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February 14, 2008
Max Oliva, Associate Director, Social Impact Management
Here are some Jobs on Base of the Pyramid, ranging from COO positions to Management Consulting and Microfinance Development:
• Chief Operating Officer at Scojo Foundation. The Scojo Foundation is a global social enterprise, currently operating in 13 countries, which creates jobs and sustains livelihoods through the sale of affordable reading glasses to the 700 million people who require clear, up-close vision to read and work.
• Intellecap is looking for an Editor with Microfinance Insights in Mumbai; Senior Associates – Publications and Knowledge Advisory in Mumbai; Senior Associates/ Associates – Training and Research in Hyderabad; Senior Associates/ Associates – SME & Microfinance Development in Hyderabad; Senior Associates/ Associates – Management Consulting in Hyderabad; and Senior Associates/ Associates – Finance in Hyderabad.
Take a look at all Intellecap job postings. Intellecap is a leading consulting firm focused on capital advisory and innovations for the inclusive finance space, endeavoring to create and deliver mainstream, profitable solutions to address the problems of poverty and expedite sustainable development.
• Internship at Engineers for Social Impact (Internship with application’s deadline on March 2nd). Engineers for Social Impact is a unique fellowship program to connect the best engineering talent to the most credible social enterprises that drive market-based solutions to development in India.
• Associate, New Ventures Program, World Resources Institute. New Ventures promotes sustainable growth in emerging markets by accelerating the transfer of capital to businesses that deliver social and environmental benefits at the base of the economic pyramid.
• Director, TED Fellowship Program. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.
Also have a look at a report which Net Impact made on December 2007 on Job's in the CSR arena.
June 22, 2007
Max Oliva, Associate Director, Social Impact Management
On June 7th, Bill Gates addressed Harvard students with an eloquent and well prepared speech on their graduation ceremony. But it was not just another speech. Referencing Marshall’s speech 60 years ago when talking about the great challenges they faced in implementing the Marshall Plan, this was intended to be a speech with just the same impact.
I truly encourage you to watch the video or read the transcript . It’s not sophisticated but rather simple and down to earth. But it is simple ideas which address complex issues those that work best. From developing a more creative capitalism which helps better address the world's inequities, to committing ourselves and our best minds to dedicating our time and effort to solving our biggest problems, I include some excerpts of the speech, hoping they will motivate you to see/read it all.
“…I had just come from an event where we were introducing version 13 of some piece of software, and we had people jumping and shouting with excitement. I love getting people excited about software—but why can’t we generate even more excitement for saving lives?
You can’t get people excited unless you can help them see and feel the impact.
…To turn caring into action, we need to see a problem, see a solution, and see the impact. But complexity blocks all three steps.
The defining and ongoing innovations of this age—biotechnology, the computer, the Internet—give us a chance we’ve never had before to end extreme poverty and end death from preventable disease.
You know more about the world’s inequities than the classes that came before. In your years here, I hope you’ve had a chance to think about how—in this age of accelerating technology—we can finally take on these inequities, and we can solve them.
We can make market forces work better for the poor if we can develop a more creative capitalism—if we can stretch the reach of market forces so that more people can make a profit, or at least make a living, serving people who are suffering from the worst inequities. We also can press governments around the world to spend taxpayer money in ways that better reflect the values of the people who pay the taxes.
If we can find approaches that meet the needs of the poor in ways that generate profits for business and votes for politicians, we will have found a sustainable way to reduce inequity in the world.
Let me make a request of the deans and the professors—the intellectual leaders here at Harvard: As you hire new faculty, award tenure, review curriculum, and determine degree requirements, please ask yourselves:
Should our best minds be dedicated to solving our biggest problems?
Should Harvard encourage its faculty to take on the world’s worst inequities? Should Harvard students learn about the depth of global poverty… the prevalence of world hunger… the scarcity of clean water …the girls kept out of school… the children who die from diseases we can cure?
