Author @AlmuCorazon
Sustainable entrepreneurship is a concept getting lots of attention lately. Wikipedia describes it as the use of business organizing to solve problems related to social and environmental sustainability. It is a “business with a cause” - where World problems are turned into business opportunities by deployment of sustainability innovations. It is similar to social entrepreneurship. Yet, the truth of the matter is that not everyone out there leads sustainable projects and programs with integrity. It's easier to say it in order to publicly look good, than to actually follow through. That's a reality check I got working in crisis communication. Powerful people, brands and nations looking their best, while their empires at times are internally crumbling down. Knowing you could make a difference, would you let the opportunity pass you by? I don't think so.
That's exactly what happened to me at the end of last year when a fellow coach introduced me via email to Manav Subodh, cofounder of 1M1B, now former Intel Global Manager Corporate Affairs. Manav Subodh who works with entrepreneurs globally and used to oversee the mentoring and incubation at Intel’s ‘Make It Wearable’ initiative, was planning on launching the initiative “A Million for a Billion“ 1M1B when he first hired me. 1M1B is a global initiative to empower a million urban youth and women to create jobs, innovations, solve community challenges, and enterprises that will impact a billion people (www.activate1m1b.org). 1M1B has estimated that activating one million people will impact one billion individuals through entrepreneurship, youth employment and women’s empowerment and addressing social issues, economic, health, water and environmental concerns through prosperous enterprises. Impressive, right? The concept is dear to me. As many of you already know, I am working towards fulfilling my dream of assisting woman in underdeveloped areas in Peru to improve their financial and environmental situation. So, they can achieve economic independence by creating international online sustainable business opportunities. When Manav shared with me his plan of leaving Intel to follow his dream of being a full time entrepreneur, I was eager to work with him transitioning to making a difference. How could I miss the opportunity! By the way, did you hear about Manav Subodh? Aha, you should follow him. Yes, click here, and here! Manav Subohd is a visionary, a leader, an entrepreneur with a powerful soul, a rainmaker.
I remember when Manav Subodh shared with me back then the vision of helping create 1 million micro-businesses in underserved and rural areas with proper entrepreneurship education and mentoring, with the goal of generating jobs for 1 billion people. Few months later, having completed 1M1B's first 9-month program, their social enterprise plan is a complete success. It has taken a significant step towards its mission of creating jobs in underserved areas. The program saw participation from over 3,000 urban youth and women (with 75% of them being women). Teams that showed proof of concept with clear impact in underserved areas in terms of job creation were even invited to go to the United Nations.
Needless to say, I support Manav and the 1M1B international team to continue expanding their positive and fruitful initiative here from NYC. Even without having met Manav in person yet—a commonality among my international clients—after the intensive work done with him via Skype, Google Hangouts, whatsapp and email, I feel I already know him. But I have to admit that I am excited to meet him in person at the United Nations Headquarters in few hours. On October 16th, at 1:15pm ET 1M1B’s the top 5 teams of entrepreneurs present their respective missions at the United Nations Headquarters. The UN event is been conducted in partnership with World We Want and is sponsored by Global Leadership Coalition (GLC), UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and UN Habitat.
1M1B is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the UN and is constantly making progress internationally. Two days ago, for example, 1M1B entrepreneurs presented to the Washington DC based investor group DC Arch Angels as shown in the picture. The teams received valuable feedback on how to scale, replicate and sustain their initiatives, and the investors gained valuable insights into challenges of people in underserved areas in the Caribbean and India.
Here is a description of the top teams presenting at the United Nations:
Caribbean Islands
Join us celebrating and leading global change. Stop by the UN and get to know 1M1B!! We love your support and your online feedback, share and like this blog for a good cause. For more details on the Summit please visit www.activate1m1b.org.
