The Power of Small « Changemakers

Speak Up

Maria Pontes

BiD Network

Maria Pontes is a Senior Advisor for BiD Network since 2010 being responsible for the activities of the organization in Mexico and Liberia. There she works closely with local partners to increase and improve their services to Small and Medium Businesses (SMEs).

Chloe Feinberg

Maria, thank you for providing us with your insights! Based on your expertise in impact investing, what are two or three [...]

195 days ago
Maria Pontes

The drives of entrepreneurs will be mostly related to the context of course - so what solutions are needed in that speci [...]

196 days ago
Marzena Zukowska

Question via Twitter from BrizSocialEnterprise: @changemakers @bidnet: Do you think the incentives and drives of entrepr [...]

196 days ago
Devin Coverdale

Thank you for your insightful response Maria. We have developed a working relationship with a local organic farm (Stowe [...]

213 days ago
Maria Pontes

Hi Devin - have you piloted it somewhere? I would start there first. Then I would focus on communities that you know or [...]

216 days ago
Devin Coverdale

Hello Maria, We have developed a combined heat and power system designed to serve rural farms and communities. Our m [...]

220 days ago
Maria Pontes

Hi Emily, that is a very good point. I am not yet convinced that it is the culture that affects entrepreneurship - more [...]

223 days ago
Emily Bosland

Hi Maria, Given your work in different geographic markets, I would love to know how you think culture affects entrepr [...]

224 days ago
Maria Pontes

Hi ThienVinh, thank you for having me! I am very glad to participate. I am inspired every day by the entrepreneurs we wo [...]

224 days ago
ThienVinh Nguyen

Hi Maria! So glad to have you on-board as a Thought Leader. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to get [...]

224 days ago

Logan Yonavjak

Next Billion, Staff Writer and Expert on small business development

Logan joins us from Next Billion as an expert on SME development and growth. Join the conversation!

Marzena Zukowska

Comment on behalf of Matt Besonen from Co.Labs Agency: "Co.Labs could not agree more!!! Partnerships between academi [...]

212 days ago
Devin Coverdale

Hello Logan, I am part of a team building a highly efficient combined heat and power system for small farms and communit [...]

213 days ago
Logan Yonavjak

I don't like to think of "environmental" versus "social" enterprises because they are so inexorably intertwined. But, if [...]

214 days ago
Oscar Alvarez

Many thanks for that Logan. Your comments are very helpful! Very best wishes. [...]

215 days ago
Logan Yonavjak

Just to clarify, I-DEV had restrictions from their client for sharing the details of the study. [...]

217 days ago
Logan Yonavjak

Unfortunately I-DEV was not able to share all the details of the study; this came from a webinar I listened to. I then f [...]

217 days ago
Logan Yonavjak

Great resource, thank you for sharing. Are there specific sectors and specific countries that you're seeing using this r [...]

217 days ago
Our Local Markets

I contacted the college administration and asked if I could use their resources. I think they would extend their service [...]

217 days ago
Oscar Alvarez

Dear Logan, I read your post "Financing Business Skills Development for Impact Enterprises: Who Pays?". Very interest [...]

217 days ago
Logan Yonavjak

This is a great point; local colleges that have these resources are definitely worth checking into - I think this is an [...]

217 days ago
Dan Salcedo

Thought you might be interested in knowing about our award winning e-commerce platform http://OpenEntry.com offering art [...]

218 days ago
Marzena Zukowska

Hi Logan, thank you for sharing your insights this week. Could you tell us a little bit about environmental entrepreneur [...]

218 days ago
Our Local Markets

Thank you for speaking about these important topics Logan. We do not have a business incubator in the area where I live. [...]

218 days ago

Eniola Mafe

Vital Voices Global Partnership

Eniola Mafe is the Africa Program Manager at Vital Voices Global Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based international non-profit that works with women leaders to advance women’s human rights, political participation, and economic empowerment.

Vanessa Lissa Winston

Hi i am a business woman in the field of creative arts, this business suported me and my 4 children for about 4 years af [...]

