2009 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship

March 25-27, 2009
Saïd Business School, Oxford University, England

Each year nearly 800 delegates from more than 60 countries convene for this premier gathering of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. Prominent figures from the social, academic, finance, corporate and policy sectors engage for three days and nights in a series of debates, discussions and work sessions focused on accelerating, innovating and scaling solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social issues.

Social entrepreneurs tend to operate where markets and governments – structures for allocating economic and political power – have failed. Yet social entrepreneurs, themselves, usually start with extremely limited power: They have few financial resources, no hierarchical power of position, and limited political power. Instead, they tap two levers of power – innovation and persuasion – to reach their goals.

The 2009 Skoll World Forum focused on the theme of “Shifting Power Dynamics” and was attended by record numbers. Some 800 social entrepreneurs, academics, financiers, politicians, policy makers and others from over 60 countries around the world assembled in Oxford to look at new ways to tackle the complex challenges that face humanity: poverty, climate change, disease and more.

Social entrepreneurs tend to operate where markets and governments – structures for allocating economic and political power – have failed. Yet social entrepreneurs, themselves, usually start with extremely limited power: They have few financial resources, no hierarchical power of position, and limited political power. Instead, they tap two levers of power – innovation and persuasion – to reach their goals.

With this in mind, the 2009 Skoll World Forum facilitated discussion, debate and critical questioning around the theme of Social Entrepreneurship: Shifting Power Dynamics – exploring how social entrepreneurs access, navigate and influence power dynamics in their approach to change.

In addition to plenary and theme-related sessions, ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Innovators in Action’ sessions addressed topics of perennial interest and showcased leading social entrepreneurs and their innovative approaches to achieving systemic change. ‘Skills Workshops’ were a new element to this year’s programme, and were designed to address practical challenges faced by social entrepreneurs. Watch video from the 2009 Skoll World Forum below:

For information about the 2009 Skoll World Forum, click here.

The Forum is a joint venture between The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and The Skoll Foundation. Both organisations share a commitment to understanding, expanding and supporting the field of social entrepreneurship.

Click here to learn about the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.