That's exactly what happened to me at the end of last year when a fellow coach introduced me via email to Manav Subodh, cofounder of 1M1B, now former Intel Global Manager Corporate Affairs. Manav Subodh who works with entrepreneurs globally and used to oversee the mentoring and incubation at Intel’s ‘Make It Wearable’ initiative, was planning on launching the initiative “A Million for a Billion“ 1M1B when he first hired me. 1M1B is a global initiative to empower a million urban youth and women to create jobs, innovations, solve community challenges, and enterprises that will impact a billion people (www.activate1m1b.org). 1M1B has estimated that activating one million people will impact one billion individuals through entrepreneurship, youth employment and women’s empowerment and addressing social issues, economic, health, water and environmental concerns through prosperous enterprises. Impressive, right? The concept is dear to me. As many of you already know, I am working towards fulfilling my dream of assisting woman in underdeveloped areas in Peru to improve their financial and environmental situation. So, they can achieve economic independence by creating international online sustainable business opportunities. When Manav shared with me his plan of leaving Intel to follow his dream of being a full time entrepreneur, I was eager to work with him transitioning to making a difference. How could I miss the opportunity! By the way, did you hear about Manav Subodh? Aha, you should follow him. Yes, click here, and here! Manav Subohd is a visionary, a leader, an entrepreneur with a powerful soul, a rainmaker.
I remember when Manav Subodh shared with me back then the vision of helping create 1 million micro-businesses in underserved and rural areas with proper entrepreneurship education and mentoring, with the goal of generating jobs for 1 billion people. Few months later, having completed 1M1B's first 9-month program, their social enterprise plan is a complete success. It has taken a significant step towards its mission of creating jobs in underserved areas. The program saw participation from over 3,000 urban youth and women (with 75% of them being women). Teams that showed proof of concept with clear impact in underserved areas in terms of job creation were even invited to go to the United Nations.
Needless to say, I support Manav and the 1M1B international team to continue expanding their positive and fruitful initiative here from NYC. Even without having met Manav in person yet—a commonality among my international clients—after the intensive work done with him via Skype, Google Hangouts, whatsapp and email, I feel I already know him. But I have to admit that I am excited to meet him in person at the United Nations Headquarters in few hours. On October 16th, at 1:15pm ET 1M1B’s the top 5 teams of entrepreneurs present their respective missions at the United Nations Headquarters. The UN event is been conducted in partnership with World We Want and is sponsored by Global Leadership Coalition (GLC), UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and UN Habitat.
1M1B is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the UN and is constantly making progress internationally. Two days ago, for example, 1M1B entrepreneurs presented to the Washington DC based investor group DC Arch Angels as shown in the picture. The teams received valuable feedback on how to scale, replicate and sustain their initiatives, and the investors gained valuable insights into challenges of people in underserved areas in the Caribbean and India.
Here is a description of the top teams presenting at the United Nations:
Caribbean Islands
- Josanne Arnold: Creating a healthy food marketplace. Josanne aims to make Tobago a healthy food marketplace for the world and, to connect local and tourist consumers to nutritious fresh produce at all food service outlets throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Her start up business venture, G.O.T Greens (Greenhouse Organic Technology Greens) is aimed and growing and distributing local and organic gourmet fresh produce items and value added Caribbean agro products.
- Janice McLeod: Enabling agro-businesses. Presenting AgroCentral, a cloud based platform which allows Agri-businesses to effectively manage their suppliers using Web, Email and Mobile(SMS) services.
- Shreya Gupta and Harsh Agarwal: SANJEEVANI. This project is a market linkage model to make the products made by low-income group manufacturers marketable as per market requirements and market the product in un-reached potential markets, thus linking the supply side and the demand side.
- Malvika Verma, Akshita Singla and Apoorva Sharma: Team BASTA. The project focuses on upcycling and refashioning of waste flex banners and cloth into eco-friendly, highly durable, waterproof and chic bags for sale in urban areas, with a special focus on creating a market in colleges and universities. The team has piloted this model on 5 women entrepreneurs and has made them employable.
- Caseena Karim: Giving voice to the youth. This 18 year old entrepreneur from New York City is developing an interactive T-shirts line that allows people to express their opinions and take stands on issues such as police brutality, bullying, and gender identity. Caseena is determined to give her generation a voice and opportunity to create a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous future.
Join us celebrating and leading global change. Stop by the UN and get to know 1M1B!! We love your support and your online feedback, share and like this blog for a good cause. For more details on the Summit please visit www.activate1m1b.org.
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