What does social innovation mean to you?
Albert Einstein once said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” I believe this quote captures the essence of social innovation. Mainstream narratives portray social innovation as a specific form of product creation. However, there is something deeper at work that distinguishes exceptional social innovators. Successful and inspiring social innovations revolutionize patterns of production by fundamentally altering the way we think about social problems. I was particularly inspired by the work of Veronika Scott in addressing the struggles of the homeless population. Through critical conversations, Veronika began to understand that traditional thinking about homelessness would only yield “band-aid solutions.” By forging relationships with stakeholders to identify their hopes and needs, she realized that the solution to the problem was more nuanced than supplying resources. This social issue could only truly be resolved through economic empowerment. As a result, Veronika shifted her business model to include members of the homeless population as valued workers thereby mobilizing their re-entry into society. While social innovators can draw from existing frameworks for inspiration, they also need a fresh lens to examine the world. So what does social innovation mean to me? First and foremost, social innovation is about people. It brings together diverse minds with a shared goal: challenge our preconceived notions about how society works and produce creative solutions based on actual human needs.
Albert Einstein once said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” I believe this quote captures the essence of social innovation. Mainstream narratives portray social innovation as a specific form of product creation. However, there is something deeper at work that distinguishes exceptional social innovators. Successful and inspiring social innovations revolutionize patterns of production by fundamentally altering the way we think about social problems. I was particularly inspired by the work of Veronika Scott in addressing the struggles of the homeless population. Through critical conversations, Veronika began to understand that traditional thinking about homelessness would only yield “band-aid solutions.” By forging relationships with stakeholders to identify their hopes and needs, she realized that the solution to the problem was more nuanced than supplying resources. This social issue could only truly be resolved through economic empowerment. As a result, Veronika shifted her business model to include members of the homeless population as valued workers thereby mobilizing their re-entry into society. While social innovators can draw from existing frameworks for inspiration, they also need a fresh lens to examine the world. So what does social innovation mean to me? First and foremost, social innovation is about people. It brings together diverse minds with a shared goal: challenge our preconceived notions about how society works and produce creative solutions based on actual human needs.