“How would you like to solve a problem that affects society, while earning an honest living?”.
This question plagued attendees of the Social Venture Residential hosted by King’s Entrepreneurship Lab in partnership with Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge.
It’s this question, and the burning desire to impact and ultimately improve our society, that brought many of us Mastercard Foundation Scholars across the seas to the University of Cambridge. Here, we've already spent a term unlearning, learning and generally being equipped with the tools we need to do what we set out to.
At the Residential we were first introduced to the concept of social ventures - entrepreneurial interventions that target systemic problems and create low or no-cost solutions with aims to better society.
We went on to explore this concept with practical examples of people who are currently addressing varied social problems while making a living and empowering others to do so.
We also had seminars and Q&A sessions with exemplary individuals who walk this path and were willing to offer experiential insights and tips.
I learned the value of leveraging existing networks in the Social Enterprise field from Angie Madara's experience, and knowing when to step on toes, when to have the uncomfortable conversations, and when to walk away, from Simon Stockley's talk.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Isla Wilson's session, not only because of her candour and her beautiful accent, but also because I learned the importance of starting now, instead of waiting to have all the pieces of the puzzle first.
Prior to the residential, I never would have imagined myself an entrepreneur but that changed when we were encouraged to come up with an idea for a venture that addresses a problem close to our hearts.
I worked together with a team of five exceptional individuals to design a social venture that aims to address the lack of access to basic education in Northern Nigeria.
Together we emerged with a solution after hours of approaching the problem from different perspectives. During this process, we revisited the drawing board several times and learned, in practice, just how much effort, gumption, research, critique, drafts and redrafts happen behind the scenes before social ventures are birthed.
I came to the University armed with big ideas to solve certain systemic problems in my research area, but at the Social Venture Residential I learned some important lessons, like approaching a systemic problem as an entrepreneur, building on existing ideas, and enjoying life in the moment even as we fight for a better future.
Now, I return to the drawing board to put to work everything gleaned and I am genuinely excited to see where this leads.