Should the world’s most privileged people learn about the lives of the world’s least privileged?"
May 28, 2007
Max Oliva, Director Asociado, Social Impact Management
El talento y la responsabilidad corporativa ha sido el tema de la V Tribuna de PwC & IE, la cual ha tenido lugar el día de hoy (28 de Mayo) y en la cual han participado como invitados:
• Carlos Viladrich; Director Recursos Humanos ADECCO España; Adecco Human Capital Solutions Director
• Fernando Muñoz Berzosa, Subdirector General de Gestión de RR.HH BANESTO
• Miguel García Mosquera; Director de Compensación, Selección y Formación INDITEX
• Coral González; Directora de Recursos Humanos. SANITAS
• Alberto Durán; Presidente de la Fundación ONCE
• Mario Lara; Socio Responsable de Human Capital PwC
Y como Moderadores:
• Profesor Joaquín Garralda; Director del Centro PwC – IE de Responsabilidad Corporativa
• D. Enrique Fernández Miranda; Director de la Fundación PwC
Algunas de las intervenciones se resumen en las siguientes líneas, mismas que serán publicadas en Expansión en breve.
La retención tiene que ser con compromiso para que sea productivo. Lo que buscamos es no solo un compromiso racional, sino emocional que muchas veces es la clave en la retención de las personas.
Coral González de Sanitas, mencionó que la Responsabilidad Corporativa es una ventaja competitiva a la hora de atraer talento. El tener la capacidad de atraer y retener talento en mercados tan competidos como Madrid y Barcelona es vital. El primer paso está relacionado con la imagen de la compañía; posteriormente, los elementos de conciliación juegan un papel muy a favor.
Para incrementar la retención, contamos con programas de voluntarios y de diversidad, mismos que hacen que el empleado descubra que su empresa tiene un compromiso que va más allá de generar beneficios.
Miguel García de Inditex por su parte comentó: “en nuestro caso, atraemos al talento por el orgullo de pertenecer a una empresa multinacional española. El grado de reconocimiento de Inditex fuera de España es apabullante. Es aquí que el talento con alto potencial pone atención en nuestra responsabilidad corporativa, prestando por ejemplo, especial atención a como tratamos a nuestros proveedores y usando ésta como razón fundamental para ir a nuestras convocatorias, y no por nuestros resultados financieros, beneficios, o nuestras más de 3,000 tiendas en el mundo.”
Continue reading 'Talento y Responsabilidad Corporativa'
March 07, 2007
Max Oliva, Associate Director, Social Impact Management
How about a real space that fosters social innovation? A space where social entrepreneurship can be breathed on every corner. This has been The Hub in London experience. Their core product is flexible membership of inspirational and highly resourced habitats in the world’s major cities for social innovators to work, meet, learn, connect and realise progressive ideas. It is now present in London, Bristol, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo and Cairo. But the conversation is ongoing and advanced in the Netherlands, Mumbai, Berlin, Belgium, Halifax, Mexico and has several synergies with the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto, which is a “convergence facility” for the social mission community, The Melting Pot in Edinburgh and others.
The market need is expressed by social innovators whose ability to thrive requires access to highly resourced, flexible and safe spaces within which to scale up, change gear, take risks and make mistakes. Over time, social innovators need access to a range of just-in-time resources and market-facing opportunities to thrive: knowledge, capital and networks. The Hub provides channels to such resources and opportunities, without crushing the innovators initial spark and ingenuity.
We are engaging on a couple of action led conversations, one of which includes the openning of a hub like space in Madrid. If you want to be part of this conversation contact me.
January 04, 2007
Max Oliva, Associate Director, Social Impact Management
For those job seekers, 2007 looks even more promising than 2006! Here are some current offers:
International Aid + Trade has several positions
The Global Fund has a large recruitment campaign underway
Google.org has 7 openings
Genocide Intervention Network is looking for a COO
Endeavor is looking for a Programs Associate
Room to Read is looking for a Development Director in the UK and several positions in their San Francisco office.