222 days ago
My Homepage

... [Trackback]... [...] Informations on that Topic: pulse.changemakers.com/leaders/2012/10/eniola-maf [...]

225 days ago
Shantel Nubia

Also, I'm having trouble with the Social Impact Assessment or my Social Enterprise. Should I hire a CPA to help me with [...]

225 days ago
Shantel Nubia

Greetings Eniola Mafe, I have to say Ashoka has opened my eyes to all the amazing women out there pursuing their dest [...]

225 days ago
Beatrice 'Hephzibah' Kay

Hi Eniola, thanks for sharing your experience. Women in Africa are entrepreneurial and hardworking. The ones with childr [...]

228 days ago
Beatrice 'Hephzibah' Kay

Hi Eniola, thanks for sharing your experience. Women in Africa are entrepreneurial and hardworking. The ones with childr [...]

228 days ago
Okocha Nkem Christiana

Hello Eniola, Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. My innovation is a solution to one of the univer [...]

228 days ago
Eniola Mafe

Hello Amkon, Could you share a little more about you innovation so that we can discuss further, and hopefully others wil [...]

229 days ago
Eniola Mafe

Pleasure talking to you too Barbara. It would be interesting to hear from you what similarities you see. Africa is a vas [...]

229 days ago
Eniola Mafe

HI Hellen, Thanks for the questions. Vital Voices doesn't provide loans to women's businesses. we include in our support [...]

229 days ago
Amkon Tujasogfdiesr

Do you only work in social an women developmental. I am really worried that my innovation is regarding technological in [...]

229 days ago
Hellen Owino

Hello Eniola, Am more interested in the women led SME's programs that you manage. For many women, lack of capital is a [...]

229 days ago
Barbara Rajao

Hi Eniola, it´s my pleasure to talk to you. I think that´s very important for a woman participate in opportunities tha [...]

230 days ago
Winifride Nyirahirwa

Thanks Mrs Eniola Mafe ' Thank you very much to what you have realized, you as woman who have found means power to de [...]

230 days ago
Seiji Fujita

Eniola, Can you tell us how was the click? As “the penny dropped” for change? I believe that everyone has a g [...]

230 days ago
Seiji Fujita

Eniola, Can you tell us how was the click? As "the penny dropped" for change? I believe that everyone has a gift. Some [...]

230 days ago
Mamz E. Mancho

Yes Eniola, women face more barriers compared to men when trying to start their and grow their own business and that bei [...]

230 days ago
Mamz E. Mancho

Yes Eniola, women face more barriers compared to men when trying to start their and grow their own business and that bei [...]

230 days ago
Mariano Luparelli

We understand that one of the biggest problems in our society, is encouraging. Believe in what we're doing. Our organiza [...]

230 days ago
Eniola Mafe

There are universal barriers that I find that all entrepeneurs face such as1.access to capital to start, develop and sca [...]

232 days ago
Eniola Mafe

Thank you marzena and Ashoka Changemaers. I'm looking forward to talking to/interacting with others here. [...]

232 days ago
marzena

Hi Eniola, thank you for joining us in this conversation! While there are universal barriers that all entrepreneurs have [...]

232 days ago

Fajar Anugerah

Program Mananger, Global Entrepreneurship Program Indonesia

Fajar Anugerah is the Program Manager for the Global Entrepreneurship Program Indonesia. During the week of September 20, he will be sharing insights about his extense experience in the creative sector, conducting quantitative and qualitative research in social psychology and as a learning facilitator and learning designer. Join the conversation below!

Elouise Udicious

Third Flower... My wife and i have already been now delighted that Albert could carry out his scientif [...]

206 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Let's continue our discussion via twitter? My twitter account is @fajaranugerah [...]

216 days ago
Fortune Wills

in the area of free education and empoyment [...]

228 days ago
Winifride Nyirahirwa

that is great, infrastructure is more needed to support and allow that e learning [...]

233 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Hi Fortune Wills...Thanks for your appreciation. I still have much to learn from others in my country but I can share wh [...]

233 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

In most countries where the telecommunication infrastructure is well established, online learning/sharing/collaboration [...]

