How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Mr. Bornstein studied at McGill University, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He went on to pursue his studies at New York University in the United States and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in journalism in 1989. All the social entrepreneurs featured in David Bornstein’s book “How to Change the World” are people with inventive and constructive ideas that help to solve a specific problem in society. In the author’s words, “What business entrepreneurs are to the economy, social entrepreneurs are to social changes. They are the driven, creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities, refuse to give up– and remake the world for the better.”

Through his extensive research and analysis, Mr. Bornstein has come up with a list of six qualities of successful social entrepreneurs. They are: 1. Willingness to Self-Correct – In the author’s words, “It takes a combination of hard-headedness, humility, and courage to stop and say, ‘This isn’t working’ or ‘Our assumptions were wrong.’ However, the entrepreneur’s inclination to self-correct stems from the attachment to a goal rather than to a particular approach or plan.” 2. Willingness to Share Credit – Mr. Bornstein explains, “There is no limit to what you can achieve if you don’t care who gets the credit.” 3. Willingness to Break Free of Established Structure – as the story of Ersébet Szekeres exemplified.

4. Willingness to Cross Disciplinary Boundaries – He states: “One of the primary functions of the social entrepreneur is to serve as a kind of social alchemist: to create new social compounds; to gather people’s ideas, experiences, skills, and resources in configurations that society is not naturally aligned to produce.” 5. Willingness to Work Quietly -- The efforts of social entrepreneurs go largely unreported in the media. 6. Strong Ethical Impetus – Highly successful social entrepreneurs are not driven by a desire to become famous or rich, but a desire to restore justice in society. The book “How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas” provides readers with living proof that one person can truly make a difference in the world.