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Public Management Program

 

Public Management Initiative (PMI)

Social Entrepreneurship (1996-7)

"The social entrepreneur changes the performance capacity of society."

-Peter Drucker

In April 1996, students at the GSB elected the topic Social Entrepreneurship to be the 1996-97 PMI. For only the second time in the PMI's history, the decision was unanimous, reflecting broad student enthusiasm for the topic. And now, as of September 1997, social entrepreneurship is the subject of a formal initiative within the GSB's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Why Social Entrepreneurship?

Businesses increasingly confront community infrastructures that impede their growth, such as lack of reasonable health care options and poor educational systems. At the same time, nonprofit service providers face increased competition for traditional funds, shrinking government funding and increased social demands.

However, with these challenges come the opportunity to reinvent the social sector. We believe that just as entrepreneurs will drive the development of our industrial base to compete in the next century, entrepreneurs will drive the necessary social change.

The Heritage Foundation notes that "America is entering a great age of social entrepreneurship." Socially-oriented individuals, businesses and service organizations with entrepreneurial drive are currently piloting new ways to provide quality service and combat social dilemmas.

The PMI married two of the GSB's core competencies-and public management-exposed future leaders of all professional walks to this exciting age of opportunity.

Mission

Just as entrepreneurs will drive the development of our industrial base to compete in the next century, entrepreneurs will drive social change and reinvent the social sector, particularly in an era of increasing social challenges, decreasing government and limited philanthropic funds.

The mission of the 1996-97 PMI was to promote knowledge of the distinctive challenges and rewards of social entrepreneurship, and to inspire the GSB community to become active participants in redefining how society solves its social problems.

We believe that only through a partnership of committed citizens, community organizations, nonprofit's, businesses, government and academia will the necessary entrepreneurial ideas be implemented to effectively meet critical social needs.

The Projects

There were a variety of PMI activities planned for the '96-'97 academic year, including both on-campus and off-campus events and projects:

  • Speakers' Series: Leading social entrepreneurs and private sector leaders participated in lectures and panels at the GSB.
  • Monthly Dinners: with distinguished guests and active social entrepreneurs gave students an opportunity to explore topics in-depth.
  • Social Entrepreneurship in Action: SEA became a student club for the long-term, through which students visit innovative organizations in San Francisco, Oakland, East Palo Alto, and San Jose. We meet with Executive Directors, tour their communities, and gain a first-hand look at social entrepreneurship in action.
  • A Course in Social Entrepreneurship: We worked with faculty to organize a pilot course or seminar which could become a permanent part of the GSB's elective curriculum.
  • Social Entrepreneurship Conference: This first conference of its kind at Stanford brought together students, academics, and entrepreneurs to explore topics in entrepreneurship as well as similarities and differences between private and social entrepreneurship.