Social Impact

People who succeed in finding meaning experience both meaning and happiness, but those who can’t find meaning aren’t happy. —Jennifer Aaker, professor of marketing
A Global Look at the Connections Between Happiness, Income, and Meaning
Audio
“Books, Articles, and Documentaries Will Help Us Understand This Country’s Divide.”
In this podcast episode, a publishing executive talks about decisions editors need to make to bring in more voices to tell our country’s authentic stories.
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Latest Stories on Social Impact

August 29, 2023
Audio
The Business of Ending Generational Poverty in India
How one social enterprise built a successful revenue model while having a large-scale, positive impact.
Career & Success
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July 24, 2023
Audio
Unleashing the Power of Market Creation
Businesses that create markets instead of products have the power to unlock the greatest potential.
Entrepreneurship
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June 06, 2023
Audio
Taking a Stand with Your Brand: Genderless Fashion in Africa
An activist and a business owner make a bold fashion statement by standing up for LGBTQ rights.
Social Impact
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
April 06, 2023
Video
Class Takeaways — Analysis and Measurement of Impact
Five lessons in five minutes: lecturer Jaclyn Foroughi shares how to make an impact through investing.
Finance
title screen with an illustration of a heart with the words Impact Investing and the class title: Analysis and Measurement of Impact
March 07, 2023
Written
How Consumers Reacted to 2020’s Flood of Corporate “Confessions”
Flipping the PR playbook by admitting wrongdoing can improve a firm’s image and mobilize support for social causes, according to new research.
Organizational Behavior
An apple store in Downtown Portland with boarded up signs that have been painted with Black Lives Matter. iStock/hapabapa
February 15, 2023
Written
A Low-Cost, Scalable Way to Get More Women Into Tech
Stanford GSB researchers designed an experimental program that helps women quickly boost their skills so they can land technology jobs.
Social Impact
A woman wearing glasses looks at code on a computer screen.
January 31, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: Bringing Affordable Medical Imaging to Botswana
Her father’s cancer diagnosis led one woman to discover an unmet need for imaging services in Botswana — and then to fill that need.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
January 10, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: Bringing Safe Water to Rural India
A social enterprise success strategy: clean water in rural India, subsidized by urban consumers.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
July 05, 2022
Audio
Solving Important Problems
Meet two entrepreneurs who are building social enterprises focused on improving children’s literacy and women’s health in South Asia.
Social Impact
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July 05, 2022
Written
Former BP Head Reflects on His Call for Climate Action 25 Years Ago
Lord John Browne talks about his 1997 speech at Stanford and current efforts to slow global warming.
Climate & Sustainability
Photo of Lord John Browne. Credit: Reuters/Paul Hackett top/key/full
June 30, 2022
Written
“Pacers” Help Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies Stay in the Race
Small- and medium-sized businesses in Africa and India need ongoing support to keep growing.
Social Impact
An overhead photo of runners competing in a marathon. Credit: iStock/ZamoraA
June 03, 2022
Written
What Will It Take to Solve Climate Change? Investor John Doerr Shares His Plan.
Venture capitalist and philanthropist describes urgent measures outlined in new book, Speed and Scale.
Climate & Sustainability
John Doerr on stage at Stanford GSB, talking to an audience about his plan for climate action. Photo by Saul Bromberger
May 24, 2022
Written
Looking Beyond Benefit-Cost Analysis to Measure the Value of Life-Saving Drugs
A new analysis of social and economic impact bolsters the fight against hepatitis C in India.
Healthcare
An Indian medical volunteer works at a roadside clinic in Old Delhi treating the homeless. Credit: iStock/BDphoto
May 05, 2022
Audio
You Own the Vaccine That Others Need: Should You Share It?
Case study: Reconciling an enormous public health crisis with intellectual property concerns
Social Impact
May 03, 2022
Audio
Corporate Good vs. Social Good: Can Investors Have Both?
In this podcast episode, we compare several investment strategies used for achieving social impact.
Finance
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April 19, 2022
Written
The Promise and Pitfalls of Investing for Change
Navigating the line between opportunity and uncertainty in the ESG boom
Finance
Illustration of various cuttings of a map, pieced together to form a larger map that shows a road curving along it. Illustration by Tyler Comrie
March 11, 2022
Written
Cell Phone Data Adds New Detail to Our Picture of Urban Segregation
The movement of millions of phones shows that Americans experience less racial isolation once they get out of their neighborhoods.
Technology & AI
Diverse crowd of people walking across the busy intersection of 23rd Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. | Credit: iStock/deberarr.
January 28, 2022
Written
A Global Look at the Connections Between Happiness, Income, and Meaning
Wealthy people may be happier. But a new study finds that money can’t buy a sense of purpose.
Social Impact
Young woman alone in nature surrounded by beautiful autumn colors. | Credit: iStock/MundusImages.
January 07, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Making a Difference
Wandia Gichuru’s fashion brand for African women empowers both customers and employees in Kenya.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
November 16, 2021
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Flowers in the River
Ankit Agarwal’s flower recycling business helps clean the Ganges River, improve public health, and employ disadvantaged women in India.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast