Week 1 - INSPIRATIONS ♡♡

For my very first post, I thought I would like to share stories of two lady social entrepreneurs that have been inspirations for me to want to be a social entrepreneur myself. 

The very first lady I would like to talk about is fashion social entrepreneur, Ayesha Mustafa.

Image from dawn.com

Inspired by this young and successful founder of Fashion ComPassion, she is one of the reasons I had faith in myself as I took on the challenge of trying to set up a social enterprise in the fashion industry for my Year 3 Industry Project. Although I did not quite execute all that I had planned for my social enterprise, I gained such extensive knowledge through my journey. The timeframe for my Industry Project has ended, however my journey has only begun. Ayesha herself did not manage to start her social enterprise the very moment the idea hit her. After she completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Politics and masters degree in Media and Communications, it took her years of gaining experience, valuable contacts and even a two-month stint interning under Grameen Bank - the world's very first microfinance bank before Fashion ComPassion was finally launched in November 2010. (Mustafa, 2012).

Image from inspirebystory.com

Fashion ComPassion serves as a platform for high-end ethical brands that empower women from developing countries through hiring them as brand artisans. Fashion ComPassion is quite possibly the very first social enterprise that "[highlights] peace through high fashion amidst political controversy and [utilises] the uncommon juxtaposition of high-fashion and social responsiblity". (Morgan Jr, 2011, para. 6)

"I want to combine the traditional skills with modern sensibility making it palatable for the globally savvy fashionista, and in return giving some of our most treasured heritage to a global audience." - Ayesha Mustafa

The second lady who has inspired me greatly is well-known American businesswoman-turned-social entrepreneur, Jessica Jackley.

Image from practicalecommerce.com

With just her laptop and huge dream, Jessica Jackley together with her husband set up Kiva - the world's first peer-to-peer microfinance lending website in 2006. She was a very capable businesswoman on her own but combined with her amazing and equally-ambitious husband, they had with them a talented team of people that believed in Jessica's leadership and abilities as they worked on Kiva. However the quality that Jessica possesses which has me so captured is her ability to use her passion and emotions, bringing me to tears with the ending of her TED Talks speech as she expressed her belief that there is a potential for each and every one of us to do good in this world, to help make this world a better place for each and every one of us. (Jackley, 2011).

Image from www.kivafriends.org

www.kiva.org allows anyone with Internet access to loan a minimum amount of USD25 in the form of small capital contributions to someone from a developing country who wishes to start up or grow their small businesses. Although Kiva has become a major success as a social enterprise in this global world, Jessica remains focused on the very basic idea which she uses as the mission statement for Kiva; “to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty,” -  Kiva is a platform that helps in bringing people closer to each other, people from across the globe, and shows that relationships are a key driving force for positive change on this planet. (Purdue University, 2012, para.1-2). Jessica's latest venture which she set up in 2009, ProFounder, is a new platform that allows for small businesses in the United States to gain admittance to startup funds through investment from a community of willing lenders.

"ProFounder exists to champion all entrepreneurs, and we have a special place in our hearts for those who don't care to pitch their companies to the same 'usual suspects' investors -- and this is a great thing for the world" - Jessica Jackley

References

Jackley, J. (2011, April 21). The pregnant entrepreneur and the vc who wouldn't fund her. In Forbes.com.
Retrieved on 27th October 2012, from http://www.forbes.com/2011/04/21/pregnant-entrepreneur-ceo-and-the-venture-capitalist_2.html

Morgan Jr, J.P. (2011, April 23). Fashion compassion. Inspire by story. Retrieved on 27th October 2012, from http://inspirebystory.com/fashion-compassion/

Mustafa, A. (2012, September 25). Just a fad?. In dawn.com. Retrieved on 27th October 2012, from http://dawn.com/2012/09/25/just-a-fad/


Purdue University. (2012). Jessica Jackley. Analytical insight, global leaders. Retrieved on 27th October 2012, from http://www.krannert.purdue.edu/events/ethics/speakers/jjackley.asp