The younger generation of entrepreneurs in the 21st centuries
have their own ideas about business.
They aspire for excellence and success,
but also value the need for ethical business models that bring value,
goodness and interconnectedness with others.
Here are some examples of projects that will inspire you.
Me to We
Craig and Marc Kielburger
‘Me to We’ was started in Toronto, Canada, by Craig and Marc Kielburger, who believe that we can all make a difference in the world. The vision of ‘Me to We’ is to empower people to transform local and global communities by shifting from ‘me’ thinking to ‘we’ acting.
It is an innovative business that aims to make an impact by working together to create sustainable change with everything we do, from choosing travel that leaves a positive footprint on the planet, to making purchases that give back. The philosophy behind ‘Me to We’ is that we are all connected and together WE change the world.
‘Me to We’ combines best business practices with increasing social awareness and leadership programs for youth. Their commitment to help improve cultural, community, economic and environmental outcomes is at the centre of their business. Every product sold makes a direct, measurable impact in a community, so they can build a better future.
‘Me to We’ has been received many prestigious awards for its model of social entrepreneurship, from the Skoll Foundation to the Mars Institute, and the national Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The Importance of Trust
Emmanuel Sumithran Gnanamanickan
Emmanuel is the project manager of the Niligris-Wynaad Tribal Welfare Society, a small NGO based on the borders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in Southern India providing basic health care, education, and support to four different tribal groups in the region.
He says, “Life cannot move on without trust. … It is the bottom line of life. Life is not all about earning money, life is not all about being rich, and life is not all about being better than the other. Life is much more than that. What stays in life and what one needs in life is love, and if you can give that, you automatically get it back unconditionally.
“Until every person on the planet feels concern, appreciation, and accountability to every other person on the planet,” Emmanuel asks, “have we really earned the name Global Village?
The Wake Up Project
Jono Fisher
Jono Fisher started the Wake Up Project in Sydney, Australia, after he took a break from a stressful marketing role in a corporate office. He has never looked back. He meditates and looks after his health, and has built a business based on wisdom, kindness and compassion, sending kindness cards to people all over the world. The Wake Up Project is now a celebrated movement and Jono is a successful speaker, thought leader and entrepreneur with an ability to inspire audiences with his honesty, warmth and humour. He was recently the introductory speaker at the Dalai Lama’s Sydney talk for 10,000 people and has won multiple awards.
He says, “I continue to love simple ideas.”
Ubuntu…
“Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language… It is to say, ‘My humanity is caught up, is
inextricably bound up, in what is yours.”
-Desmond Tutu
Ubuntu is a philosophy originating in Southern Africa that reminds us how we’re all connected. Our being, our life, depend on each other. The world is waking up to this inherent wisdom of life’s interconnectedness. How can we effectively incorporate this knowing into our lives and our business practices? How can this understanding positively inform our daily choices?
