Organizational Development

Lynne Patterson - Empowering Women in Latin America

One of the best methods proven to alleviate poverty is microlending to women, who have a great track record for using loans wisely to create small business enterprises that sustain their entire families. Host of the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford, Lynne Patterson talks about the creation of Pro Mujer, an international microfinance and women's development network in Latin America. She details the mission, objectives, methods, and progress, illuminating the organization's empowering impact on the lives of its many clients.

Philanthropy & Funding

Margaret Neale - Myths and Truths About Negotiation

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Everything you've ever assumed about the correct way to negotiate is, well, probably wrong. So says negotiation expert Margaret Neale at Stanford during the 2007 Nonprofit Management Institute. In this audio lecture, she explores many of the beliefs that surround negotiation "best practices" in an attempt to distinguish the reality from wishful (or wrong-headed) thinking. This talk will add to your understanding about negotiation, and give you tools to respond effectively in your next negotiation challenge.

Education

Brij Kothari - Literacy Through Entertainment

What do you get when you combine a love of Bollywood music videos with widespread illiteracy? Brij Kothari sees an opportunity to make the world a better place. By subtitling popular entertainment, he helps millions learn to read in a fun way. He's also creating multiplatform stories that will be seen on TV, read on mobile phones, and printed in books. Talking to Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman in this audio interview, Kothari describes how he improves lives by incorporating education into everyday entertainment.

Nonprofits & NGOs

Jennifer Aaker - Creating Strong Nonprofit Brands

For profit-making companies, branding is generally second nature. But how can nonprofits use branding effectively? In ths audio lecture recorded at the 2007 Nonprofit Management Institute, Business Professor Jennifer Aaker shares her experiences studying and writing about nonprofits to identify how they may use branding to differentiate themselves, leverage limited funds, establish a reputation, inspire customer commitment, and more.

Energy

Mathias Craig - Bringing Electricity to the Marginalized

In parts of Nicaragua, nearly 80 percent of the population goes without electricity, leaving them cut off from critical opportunities for betterment and development. In this audio interview, Kriss Deiglmeier, the Center for Social Innovation executive director, converses with Mathias Craig who created blueEnergy to bring electricity to marginalized communities in this region of the world.

Organizational Development

Chip Heath - Missions That Really Inspire

Your organization has an important mission. But could a potential funder or volunteer tell that by looking at your website or your annual report? And could one of your employees make the right decision in a tough situation by reading it? In this audio lecture recorded at the 2007 Nonprofit Management Institute at Stanford, Chip Heath discusses how you can craft a mission statement that inspires people and helps them make important decisions, thereby offering powerful tools to lead your organization.

Education

Kyle Zimmer - Fearlessly Helping the World to Read

First Book is a not-for-profit organization that provides books to low-income students. In this audio interview, founder Kyle Zimmer discusses with Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman the evolution of her startup from a mere idea in 1992 to an organization with hundreds of employees and millions of books. She also outlines how she's applied best business practices to create a scalable entrepreneurial model.

Technology

Michael Sandel, William Haseltine - Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering

Scientific advances have opened previously unimaginable possibilities in the realm of human reproduction. Determining the sex of an early-stage embryo, or shifting the pre-conception arrangement of chromosomes in favor of certain outcomes, further opens the door to sex selection. By various means, it is becoming feasible to genetically engineer a child with specific qualities. In this audio lecture, Michael J. Sandel and William Haseltine debate the moral and ethical implications of such actions.

Nonprofits & NGOs

Susan Colby - Nonprofit Management Approaches at Bridgespan

In nonprofit management, implementing organizational changes can be a huge challenge. In this audio lecture, Susan Colby shares the Bridgespan approach to nonprofit strategy by taking the example of one of her clients, the Harlem Children's Zone. Speaking at the 2006 Nonprofit Management Institute at Stanford, she walks her audience of high-level nonprofit executives through a rather challenging process to tactfully institute radical organizational changes.

Nonprofits

Robert Sutton - Building a Civilized Workplace

How do you spot an asshole in the workplace—or figure out whether you might be one? Robert Sutton, author of the best-selling book, The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't, provides a sure-fire test and offers tips for keeping your "inner jerk" from rearing its ugly head on the job. Drawing on serious research and analysis, Sutton shows his Stanford 2007 Nonprofit Management Institute audience how managers can eliminate mean-spirited and unproductive behavior.

Education

Sakena Yacoobi - Creating Hope for Afghan Women

During turbulence and social upheaval most people retreat into themselves and focus on only one task—survival. Fortunately for the women and children of Afghanistan, Sakena Yacoobi did more. With only $20,000, Yacoobi formed what is now the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). Until the fall of the Taliban in 2001, AIL operated underground. AIL now serves 350,000 women and children each year. Yacoobi explains her vision for AIL to Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman as well as her incredible journey and experiences along the way.

Global Issues

Majora Carter - Sustainability and Environmental Justice

In this audio lecture, Majora Carter talks about sustainability and environmental justice. Tracing the development of the South Bronx Greenway, Carter discusses community involvement within a neglected area that generates jobs, strengthens people's community spirit, and creates sustainable industries to meet the future ecological vision for New York City.

Health

Joshua Silver - Bringing Vision to the Masses

In the United States, at least 60% of the population wears corrective lenses. Worldwide, in contrast, only 5% of the population does. Such statistics have led Josh Silver, Oxford atomic physicist, to conclude that more than half the world needs vision correction but doesn't have access to it. In this audio lecture, host of the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford, Silver shares how he decided to "do something useful for the world" by creating specialized, liquid-filled corrective lenses that are now worn by some 26,000 people in developing countries.

Economic Development

Yasmina Zaidman - Using Market-Based Philanthropy

How can philanthropy and markets be used to promote international development? In this audio lecture, Yasmina Zaidman describes how the Acumen model supports microenterprises that are helping to alleviate poverty. She also shares the opportunities and challenges the organization faces.

Civic Engagement

Pamela Hartigan - The Power of Unreasonable People

Why are social entrepreneurs sometimes considered "unreasonable," and how are they different from business entrepreneurs? In this audio interview, author Pamela Hartigan discusses with Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman how these pesky pioneers are creating markets that are changing the world. She also talks about Volans Ventures, her new enterprise dedicated to integrating the worlds of social and environmental innovation with business-driven wealth creation.