233 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Interesting concept and model of collaboration. For some of creative economy sub-sector (publishing, graphic design, etc [...]

233 days ago
Winifride Nyirahirwa

yes, technology plays a tremendous role in spreading knowledge and skills around the globe, as i can say INTRANET is a p [...]

234 days ago
Winifride Nyirahirwa

free education for all, that is a good vision , yes, as a good wish to, but does it really real, how to compansate the o [...]

234 days ago
Winifride Nyirahirwa

Hey Mr.Faraj, am here as one among many people who have some ideas to develop for our countries even our world. i thin [...]

234 days ago
Piotr Michalak

@Fajar. Thanks for Yoy interest to my post. Cultural/creative economy in most common sense - a branch of economy concern [...]

236 days ago
Maher Helmi Wahba

Thank you Fajar for your attention and interest in the CarbonE project and yes I will contact you by e-mail to further d [...]

237 days ago
Fortune Wills

fajar hi,honesty am inspired by your bio,pls i wld want you to share you experience in capacity building and funding sch [...]

237 days ago
Fortune Wills

hi fajar i will want you to share your experience on capacity building and fund raising scheme for social enterprise [...]

237 days ago
Fortune Wills

hi fajar,i will want you tto share your experience on affordable and high quality learning [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Dear Ira, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think there will always be barriers in obtaining quality education but [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Hi Vanns. If what you mean by strengthening local artisans financially includes helping them to understand manage their [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Dele, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I agree. Most of the real changemakers in Indonesia are based in their commun [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Hi Francesco, I could not agree more. Utilising technology could help us spread knowledge and skills faster. Now our cha [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Hi Vanessa, thank you for sharing your experience. Having been working with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people, I [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Hi Patrick. Thank you for sharing information about your project. Maybe you can send us more detailed information via se [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Piotr, thank you for your comment. Before I can properly respond, maybe you'd like to clarify what you mean by 'cultural [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Halo Kika, idenya luar biasa sekali. Apakah Kika sudah mulai melakukan ini? Kalau sudah, silakan berbagi keberhasilan da [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Dear Maher, thank you for sharing your success story. We've heard about what you're doing from LGT VP. Maybe you'd like [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

For business incubators to succeed in supporting young entrepreneurs, specifically those who become entrepreneurs by nec [...]

237 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Hi Bo, thank you for your inquiry and sorry for the late reply. [...]

237 days ago
Ira Mashedo

Time for education become free. Paid and difficult to get education is absurd. The goal of society is to remove barriers [...]

237 days ago
Vanns Hokey

hi Fajar do you think strengthening local artisans financially for expansion is one of the most important element to mai [...]

238 days ago
Dele Ojoniyi

The future of capacity building is in the path of education and education is no more inside the four walls of classrooms [...]

238 days ago
Dele Ojoniyi

Building infrastructures nowadays cost money but I believe in mobile school thats what we are after at bootcamp [...]

238 days ago
Francesco Piazzesi

In this early stage of century XXI learning has to be with century XXI tools. Education need text books in broad band f [...]

238 days ago
Vanessa Lissa Winston

We are seeing many young persons getting out off school because they don’t have the finance to continue some because o [...]

238 days ago
Patrick Bwire

We the youth of Youth Initiative for Rural Development (YIRD) have a project have started a project on Transformative fa [...]

238 days ago
Piotr Michalak

Hello Fajar, Thanks for Your time. How do You see changes for building cultural economy in social-economy-like format? [...]

238 days ago
Kika Syafii

Halo Mas Fajar Saya yang mengusulkan ide Taman Baca. Taman Baca yang bisa sekaligus untuk mengedukasi anak-anak dan ibu [...]

238 days ago
Maher Helmi Wahba

Dear Fajar Magic Formula for Indonesia produces 70 Million tons of rice per year which when milled will reject 16 Milli [...]

238 days ago
Bo Ghirardelli

Hi Fajar, Thanks for sharing your time and experiences! What are your thoughts on business incubators for young entrepr [...]

238 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Ola Marzena. The social enterprises in Indonesia are very distinct in the fact that they have very clear and strong soci [...]