Witness is looking for a hub manager and others.
The Economist has several job openings on their last issue; don’t forget to check it out.
December 05, 2006
Max Oliva, Associate Director, Social Impact Management
The Acumen Fund is trying to create an “entrepreneurial bench” of top talent with strong financial and operational skills as well as the moral imagination to build appropriate enterprises with local stakeholders. Through the Acumen Fund Fellows Program, they have identified and developed in their own words "some of the world’s next generation of leaders".
They have just announced a call for extraordinary individuals to build the Acumen Fund Fellows class of 2008, a program which provides them with a unique opportunity to use their skills to effect real social change with our portfolio organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, India and Pakistan, and to build lasting relationships with other like-minded individuals. Fellows will spend one year working with their team and with local entrepreneurs, gaining intensive experience in price performance, logistics, distribution systems, scaling and innovative technology. Fellows will learn and apply these skills while enjoying an unusual level of responsibility both at Acumen Fund and within our portfolio organizations.
Ideal fellows include those who have already decided on a career in venture philanthropy, those who are seeking a career at the highest levels in the corporate world but want to better understand and have an impact on problems of global poverty, and budding social entrepreneurs who want to learn about managing organizations in the most demanding settings.
The application's deadline is January 31, 2007, having the selection phase by mid-April and the program beginning in September. You can find more information and application guidelines at Acumen Fund.
Apply now.
Learn more about the Fellows Program.
Acumen Fund and Social Entrepreneurship in Action.
Max Oliva, Associate Director, Social Impact Management
The Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which has around $10bn raised money to fight these diseases, has recently held its 14th board meeting. It's interesting to see the views from different stakeholders in regards to this meeting in order to make an assessment of their work. Although it has a very challenging future, being results focused, governance and other methods make it a learning organization which allows them to improve their processes and methodology on an ongoing basis.
According to the Financial Times, “its governance structure, which offers board seats to developing nations and non-governmental groups as well as donor nations and the private sector, is one of the more pioneering aspects of its operation. It is designed to provide “ownership” to recipients as well as donors, encouraging them to be more responsive and effective.” It has however challenging issues which it must still tackle.
They have planned a Five-Year Evaluation which will be implemented under the guidance of the TERG. It is framed by a set of three overarching questions related to the organizational efficiency of the Global Fund; the effectiveness of the Global Fund partner environment; and the impact of the Global Fund on the three diseases. This report will be ready in 2008.
“Four years ago, almost nobody in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world was receiving treatment. That well over one million people with AIDS are on now on treatment through the support of Global Fund is a remarkable achievement,” Professor Richard Feachem, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
Feel like contributing with your knowledge? How about taking part on the Five Year Evaluation of the Global Fund? You have until January 15th, 2007.
Feel more committed? They are recruiting!
See a very compelling video by Kristen Ashburn, who has photographed the impact of AIDS in southern Africa in case you still need a small motivational push...
November 30, 2006
Arusha, Tanzania, June 4-7, 2007
TED's first global conference is taking place with amazing people who are doing something valuable for Africa's future. Their voices will inspire. And their ideas will spread.
"Over the past few years a growing number of people in the TED community have become passionate about Africa, a continent that appears to be at an important tipping point. Its problems and challenges are well known. Less well known is that across the continent, change is afoot. Instead of relying only on development aid, Africans across the continent are beginning to take matters into their own hands. Ingenious solutions are being applied to tackle some of the toughest health and infrastructure problems. Businesses are being launched that are capable of transforming the lives of millions. New communication technologies are allowing ideas and information to spread, enabling markets — and governments — to be more efficient. And the numbers suggest that incomes are starting to nudge up in some countries and real growth is on the way. A new Africa beckons."
