The Intersection of Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Environmental Public Health

Introduction

Social entrepreneurship and sustainability leadership are two essential concepts that have gained increasing attention in recent years. Social entrepreneurship creates new ventures that address social problems and generate social value (Dees, 1998). Sustainability, on the other hand, refers to the ability of a system or process to maintain ecological, economic, and social well-being over time (Hart, 2005). The intersection of social entrepreneurship and Sustainability has the potential to drive positive change in society by promoting environmentally sustainable practices, addressing social problems, and creating sustainable business models.

The rise of social entrepreneurship and sustainability leadership has become an increasingly important part of social change efforts in today's society. Social entrepreneurs and sustainability leaders are individuals and organizations that create innovative solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges. These individuals and groups often take risks, experiment with new ideas, and use creative and innovative approaches to address pressing social issues (Hanson, 2020). By providing innovative solutions to social problems, they can create systemic change, which leads to a more equitable and sustainable global society. However, the work of social entrepreneurs and sustainability leaders is often undervalued, and it is often difficult for them to gain access to the resources they need to succeed.

Social entrepreneurship and sustainability leadership are essential for positive social change in society, organizations, and communities. Social entrepreneurs are individuals and organizations that develop new approaches to solving social problems (Hanson, 2020). They often use business principles to create sustainable solutions to social and environmental challenges. They use their knowledge and skills to identify and address gaps in the existing systems and to create new products, services, and organizations that have the potential to make a lasting impact (Hanson, 2020).

Sustainability leaders are individuals and organizations committed to creating a more sustainable world (Hanson, 2020). They use their knowledge, skills, and resources to develop innovative solutions to environmental and social challenges. They often seek to change their communities and organizations and influence local, national, and international policy decisions (Hanson, 2020). They focus on creating long-term solutions that address the underlying causes of environmental and social issues (Hanson, 2020).

Social entrepreneurs and sustainability leaders often play an essential role in developing a more equitable and sustainable global society (Hanson, 2020). They are often the first to recognize and address existing system gaps and provide innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges (Hanson, 2020). Taking risks and experimenting with new ideas can create systemic change, leading to lasting social and environmental improvements (Hanson, 2020).

Social impact is defined as the “creation of a positive, lasting change in the well-being of a community's constituents” (Williamson, 2011). Social entrepreneurs use this concept to change the business sector (Mair & Marti, 2006). OD traditionalists also encourage practitioners to promote positive social change and corporate citizenship (Cummings & Worley, 2008). Measuring this social impact is a challenge recently addressed by the concept of “scaling social impact” (Bradach, 2003). This concept refers to increasing the impact of social-purpose organizations to meet better the magnitude of the social need or problem (Dees, 2008). Managers of social entrepreneurial organizations and the donors and agencies that fund them are interested in learning how to scale social impact to reach a wider population (Bloom & Smith, 2010).