we often hear that business and sustainable development are and should
sustainable development are and should
sustainable development are and should be on the opposite sides after all
be on the opposite sides after all
be on the opposite sides after all business is all about making profits not
business is all about making profits not
business is all about making profits not about saving the world or preserving the
about saving the world or preserving the
about saving the world or preserving the environment at the same time
environment at the same time
environment at the same time environmentalists and community
environmentalists and community
environmentalists and community activists are telling us that
activists are telling us that
activists are telling us that catastrophes are just behind the door
catastrophes are just behind the door
catastrophes are just behind the door near future will bring pollution it will
near future will bring pollution it will
near future will bring pollution it will bring diseases in our communities and it
bring diseases in our communities and it
bring diseases in our communities and it will bring our healthy society so what
will bring our healthy society so what
will bring our healthy society so what are we to do
are we to do
are we to do I came to Winnipeg during the flood of
I came to Winnipeg during the flood of
I came to Winnipeg during the flood of the century to make business more
the century to make business more
the century to make business more involved in sustainable development I
involved in sustainable development I
involved in sustainable development I had no idea how to do it but the job
had no idea how to do it but the job
had no idea how to do it but the job paid well I at the time I did not
paid well I at the time I did not
paid well I at the time I did not believe that business should do anything
believe that business should do anything
believe that business should do anything about sustainable development and I was
about sustainable development and I was
about sustainable development and I was honest during my interview I said so
honest during my interview I said so
honest during my interview I said so that has in part gotten me the job my
that has in part gotten me the job my
that has in part gotten me the job my boss and lifelong mentor believed that
boss and lifelong mentor believed that
boss and lifelong mentor believed that honesty is more important than
honesty is more important than
honesty is more important than conviction she also believed that the
conviction she also believed that the
conviction she also believed that the argument for business involvement in
argument for business involvement in
argument for business involvement in sustainable development is so compelling
sustainable development is so compelling
sustainable development is so compelling that I will see why it is important if I
that I will see why it is important if I
that I will see why it is important if I keep an open mind today I am here to
keep an open mind today I am here to
keep an open mind today I am here to share my story with you and all I would
share my story with you and all I would
share my story with you and all I would like to do is ask you to keep an open
like to do is ask you to keep an open
like to do is ask you to keep an open mind so should we be looking at business
mind so should we be looking at business
mind so should we be looking at business this way should business be involved in
this way should business be involved in
this way should business be involved in sustainable development or not I would
sustainable development or not I would
sustainable development or not I would like to ask you to raise your hand if
like to ask you to raise your hand if
like to ask you to raise your hand if you believe that business should lead us
you believe that business should lead us
you believe that business should lead us into a better future wow this is a TED
into a better future wow this is a TED
into a better future wow this is a TED audience
in most cases not many people believe so
in most cases not many people believe so however there is a very strong argument
however there is a very strong argument
however there is a very strong argument for business involvement we simply
for business involvement we simply
for business involvement we simply cannot ignore it why let’s look at the
cannot ignore it why let’s look at the
cannot ignore it why let’s look at the numbers in Canada only we have somewhat
numbers in Canada only we have somewhat
numbers in Canada only we have somewhat more than 20 million people working out
more than 20 million people working out
more than 20 million people working out of those 20 million people 14 million
of those 20 million people 14 million
of those 20 million people 14 million people work in the private sector and 6
people work in the private sector and 6
people work in the private sector and 6 million people in non-for-profits NGOs
million people in non-for-profits NGOs
million people in non-for-profits NGOs public sector and volunteer positions
public sector and volunteer positions
public sector and volunteer positions combined out of 14 million people who
combined out of 14 million people who
combined out of 14 million people who are in a private sector somewhat more
are in a private sector somewhat more
are in a private sector somewhat more than 10 million are in small and
than 10 million are in small and
than 10 million are in small and medium-sized enterprises there are in
medium-sized enterprises there are in
medium-sized enterprises there are in fact more people in small and
fact more people in small and
fact more people in small and medium-sized enterprises than in large
medium-sized enterprises than in large
medium-sized enterprises than in large business NGOs public sector
business NGOs public sector
business NGOs public sector non-for-profits
non-for-profits
non-for-profits and volunteer positions combined thus
and volunteer positions combined thus
and volunteer positions combined thus that makes it a strong case for business