Some of the speakers already confirmed include:
Jacqueline Novogratz: After 20 years' involvement in Africa, she founded the Acumen Fund, a leader of the "new philanthropy" movement which, instead of offering charity, supports entrepreneurs who are building businesses in areas such as healthcare, low-cost housing and water distribution.
Eleni Gabre-Madhin: Economist and leading researcher on African agricultural markets.
Danniel Annerose: CEO of and founder of Manobi, developer of prize-winning cellphone-based services that, for example, give farmers market intelligence and allow them to achieve better prices for their crops.
Jane Goodall: Famous for her pioneering work with chimpanzees in Tanzania, she has become a globally recognized conservationist and a United Nations "Messenger of Peace."
Patty Stonesifer: CEO of the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropic organization. The Foundation funds multiple projects in Africa with a major focus on tackling AIDS, malaria and other public health issues.
See the full list of speakeres.
You can Register here.
What is TED?
What are TEDTALKS?.
November 28, 2006
Independent Research and Practical Ideas for Global Development
The Center for Global Development is looking for a Controller, who will report to the Vice-President of the Center and will be responsible for financial policies, controls, strategic planning, and procedures. Individual must be "hands-on" as he/she prepares all financial reports and budgets and responsible for all audit and tax compliance. Other responsibilities include cash management, investment analysis, grant budget preparation, compliance, and reporting, employee benefits analysis and processing, receipting of funds, and maintenance of the general ledger. This position supervises one employee who is responsible for payroll and accounts payable.
learn more about the position and the required qualifications.
About the CGD:
The Center for Global Development is dedicated to reducing global poverty and inequality through policy-oriented research and active engagement on development issues with the policy community and the public. A principal focus of the Center's work is the policies of the United States and other industrial countries that affect development prospects in poor countries.
Continue reading 'One more for jobseekers on Development'
Looking to help drive Google.org's Global Poverty & Sustainable Development efforts?
Google is looking for several candidates for this position, based in Mountain View, California. This team works to innovate, establish and support sustainable models for global development. "Our mission is to accelerate growth and positive social impact using market-based, entrepreneurial approaches that promote sustainable economic growth and empowerment. We are exploring several potential approaches and creative interventions, including the following: creating jobs, fostering entrepreneurial support, discovering and advancing market-based solutions for basic socio-economic needs, bolstering girls' and women's education, providing access to financial services, clean energy and BOP innovations. These Program Directors will help lead program activities, assist in the development of Google.org's poverty alleviation strategy and manage the portfolio of grants and investments."
Take a further look at the Responsibilities and Requirements.
Continue reading 'For those job seekers on the BoP'
September 21, 2006
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
The 2006 Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting, wich is truly designed to inspire action, is taking place September 20-22. You can watch it ALL through LIVE Webcasts.
I have just seen the "Building a Sustainable Future" session, moderated by Peter C. Goldmark Jr.
Program Director, Environmental Defense with panelists such as:
John Chambers, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cisco Systems Inc.
Al Gore, Chairman, Generation Investment Management
Klaus Kleinfeld, President & Chief Executive Officer, Siemens AG
Muhammad Yunus, Founder and Managing Director, Grameen Bank
Business accountability on sustainability issues, social enterprises as an engine of change, global warming and the impact we can all make in order to face the crisis were some of the subjects covered in the session. Al Gore makes reference to the global warming issue with brilliant symbolism, evoking the chinese symbol of crisis, which holds the meanin of both Danger and Opportunity. His closing speech was remarkable, I truly recommend it. Not only has he become, as we've stated before on this blog, a great and moving public speaker, but I'm still impressed by his "Impact and influence on the audience" capability, making you not only believe his message, but most importantly, making you commit to solving the crisis of our generation.
Just to understand his "moving" ability, Sir Richard Branson commited $3Billion to renewable energy initiatives. This implies the investment of 100% of profits from Virgin's transportation businesses over 10 years to combat global warming. This is an impressive announcement, not just monetarily, but actually comitting ALL your profits to this stake is something I still can not grasp.
