As a freshman at Harvard University in 1992, Eric Dawson began working on a social project called Peace Games, a one-day festival that teaches school-age children about peace and cooperation. However, Dawson had bigger ideas for the show. Working first at Harvard and then through the independent nonprofit he founded, Dawson Peace Games transformed from …
This three-part case study examines the evolution of Adlens, a commercial company, and Vision for a Nation as a social enterprise developed in parallel. The entrepreneur’s strategy is to profitably sell Adlens innovative optical products in middle- to high-income economies, while Vision for a Nation is dedicated to improving eyesight in developing countries, starting with …
Pratham is a non-governmental organization focused on high-quality, affordable and reproducible interventions to fill the gaps in the Indian education system. Co-founder Madhav Chavan is interested in using technology for education, but differs in how it is used in schools in India. He believes that technology allows flexibility and non-linearity in the exploration of knowledge, …
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Rodolfo Guttilla, Director of Corporate Affairs of Natura Cosméticos S.A. (Natura), was preparing to meet with key stakeholders to discuss the future of integrated reporting in Natura. As a cosmetics company with a strong brand, solid growth in national and international markets, and world-class prices and margins, Natura has consistently been ranked as one of …
AquaSafi Cleaning Systems Pvt. Limited. (AquaSafi) was a social enterprise with the aim of providing drinking water to people in developing countries. The organization assembled and sold its water treatment technology at a cost to villages and non-governmental organizations in rural India. Before deciding to change AquaSafi’s current operating model, the managing director considered that …
Algramo is a company that aims to improve the lives of people living below the poverty line. By using a revolutionary technology tailored to customers at the “bottom of the pyramid”, the products of the Algramo families can save an average of 40%, while the return on investment of the company is around the twenty%.
This case centers on SC Johnson CEO H. Fisk Johnson and his decision on how to move forward with Greenlist’Ñ ¢ after resolving two legal disputes. SC Johnson developed the Greenlist ingredient improvement process to reduce the negative environmental impact of its products by replacing less harmful ingredients where possible. Significant environmental improvements have been …
In 2018, majority ownership of Wilderness Safaris, Africa’s leading high-end ecotourism company with safari operations in eight countries, The Rise Fund, one of the world’s largest private impact investment funds, and FS Investors, a private holding company. This is a follow-up to Wilderness Safaris: Ecotourism Entrepreneurship (HBS # 9318040), which focuses on the origins, growth …
Barbara Levesque was preparing for her monthly board meeting on January 18, 2016. Five years ago, the John Howard Society of North Okanagan (JHSNOK) made a strategic decision to pursue social entrepreneurship. Its main objective was to better support the growth and development of its clients. A second driver was the search for additional opportunities …