that makes it a strong case for business
that makes it a strong case for business involvement into any action that has to
involvement into any action that has to
involvement into any action that has to be done at the global scale so if we
be done at the global scale so if we
be done at the global scale so if we cannot ignore business are there any
cannot ignore business are there any
cannot ignore business are there any businesses that are actually doing
businesses that are actually doing
businesses that are actually doing something that is good for society and
something that is good for society and
something that is good for society and good for the environment more than 500
good for the environment more than 500
good for the environment more than 500 students at my college together with the
students at my college together with the
students at my college together with the business leaders community leaders and
business leaders community leaders and
business leaders community leaders and academics have actually launched the
academics have actually launched the
academics have actually launched the research to determine exactly that
research to determine exactly that
research to determine exactly that are there any small and medium-sized
are there any small and medium-sized
are there any small and medium-sized enterprises in this world that are
enterprises in this world that are
enterprises in this world that are actually committed to society and
actually committed to society and
actually committed to society and committed to environment it would be
committed to environment it would be
committed to environment it would be simply difficult to imagine that all
simply difficult to imagine that all
simply difficult to imagine that all these people working in the private
these people working in the private
these people working in the private sector are against their communities and
sector are against their communities and
sector are against their communities and that they actually really want to make
that they actually really want to make
that they actually really want to make our environment unhealthy so what did we
our environment unhealthy so what did we
our environment unhealthy so what did we start researching we were looking for
start researching we were looking for
start researching we were looking for business models that are actually
business models that are actually
business models that are actually developed in such a way to address
developed in such a way to address
developed in such a way to address social challenges instead of going for a
social challenges instead of going for a
social challenges instead of going for a complex set of criteria developed by
complex set of criteria developed by
complex set of criteria developed by experts we have settled with three very
experts we have settled with three very
experts we have settled with three very simple criteria for a business to
simple criteria for a business to
simple criteria for a business to qualify as socially innovative
qualify as socially innovative
qualify as socially innovative it should developed products and
it should developed products and
it should developed products and services that are directly associated
services that are directly associated
services that are directly associated with the resolution of an indentified
with the resolution of an indentified
with the resolution of an indentified social challenge the business should
social challenge the business should
social challenge the business should have less than 500 employees it should
have less than 500 employees it should
have less than 500 employees it should be profitable and it should be eco
be profitable and it should be eco
be profitable and it should be eco friendly at first we thought it would be
friendly at first we thought it would be
friendly at first we thought it would be very difficult to find such businesses
very difficult to find such businesses
very difficult to find such businesses so we were wondering should we include
so we were wondering should we include
so we were wondering should we include non-for-profits or maybe social
non-for-profits or maybe social
non-for-profits or maybe social enterprises however once the research
enterprises however once the research
enterprises however once the research started we looked first globally and we
started we looked first globally and we
started we looked first globally and we found that socially innovative business
found that socially innovative business
found that socially innovative business that are in fact profitable are
that are in fact profitable are
that are in fact profitable are everywhere in Ghana in Nigeria in
everywhere in Ghana in Nigeria in
everywhere in Ghana in Nigeria in Singapore in Canada in United States all
Singapore in Canada in United States all
Singapore in Canada in United States all over Europe all over Latin America all
over Europe all over Latin America all
over Europe all over Latin America all over Asia then they came home to
over Asia then they came home to
over Asia then they came home to Winnipeg in our thoughts and we looked
Winnipeg in our thoughts and we looked
Winnipeg in our thoughts and we looked for social intuitive and trip renewals
for social intuitive and trip renewals
for social intuitive and trip renewals here we found them here too and finally
here we found them here too and finally
here we found them here too and finally our students inspired by all the
our students inspired by all the
our students inspired by all the examples that I have seen have been
examples that I have seen have been
examples that I have seen have been challenged to develop their own business
challenged to develop their own business
challenged to develop their own business ideas using the concept called jugaad
ideas using the concept called jugaad
ideas using the concept called jugaad jugaad is a concept that comes from
jugaad is a concept that comes from
jugaad is a concept that comes from India which basically says doing more
India which basically says doing more
