Right, so Dialogue in the Dark is a social enterprise…
What’s a social enterprise?
It is business with a social mission that endeavours to improve an aspect of humanity. A social enterprise aspires to become self-sustaining by generating income and profits, where the profits are reinvested into the enterprise to further fulfill its social mission.
(Definition from Hong Kong Social Entrepreneurship Forum)
The term ‘social enterprise’ was coined by Bill Drayton, a management consultant who founded and who is now the CEO of Ashoka, a global association of social entrepreneurs. (Listen to Bill with Harvard Business IdeaCast in DiD on-air!)
Why social enterprise?
Each society has its problems. Conventionally, the problems are left for the public sector or non-profit organisations to tackle. While such organisations have made commendable efforts, their capabilities are usually crippled by a number of limitations, most notably the lack of funding and capital. An enterprise, however, is capable of making its own money to fund its social projects. So contrary to popular belief, business too is a means to address the very social problems for which business is often blamed.
And why devote a career to address social issues?
Well, to quote Steve Jobs of Apple Inc.:
‘The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.’