239 days ago
Marzena Zukowska

Hi Fajar, I'm excited to hear your insights! So how are social enterprises distinct from both the private sector and fro [...]

239 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

In Indonesia, I think, one of the most important things for a social enterprise to grow is actually their 'social capita [...]

239 days ago
Fajar Anugerah

Thanks for inviting us Dani. It's a pleasure and honor to be able to discuss social entrepreneurship in Indonesia, somet [...]

239 days ago
Dani Matielo

Dear Fajar, thank you for joining this conversation - it is a great pleasure to have you here and be able to share insig [...]

243 days ago

Kate von Achen

Awava Founding Director

Kate H. von Achen is the founder of Awava – an organization that uses a fair trade model to provide income generation and value addition opportunities for women artisans in post-conflict Uganda. During the week of September 10, she will be sharing her experiences and stories from the field. Please, join the conversation below!

You sir, are awesome!

Hi... I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it o [...]

214 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thanks so much David. We love it! [...]

248 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thank you Fortune for your appreciation of our work! [...]

248 days ago
Fortune Wills

thanks too,you are in my prayers for more wisdom,am always proud of women who want to give out there b est at all times. [...]

248 days ago
Fortune Wills

thanks too,you are in my prayers too,you will excell amen [...]

248 days ago
David Cadia

Excellent, thanks for the info Kate. BTW Your making some cool stuff! [...]

249 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thank you so much Fortune. I wish you all of the success in your endeavors! [...]

249 days ago
Kate von Achen

Hi Vanns, at this point we plan to stay focused in Uganda. While I'm always tempted to expand as there are so many beaut [...]

249 days ago
Fortune Wills

you are right kate,not only in Uganda but most part in AFRICAN countries,just want to say congrats for Amava,for me i am [...]

249 days ago
Vanns Hokey

hi just want to know whether you have any plans of extending this wonderful initiative in other parts of Africa. And if [...]

249 days ago
Fortune Wills

you are right kate,not only in Uganda but most part in A FRICAN countries,just want to say congrats for Amava,for me i [...]

249 days ago
Kate von Achen

Hey Lauren! Great questions! I think there is tremendous benefit to working with smaller groups, as opposed to larger gr [...]

249 days ago
Lauren Parnell Marino

Hi, Kate! I know that your model involves you working with small producer groups. What strengths do these groups have co [...]

250 days ago
Kate von Achen

Wow, Robert, that's an impressive resume you're building! I think any way to keep resources more up-to-date, and anythin [...]

250 days ago
Kate von Achen

It is SO difficult! I completely understand. There are options. I don't know if you have already or have considered appl [...]

250 days ago
Kate von Achen

We actually don't have any real donors. We have operated primarily out of pocket with a few limited "gifts". Our major s [...]

250 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thank you Puneet. We currently have a group of tailors (there are 6 but we're working on adding a few), a group making b [...]

250 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thank you so much Fortune! It's amazing, it seems (without having actually looked at the statistics...) that development [...]

250 days ago
Lawrence Matolo

Hi Kate...Awava seems to be replicable in many civil situations that aren't necessarily post conflict. What is its posi [...]

251 days ago
Puneet Srivastava

Hi Kate... Nice post. How many people/micro-enterprises does your initiative cover as of now? And what would be the over [...]

251 days ago
Fortune Wills

i love your innovation,keep it up,am always happy see women taking their rightful place in the society [...]

251 days ago
David Cadia

have also applied to any funding possible because right now we are at a point where we need it or it will be difficult t [...]

251 days ago
David Cadia

Thanks for the tips Kate. My partner have also funded everything out of pocket I know the feeling. It is just so frustra [...]

251 days ago
Robert Modrall

Thank you for your prompt response and informative answers. I've been researching graduate options as I fully intend to [...]

251 days ago
David Cadia

Hello Kate, congrats for Awava. I am trying to create something similar in Nicaragua called NIC Boutique founded on the [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

Hi David. This is great! I wish you all the luck in your endeavor. As for raising money, I wish I could tell you! I have [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

As for the curriculum, and the education system in general at the University, it was very different from what I was used [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

I finished my graduate studies at Makerere University in 2009, and I think things have changed quite a bit since then, b [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thank you so much Robert. I love it too! [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

As for Fair Trade products sometimes being more cost-effective, yes, sometimes they are, depending on the structure. Com [...]