India which basically says doing more with less so our students had to use
with less so our students had to use
with less so our students had to use inspiration that they have found in
inspiration that they have found in
inspiration that they have found in research to develop their own business
research to develop their own business
research to develop their own business model their own business plan that can
model their own business plan that can
model their own business plan that can be implemented with less than $500 so
be implemented with less than $500 so
be implemented with less than $500 so let me share some of the research
let me share some of the research
let me share some of the research results video what did we find out some
results video what did we find out some
results video what did we find out some of the examples from different countries
of the examples from different countries
of the examples from different countries include the following an innovative
include the following an innovative
include the following an innovative company from Philippines that has
company from Philippines that has
company from Philippines that has addressed the social challenge
addressed the social challenge
addressed the social challenge associated with the time to do homework
associated with the time to do homework
associated with the time to do homework in areas out of great children could not
in areas out of great children could not
in areas out of great children could not do the homework without light the
do the homework without light the
do the homework without light the company has developed a technology that
company has developed a technology that
company has developed a technology that allows people to take one cup of water
allows people to take one cup of water
allows people to take one cup of water from the sea put it in the land and
from the sea put it in the land and
from the sea put it in the land and generate electricity and light needed to
generate electricity and light needed to
generate electricity and light needed to actually give children enough time five
actually give children enough time five
actually give children enough time five hours at least the day could be working
hours at least the day could be working
hours at least the day could be working on their homeworks moving to China we
on their homeworks moving to China we
on their homeworks moving to China we found a company that has developed green
found a company that has developed green
found a company that has developed green walls that you can put inside
walls that you can put inside
walls that you can put inside apartment or outside of it to purify the
apartment or outside of it to purify the
apartment or outside of it to purify the air and reduce the risk of asthma in
air and reduce the risk of asthma in
air and reduce the risk of asthma in very polluted areas in Chinese cities in
very polluted areas in Chinese cities in
very polluted areas in Chinese cities in Sweden we found fashion designers who
Sweden we found fashion designers who
Sweden we found fashion designers who have developed an inflatable helmet that
have developed an inflatable helmet that
have developed an inflatable helmet that is actually protecting brain from injury
is actually protecting brain from injury
is actually protecting brain from injury better than the classical bike helmet
better than the classical bike helmet
better than the classical bike helmet but can be stashed underneath the color
but can be stashed underneath the color
but can be stashed underneath the color of your coat during the day inflated
of your coat during the day inflated
of your coat during the day inflated when you go home from work and actually
when you go home from work and actually
when you go home from work and actually you come safe and fashionable to your
you come safe and fashionable to your
you come safe and fashionable to your house in Nigeria we found plantain
house in Nigeria we found plantain
house in Nigeria we found plantain growers who combine traditional medicine
growers who combine traditional medicine
growers who combine traditional medicine with genetic engineering to develop cure
with genetic engineering to develop cure
with genetic engineering to develop cure for diabetes derived from the plantain
for diabetes derived from the plantain
for diabetes derived from the plantain plant in Colombia they are using
plant in Colombia they are using
plant in Colombia they are using recyclable materials in order to provide
recyclable materials in order to provide
recyclable materials in order to provide housing to poor people and in Canada we
housing to poor people and in Canada we
housing to poor people and in Canada we found a veggie lover who rents backyards
found a veggie lover who rents backyards
found a veggie lover who rents backyards and unused land to grow vegetables and
and unused land to grow vegetables and
and unused land to grow vegetables and to bring healthy food to Manitoba’s
to bring healthy food to Manitoba’s
to bring healthy food to Manitoba’s further at home we were amazed to how
further at home we were amazed to how
further at home we were amazed to how many businesses are actually socially
many businesses are actually socially
many businesses are actually socially innovative in the north we found a
innovative in the north we found a
innovative in the north we found a company that harvests the needles and
company that harvests the needles and
company that harvests the needles and the herbs from boreal forest uses
the herbs from boreal forest uses
the herbs from boreal forest uses indigenous medicine to bring healthy
indigenous medicine to bring healthy
indigenous medicine to bring healthy teeth to the coffee shops in Winnipeg
teeth to the coffee shops in Winnipeg
teeth to the coffee shops in Winnipeg further down we found an app developer
further down we found an app developer
further down we found an app developer who is actually using software to teach
who is actually using software to teach
who is actually using software to teach indigenous languages to children then