If you have time, go into the live webcast of the remaining sessions and if not, I truly recommend leaving a couple of hours of your weekend to do so.
Some of the more than 100 commitments, amounting nearly $2.1 billion only on the first day are:
Abraham's Vision. Gadi Kenny commits to fund summer 2006 Vision Program, where Abraham's Vision educators took Jewish & Palestinian American students to the Balkans to engage in analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Learn more here.
Mobilize $500 Million To Benefit 50 Million People. To leverage Opportunity International's 35-year microfinance experience to mobilize $500Mby 2010 for financial services for 50 million poor, providing a better future for themselves and their communities. Learn more here.
Laboratory Services Strengthening. Working with the Ugandan government, FIND will create a model for reliable diagnosis of poverty-related diseases by identifying deficiencies in current services and addressing them through social franchising. Learn more here.
Watch all the Web Casts here.
May 23, 2006
Steven D'Souza, , Diversity and OD Manager, Leadership & Talent Management, EMEA
Monday 22nd May, 12.30pm, Merrill Lynch Financial Centre, St Paul's London. Nick Williams one of the worlds experts on inspiration at work addressed an audience on the topic of 'how to stay inspired at work'.
Quoting from Adele Collins from the Times 100 Best Companies to Work for Nick pointed out that Inspiration was seen as key to success "Inspiration rather than Perspiration is the key to a Successful Company with a Motivated Workforce". He also cited Branson who talked about the quality in relation to being an entrepreneur "What is the most important quality of an entrepreneur? To be able to inspire people" Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group.
Nick shared 5 key tips on inspiration:
1. Know your own sources of inspiration
2. Remember to go to them often
3 Regularly discover new wells
4. Inspire yourself
5. BE inspirational
Nick also spoke about personal stories how often we do not nurture our own inspiration but expect others to, our manager, colleagues etc- and what is possible if we take responsibility for our own inspiration. As an entrepreneur I found a useful distinction he shared about asking about the opinions of others on creative projects. He quoted the Sufi mystic Rumi who said ' When consulting someone on leaving for an adventure, don't ask someone who has never left the shore'! Too often it is easy to allow the opinions of others to strengthen our own resistance to following our own dreams. Sharing stories and learning from those who have followed their dreams in invaluable. Success often lies on the other side of resistance!
For more information on being inspired visit Nick's site where there is a free 5 part course on overcoming resistance. You can also contact Steven's site.
May 17, 2006
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
SustainAbility is looking for an Associate Director who will be a "Core Team member supporting senior management in development and delivery of the company’s research and advocacy (R&A) strategy. The AD will play a key role in shaping R&A strategy, assisting in R&A program development and implementation, undertaking fundraising and sponsorship outreach and developing metrics to assess R&A impact. The AD will also play a central role in delivery of the three-year Skoll Foundation-SustainAbility Social Entrepreneurship Program."
SustainAbility is a strategy consultancy and independent think tank specialising in the business risks and market opportunities of corporate responsibility and sustainable development.
The deadline for applications is 31 May 2006.
Full Job description and Pdf here.
April 28, 2006
The Social Responsibility Club at the Instituto de Empresa (IE) transitioned to a Net Impact Chapter on 26 April. Net Impact’s mission is to improve the world by growing and strengthening a network of new leaders who are using the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact. With over 120 chapters across the world, a central office in San Francisco, and partnerships with leading for and nonprofit organizations, Net Impact enables members to use business for social good in their graduate education, careers, and communities.
For more information click here.
April 12, 2006
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
There are job postings on the Center for Global Development. We include three, but you can regularly visit their site.
Publications Associate
The Center seeks a publications manager who is knowledgeable about global development policy debates, has excellent writing and editing skills, and exhibits keen attention to detail.
