The role of business in addressing social problems is the theme of an upcoming panel discussion called "Strategic Planning for Sustainable Social Ventures " at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 in Stevenson 2050 at Sonoma State University.
The major topics of the panel discussion are the differences between strategic planning processes and expected outcomes for social ventures as opposed to for-profit ventures. Business professor Armand Gilinsky will moderate the program.
Panelists for this discussion include Heidi and Gary Kuhn, founders of Roots of Peace, Lynda LeMole, President of United Plant Savers (formerly Traditional Medicinals), Richard McCline, Director of the Ohrrenschall Center for Entrepreneurship at San Francisco State Unviersity, and Will Rosenszweig, co-founder of the Republic of Tea and founder of Brand New Brands.
The discussion is part of business professor Robert Girling's course on social entrepreneurship and microfinance in which students study the "triple bottom line" of business: the societal, environmental, and financial effects a business will have on its community.
Through specific examples and the experiences of active practitioners in the field, students learn how entrepreneurial solutions can be fashioned and applied to job creation, workforce development and small business facilitation.
In addition to case studies and course work, students also apply their knowledge outside the classroom - interviewing businesses, writing business plans, and composing short articles for business publications.
By conclusion of the course, students know the elements of a business plan for a social enterprise as well as how entrepreneurial solutions can be fashioned and applied to job creation and community economicdevelopment.
For more information on the panel discussion,contact Robert Girling at (707) 664-2228 or by e-mail at robert.girling@sonoma.edu.
