are involved in successful change, whether it be on the personal or societal front. Leaders in nonprofit management are called to attune to these principles when tackling change situations.

Tomas Recart - Social Enterprise in Chile's Educational System

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

The area of education is ripe for social enterprise efforts, both within and outside U.S. borders. In this audio interview with Stanford Center for Social Innovation correspondent Sheela Sethuraman, Executive Director Tomas Recart talks about what Ensena Chile is doing to create educational change in Chile using the Teach For America model. He discusses recruitment, program evaluation, and the expansion of the effort to other Latin American countries.

Martin Eakes - Responsible Investing in Community Banking

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Responsible investing begins in local, underserved communities. In this education podcast, CEO Martin Eakes talks about how his organization, Self-Help, has provided almost $6 billion in financing to more than 60,000 homebuyers, small businesses, and nonprofits, and how it is serving thousands of low-income families through retail credit union branches. Eakes' presentation is an inspiring rallying cry for redirecting resources to those who can benefit the most. His talk is part of a discussion sponsored by the Center for Social Innovation.

Making Things Better — practical innovations for sustainable manufacturing

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:37:30 EST

Mark Dwight, Founder & CEO, Rickshaw Bagworks, Inc. Download .mp3 » Watch the presentation »

Hoover Conference - Promoting Entrepreneurship Abroad

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

While the United States has been a leader in global entrepreneurship, other countries are also getting in on the act. But the movement abroad has not been without its struggles. In this panel discussion at a conference convened by the Hoover Institute at Stanford, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs talk about what it takes to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in a variety of countries. They look at challenges as well as lessons from nations that have been particularly successful in creating startups, such as India and Taiwan.

Rob Reich - Tax Incentives for Philanthropy

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Given current tax laws, $300 billion in charitable dollars can end up costing the U.S. Treasury $50 billion in lost income. Should taxable income exclude charitable contributions? In this audio lecture, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Stanford political philosopher Rob Reich asks some tough questions, ultimately proposing a new way of looking at tax incentives to support the nonprofit sector.

Sam Goldman - Lighting the Way to Economic Development

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Let there be light! That's Sam Goldman's motto, and he's taking it around the world. The founder of d.light design talks with Stanford Center for Social Innovation correspondent Sheela Sethuraman about how he is bringing affordable, ecologically sustainable electricity and lighting to billions who are now operating in the dark. In this audio interview, he details aspects of the design, function, marketing, and distribution of the organization's products, as well as the kind of impact the social enterprise is having in some of the most remote, poor areas.

The Pursuit of Elegance

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:46:05 EDT

The best ideas have something missing - and that's no bad thing, says former Toyota consultant Matthew E. May. Here, he explains the importance of elegance and evolutionary innovation in business

Heather McLeod Grant - Social Change With a Networked Mindset

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Navigating social networks could well be the ultimate nonprofit management tactic. In this audio lecture recorded at the Nonprofit Management Institute, Heather McLeod Grant discusses how individuals and organizations are using networked approaches to promote social change efforts. She focuses on the work of the Monitor Institute, in particular, and offers tips on how to use social networks effectively.

TEDTalks : Jonathan Zittrain: The Web as random acts of kindness - Jonathan Zittrain (2009)

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EDT

Feeling like the world is becoming less friendly? Social theorist Jonathan Zittrain begs to difffer. The Internet, he suggests, is made up of millions of disinterested acts of kindness, curiosity and trust.

TEDTalks : Cary Fowler: One seed at a time, protecting the future of food - Cary Fowler (2009)

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:00:00 EDT

The varieties of wheat, corn and rice we grow today may not thrive in a future threatened by climate change. Cary Fowler takes us inside a vast global seed bank, buried within a frozen mountain in Norway, that stores a diverse group of food-crop for whatever tomorrow may bring.

TEDTalks : Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action - Janine Benyus (2009)

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 01:00:00 EDT

Janine Benyus has a message for inventors: When solving a design problem, look to nature first. There you'll find inspired designs for making things waterproof, aerodynamic, solar-powered and more. Here she reveals dozens of new products that take their cue from nature with spectacular results.

Supporting More Social Innovation - Skoll World Forum 2007

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

How do we foster more social innovation? In this intimate discussion, panelists John Elkington, Bill Drayton, and El Milibrand consider the question. They explore what's needed on the local, regional, national, and international levels, and acknowledge the role that governments and entrepreneurs play in improving the social landscape.