Program Coordinator - HIV/AIDS Monitor
Through focused research and analysis at the global level and in four Sub-Saharan African countries, the HIV/AIDS Monitor will examine the operations, procedures, and performance of these three initiatives in order to gain an understanding of which approaches are most successful in which contexts.
IDRC Visiting Fellow
The Center is seeking applications from leading scholars in developing countries to inaugurate its IDRC visiting fellow program.
Continue reading 'Job Openings: Center for Global Development'
April 06, 2006
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
The McKinsey Quarterly has just Published an article which analyzes these issues, arguing that executives ignore socio-political debates at their own peril.
A majority of the executives they have surveyed acknowledge the fact that socio-political issues if not well managed and anticipated, are potential threats to the creation of value and have admitted that they handle these issues poorly.
That deficiency, they argue, is “the result of short-term financial pressures, a lack of familiarity with the issues, and the sense that specialists in the public-affairs and legal departments handle this sort of thing.” It is of strategic interest to correct this flaw.
What's different today is “the intensifying pressure and the growing complexity of the forces, the speed with which they change, and the ability of activists to mobilize public opinion. Companies must now strive to anticipate and understand those expectations and to embed them in their business strategy.”
The challenge is to “find a way for companies to incorporate an awareness of socio-political issues more systematically into their core strategic decision-making processes.” And this must be seen not just as risks, but as an opportunity to differentiate your business.
To view the full article click here.
To view What Business Executives think in regards to Corporate Responsibility click here.
Continue reading 'When Social Issues Become Strategic'
April 03, 2006
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
The Economist has recently issued a survey of wealth and philanthropy which builds up on the idea of how this is increasingly being a concern to business men and how all sectors are getting involved, including business schools and in a very relevant way. From amateurism, the industry is moving towards business mindset and tools ranging from “social investing, social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy to strategic market-conscious and knowledge -based content” in order to leverage the donors’ money. Here are synthesized some of the main ideas of the report. For a full view you must be a subscribed member of The Economist (Issued on February 25th, 2006) and can download it here...
...Is the sector at a tipping point? Well, in America the number of charitable foundations has risen from 22,000 in the 80’s to more than 65,000 today, this according to The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Moreover, charitable giving in the US rose by 5% in 2005 to a record high of $249 billion, which is more than 2% of their GDP. In Germany it has risen from 4,000 in 1997 to 13,000 now.
The business of giving certainly posts a great opportunity and responsibility for business schools, who can contribute and create value in a significant way.
Continue reading 'The Business of Giving'
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
At least that is according to The Bridgespan Group’s recent study of the leadership requirements of nonprofits with revenues greater than $250,000 (excluding hospitals and institutions of higher education).
Tom Tierney, Chair and Co-founder of the Bridgespan Group, noted that “the amount of social impact a Nonprofit organization delivers is primarily dependent upon the capability and performance of the people in that organization … results are a ‘who thing’ … no principle is more fundamental.”
Their study (which includes an executive summary, a white paper, a financial model and a space for commentaries from other social players) states that if the sector where to experience a significant consolidation, this number might fall as low as 330,000. on the other hand, following other trends, on their study they calculate that the total could increase to more than one million.
Continue reading 'More than 640,000 Senior Managers needed in the Nonprofit sector by 2016'
Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management
The social sector is approaching a tipping point. Business Schools’ involvement in social issues range from corporate responsibility and social entrepreneurship, to social impact management, going through the bottom of the pyramid, socially responsible investing and other concepts which are being generated as we speak.
Being part of this change, Instituto de Empresa has undertaken a commitment to society, having worked for the past three decades in areas like ethics, social responsibility, sustainable development, protection of the environment, diversity management and others.
The Corporate Responsibility Community will serve as a platform to discuss these issues, the different perspectives and approaches which leading faculty, students, alumni and practitioners are taking, be it from a strategic or a pure philanthropic point of view. We look forward on building up on this conversation and bringing value to every participant of the community.
Let’s start the conversation!
