Elizabeth Scharpf, Chief Instigating Officer at Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE)
Katie Orenstein, Founder and Director at The Op-Ed Project
Amini Kajunju, CEO/COO at the and Executive Committee member at Angel Africa

They are the big-wigs at their respective organizations and have each made great strides in addressing social issues, but these three women were also honest, funny, and down-to-earth about life as a woman social entrepreneur. Elizabeth Scharpf spoke about her “tipping point” that guided her down a different path. She had been working at an INGO in Mozambique, and had spoken with some young children about what they wanted to be when the grew up. One child answered: “I want to work for a big international development organization, because I want to be rich.” Hmmm. That wasn’t exactly the motivation for involvement in the social sector that she (or really anyone else for that matter) wanted to hear. What resulted was Elizabeth’s pursuit of an alternative path that led her to start SHE.

Amini took an existing nonprofit organization (now in its 4th decade) and turned it around. When she arrived the organization had $30,000 in the bank and she had to fundraise her own salary. Now the organization has a $600,000 annual operating budget and is licensing its 16-week mini-MBA to organizations across the country. All three women pointed out what a large role volunteers played in not only keeping these organizations afloat, but more importantly in moving them forward. At Amini’s organization, WIBO, 35% of their volunteers have been with the organization for 10 years or more. She should definitely be writing a book on volunteer retention!!

Katie was the reluctant social entrepreneur. A professional journalist, Katie had no interest in running a nonprofit or social venture, but statistics about the representation of women writers on Op-Ed pages sent her down a different path. Currently about 15% of Op-Ed pieces are written by women–and apparently this statistic is “bizarrely consistent” throughout television, congress, and NYT Best Sellers. BUT…apparently while about 85% of Op-Ed pieces are by male writers, apparently about 90% of submissions are by men as well. Hmmm. It’s not that pieces by women aren’t being selected, it’s that they aren’t being submitted.

Katie’s mission, however, is not specifically about Op-Ed pages. It’s about “thought leadership” and making sure that women’s perspectives are being heard across the board. The Op-Ed Project was born since its a tangible concept with measurable outcomes (Please take notes budding social entrepreneurs.) She made a very deliberate choice regarding her branding, message, and mission.

I’d recommend setting aside a time to listen to these women speak, or take advantage of the programs they offer.

Say “Hi” to Amini this Friday and Saturday at the Angel Africa Enterprise Conference (Currently a buy 1 get 1 free on tickets!!)

Catch Elizabeth next week at The Feast.

or,  Sign Up for one of The Op-Ed Project’s Upcoming Seminars.