indigenous languages to children then
indigenous languages to children then they have found an innovative based
they have found an innovative based
they have found an innovative based management company that uses software as
management company that uses software as
management company that uses software as a service to reduce waste across North
a service to reduce waste across North
a service to reduce waste across North America then we found a coffee shop that
America then we found a coffee shop that
America then we found a coffee shop that provides healthy board game
provides healthy board game
provides healthy board game entertainment to our teenagers who are
entertainment to our teenagers who are
entertainment to our teenagers who are otherwise on social media and finally we
otherwise on social media and finally we
otherwise on social media and finally we have found a company that leases the
have found a company that leases the
have found a company that leases the equipment to new businesses so that they
equipment to new businesses so that they
equipment to new businesses so that they can actually start their own jugaad
can actually start their own jugaad
can actually start their own jugaad innovation we also found a company that
innovation we also found a company that
innovation we also found a company that is using environmentally friendly
is using environmentally friendly
is using environmentally friendly product to reduce dust on our roads and
product to reduce dust on our roads and
product to reduce dust on our roads and even a Hoosier ID form that has found a
even a Hoosier ID form that has found a
even a Hoosier ID form that has found a way to use chicken feathers and
way to use chicken feathers and
way to use chicken feathers and eggshells to create a solution that
eggshells to create a solution that
eggshells to create a solution that would reduce rather
would reduce rather
would reduce rather poisoning in our basement in fact once
poisoning in our basement in fact once
poisoning in our basement in fact once they have started looking they found
they have started looking they found
they have started looking they found that the marvelous solutions exist
that the marvelous solutions exist
that the marvelous solutions exist everywhere in Canada and outside one
everywhere in Canada and outside one
everywhere in Canada and outside one thing that unifies all of those
thing that unifies all of those
thing that unifies all of those solutions they are simple like this
solutions they are simple like this
solutions they are simple like this slide so most of our entrepreneurs come
slide so most of our entrepreneurs come
slide so most of our entrepreneurs come from different gender groups different
from different gender groups different
from different gender groups different backgrounds different disciplines they
backgrounds different disciplines they
backgrounds different disciplines they share several common characteristics
share several common characteristics
share several common characteristics however most of them if not all have an
however most of them if not all have an
however most of them if not all have an open mind they are creative and have a
open mind they are creative and have a
open mind they are creative and have a can-do attitude and they also have dual
can-do attitude and they also have dual
can-do attitude and they also have dual Aviva joy of life in a fact that they
Aviva joy of life in a fact that they
Aviva joy of life in a fact that they are doing something to make their
are doing something to make their
are doing something to make their communities healthier and better we have
communities healthier and better we have
communities healthier and better we have finished our research by building a very
finished our research by building a very
finished our research by building a very compelling evidence that small and
compelling evidence that small and
compelling evidence that small and medium-sized enterprises are in fact
medium-sized enterprises are in fact
medium-sized enterprises are in fact already changing the world where many of
already changing the world where many of
already changing the world where many of us are talking the talk small and
us are talking the talk small and
us are talking the talk small and medium-sized businesses and rippln ORS
medium-sized businesses and rippln ORS
medium-sized businesses and rippln ORS all around the world are walking the
all around the world are walking the
all around the world are walking the walk so instead of all of us being sad
walk so instead of all of us being sad
walk so instead of all of us being sad and worried and concerned about the
and worried and concerned about the
and worried and concerned about the future I would like to challenge you to
future I would like to challenge you to
future I would like to challenge you to go into your neighborhoods look into the
go into your neighborhoods look into the
go into your neighborhoods look into the businesses that you believe are doing
businesses that you believe are doing
businesses that you believe are doing something that is good for society that
something that is good for society that
something that is good for society that is good for the environment and it is
is good for the environment and it is
is good for the environment and it is good for the economy learn about their
good for the economy learn about their
good for the economy learn about their business model see how are they actually
business model see how are they actually
business model see how are they actually earning money talk about it connect with
earning money talk about it connect with
earning money talk about it connect with us tell us about it and join us in an
us tell us about it and join us in an
us tell us about it and join us in an effort to together make this world a
effort to together make this world a
effort to together make this world a better place for all of us thank you
better place for all of us thank you
better place for all of us thank you [Applause]
”
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