251 days ago
David Cadia

Hello Kate, congrats for Awava. I am trying to create something similar in Nicaragua called NIC Boutique founded on the [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

Oops, hit "send" too soon. [...]

251 days ago
Kate von Achen

Thank you ThienVinh for the insights and questions. I think Fair Trade being too expensive, or more expensive, is a comm [...]

251 days ago
Robert Modrall

Kate, Love the work you are doing. Are you enjoying your study abroad experience? I would like to hear more about gr [...]

252 days ago
ThienVinh Nguyen

Hello Kate! I enjoyed reading your blog post very much. I'm going to include the link here for others to check it ou [...]

252 days ago

Ben Powell

Founder and CEO, Agora Partnerships

Ben Powell is the Founder and CEO of Agora Partnerships. During the week of September 3, he will be sharing his experience with our community of innovators. Join the conversation!

Ben Powell

It's hard to for me to give concrete feedback but I am a fan of aromatherapy - I am feeling more relaxed just thinking a [...]

207 days ago
Ben Powell

Thanks for the question. The answer, I'm happy to say, is no. We try to work only with entrepreneurs who are able to tak [...]

207 days ago
Ben Powell

Thanks Tsega, my experience is that the people who best understand social impact, and have the least time to communicate [...]

253 days ago
ThienVinh Nguyen

Hi Ben! Thanks for all your of comments and insights. Here's are my questions: have you encountered any resistance from [...]

253 days ago
Pamela S. Gomez

Hello Ben, do you have any comments or suggestions following your review? [...]

253 days ago
Ben Powell

I think that once an MBA has experienced the more visceral, exciting, but also terrifying aspect of no-margin-for-error [...]

256 days ago
Tsega Tadesse

What is your sense on where our system is in terms of incorporating "Social Impact" as a necessary bottom line for susta [...]

256 days ago
Jessica Feingold

Ah, I love that you referred to it as the "primeval side." Do you think that once an MBA has crossed over to the primeva [...]

257 days ago
Pamela S. Gomez

Hi Ben, I just saw your respond. Sorry for not reply before now. [...]

259 days ago
Dani Matielo

Hello, Ben, and thank you for joining the conversation about how entrepreneurship can help the development of local comm [...]

260 days ago

Ayan Banerjee

Ayan Banerjee is Chetna Organic's CEO. He enjoys a diverse portfolio of activities and endeavors but his core areas of interest are in leadership and organization development.

During the week of August 27, Ayan A. Banerjee, Chetna Organic’s CEO, will be sharing his experience about leadership and organization development with innovators.

Ayan Banerjee

Thanks Dani. The rural and urban contexts are quite different. While some fundamentals (e.g. human psyche, economics etc [...]

258 days ago
Ayan Banerjee

It’s a good question, Kirk, and in the Indian context quite pertinent. There are several ways in which this can and sh [...]

258 days ago
Ayan Banerjee

Happy to provide a perspective, Marzena. Since 2000, many Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects in In [...]

258 days ago
Marzena Zukowska

Hi Ayan, I'm curious to know how you incorporation information and communications technology into your work. What kinds [...]

264 days ago
Kirk Wilson

I am guessing that one of your challenges in serving small farm holding households in India is how to disseminate best p [...]

266 days ago
Dani Matielo

Dear Ayan, thank you for joining us for this conversation. Could you please explain what are the main differences regard [...]

266 days ago

Supporting Entrepreneurs That Strengthen Local Economies

Join Ashoka Changemakers and SAP to discuss how innovative strategies can help small businesses and emerging social entrepreneurs thrive in underserved communities.

fb2717192

Awesome. Thanks, Dani. [...]

273 days ago
Dani Matielo

Have you joined today's #SocEntChat about how entrepreneurship can help local communities to thrive? No? Follow this lin [...]

273 days ago