Jonathan Greenblatt is my Idol, part 1.
So, yesterday, as I have mentioned in the previous two posts, I attended a lecture/presentation by Jonathan Greenblatt. Today, I want to dive into what he actually said. In particular, I want to focus on two aspects of his presentation: things that drive social entrepreneurship and business models for ethical brands.
To begin with this post will be directed towards the trends that drive social entrepreneurship. They are:
#1: Environmentalism
- He mentions this trend as the premier driver of business interests today. We are all being propelled by and towards the issue.
#2: Globalization
#3: Inequity:
- the barrier between the “haves” and the “have nots” continues to widen; urbanization is consuming our planet.
#4: Rise of Cynacism:
- leaders are working from the top down and failing; this is spawning cynicism in both the leadership and in the people they serve
#5: Affordibility
- technology is a catalytic force and decreasing the price of goods i.e. the $100 laptop (there is as much technology in this laptop as was used to send the first man to the moon)
#6: Transparency
- there is no room to hide anymore, everyone is on display all the time as is every new idea
#7: Connectivity
- with technology like Twittr, the myriad of other social networks and blogs, people are constantly aware of what everyone is doing all the time. We can find anything on goggle, in a heartbeat.
#8: Authenticity
- People are looking for authenticity (i.e. the success of presidential candidate Obama and in corporate behavior). People want to feel connected to real people in a real brand.
These trends are what are driving businesses to become more socially and ethically responsible. Instead of old CSR models of business these trends are shaping new countries which are ethical first rather than as an after thought.
What do you think? Can you add more topics to this list? Are there other trends? Do you agree or disagree?
Tags: , Jonathan Greenblatt, trends in social entrepreneurship
