How entrepreneurship can change the world
- By Richard Branson -
- May 09, 2012
Still reflecting on last week’s Leadership Gathering on Necker that was all about how entrepreneurship can change the world. Together with Virgin Unite and my good friends, Jane Tewson, who founded Igniting Change, and Suzi Carp, we heard from some truly remarkable individuals.
Ben & Jerry kicked it off with the advice they received along the way “If you don’t like the system, why don’t you change it?” Lisa Lake, the Director of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean shared their model for supporting a new breed of entrepreneurs.
We were solemnly awestruck by Bryan Stevenson’s patient dedication to working with the injustices of US incarceration policies. His insights into the transformative power of reconciliation were echoed the next day by Paul Van Zyl, formerly of South African’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Paul recently founded Maiyet, a luxury fashion brand rooted in a new model that builds economic growth in communities of conflict.
Jochen Zeitz shared PUMA’s breakthrough model of Environmental Profit & Loss, a revolutionary tool designed to reflect the true cost of externalities and demonstrate the path to conscious investment in consumerism. Ian Darling shared his documentary The Oasis, bringing to the public’s view the problems of youth homelessness in Australia. And to round it all out, the lovely Tristan Prettyman shared the beauty and courage of vulnerability through her sweet voice and guitar. I think it’s fair to say these few days will be with us for a lifetime.
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