501c3cast: March 9, 2009: Show 111

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:36:00 EDT

Interview with Gabriela Fitz of IssueLab.org Interview Music: Recalling Tomorrow by Alexander Shulgin Links and News about: Use Postcards Instead of Newsletters from NonprofitMarketingGuide.com Idealist News announced. You may also want to check out: kikono.org Philanthropic Capacity Building Resources (PCBR) Database

Socially Responsible Outsourcing: A New Model for Sustainable Economic Development

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

Presenter: Leila Chirayath, Founder and CEO, Samasource Socially responsible outsourcing involves shifting some of the $8B spent on outsourcing annually to economically and socially disadvantaged service provider firms in places like Sub-Saharan Africa and rural India. Some of the key questions this talk explores include: What is business process and IT outsourcing? What sorts of functions do organizations typically outsource? What does âsocially responsibleâ mean in the context of outsourcing? How can outsourcing play a role in economic development? From the 2008 San Francisco Bay Area Nonprofit Boot CampPodcast edited by Stace Carter

Arianna Huffington - 2009 Boot Camp Morning Keynote

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EDT

Arianna Huffington's morning keynote at Craigslist Foundation's 6th Annual Boot Camp, held at UC Berkeley on June 20, 2009.Podcast edited by Stace Carter.

All-Star Panel

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EDT

Craig Newmark with Ami Dar, Jonathan Greenblatt, Rich Harwood, Arianna Huffington, Shirley Sagawa, Steve Wright, and guest moderator Michael Krasny.Edited by Stace Carter.

The Role of Entrepreneurship in Solving World Problems - Tom Byers, Kavita Ramdas, Paul Yock, John Hennessy, Brook Byers, Jeff Koseff, Chip Blacker, KR Sridhar (eWeek Panel Discussion)

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:00:00 EST

Prominent industry leaders team up with Stanford Faculty to discuss entrepreneurial solutions to problems in the areas of international affairs, human health and the environment. They tackle world issues from a global and technical perspective beyond the usual bureaucratic approach with a special focus on developing nations.

Pamela Hartigan - The Power of Unreasonable People

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

Why are social entrepreneurs sometimes considered "unreasonable," and how are they different from business entrepreneurs? Author Pamela Hartigan discusses with Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman how these pesky pioneers are creating markets that are changing the world. She also talks about Volans Ventures, her new enterprise dedicated to integrating the worlds of social and environmental innovation with business-driven wealth creation.

What's the Impact of This All? - Assessing Impact

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Are you making a difference? Do you add value to your constituents' lives? Are you as effective as possible per dollar output? These are all likely, and potentially useful questions to answer if you're a social entrepreneur or a funding organization. In this interactive 2008 Skoll World Forum session, a talented, experienced panel discusses the challenges of social enterprises and how metrics can impact organizational learning, innovation, and lead to greater resource utilization.

Carter Roberts - Environmental Challenges & Profit Opportunities

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Companies that think about the environment as a social responsibility rather than a business imperative are living in the dark ages, says Carter Roberts, president and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund. In this Stanford Center for Social Innovation talk, Roberts underscores solid business reasons why sustainability is no longer just a nice thing to do, how conservation protects business, and how his organization is addressing the economics, science, and politics of conservation around the world.

Vinod Khosla - Moving from "Greenwashing" to Truly Green

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Vinod Khosla, Silicon Valley venture capitalist, says he used to be an environmentalist, but is now more of a "pragmentalist." In this Stanford Center for Social Innovation sponsored talk, Khosla turns conventional wisdom about what passes for "green technology" on its head. He takes a hard look at how innovations such as hybrid cars and fuel cell buses may, in fact, be exacerbating our problems, and offers concrete, iconoclastic suggestions as to what science, business, and government should be focusing on instead.

Dr Larry Brilliant - Hybrid Philanthropy

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

How would you react if a company you owned shares in decided to invest 1% of its equity, 1% of its profit, and 1% of its manpower to solve big problems? Larry Page and Sergey Brin included these provisions into the original IPO for Google. This seeded Google.org with nearly $1 billion. In this session from the 2008 Web 2.0 Summit, Dr. Brilliant converses on Google's hybrid philanthropy and describes Google.org's major initiatives.