Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship
Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship
Instructor: Teresa Chahine
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179 reviews
179 reviews
Skills you'll gain
- Social Impact
- Entrepreneurship
- Business Modeling
- Research and Design
- Advocacy
- Sustainable Business
- Community Outreach
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Communication
- Program Evaluation
- Governance
- Fundraising
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Human Centered Design
- Organizational Structure
- Communication Planning
- Design Thinking
- Innovation
Details to know
11 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
There are 11 modules in this course
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create real change? You don't have to start your own organization to make a difference in the world. Everyone can learn the social entrepreneurship mindset and skillset to build social impact. In this course, you will immerse yourself in a social or environmental challenge you want to tackle. You'll start by researching your topic of choice, talking to people, and ideating a potential solution that you can contribute. Then, you'll build a business model around that solution, understanding concepts like measuring social change, ensuring financial viability, funding and pitching. This course is a safe space to experiment and explore. You'll be guided by a ten stage framework to help structure your journey. Along the way, you'll hear from social entrepreneurs around the world through case studies and campus conversations. These include Yale alumni, members of the New Haven community, and global changemakers. Everyone is welcome to join this course! You can apply your lived, learned, or professional experience to discover how you're going to make a difference.
Breeze through these short introductory videos to get a flavor of the course and determine if this course is right for you.
What's included
6 videos3 readings1 assignment
6 videosβ’Total 19 minutes
- What makes this course different?β’2 minutes
- Who are you?β’2 minutes
- Who is Teresa Chahine?β’2 minutes
- Why study social entrepreneurship?β’7 minutes
- What will you do in Module 2?β’1 minute
- How to pick your topic?β’5 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 26 minutes
- WELCOME NOTEβ’1 minute
- Optional Readingsβ’15 minutes
- Your Learning, Your Wayβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Test Your Knowledgeβ’15 minutes
Your journey really starts here! This is the first stage in becoming a changemaker - understanding and researching your challenge.
What's included
6 videos3 readings1 assignment
6 videosβ’Total 40 minutes
- How to characterize your challenge?β’3 minutes
- How to find data?β’8 minutes
- How to analyze your research?β’7 minutes
- Module 2 Do's & Don'tsβ’3 minutes
- Module 2 Case Study: Health Leadsβ’6 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Erik Clemonsβ’13 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 21 minutes
- Finding Your Focusβ’10 minutes
- Welcome to Campus Conversations!β’1 minute
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 20 minutes
- Module 2 Quizβ’20 minutes
The most important part of your entrepreneurial journey is to understand (and engage with) the people who are most affected by your challenge. This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to create meaningful community connections.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 52 minutes
- What does community mean?β’3 minutes
- What is knowledge equity?β’6 minutes
- How to request an informational interview?β’5 minutes
- How to process information with mapping tools?β’9 minutes
- Module 3 Do's & Don'tsβ’7 minutes
- Module 3 Case Study: Ciudad Saludableβ’8 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Adrienne Abbateβ’15 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 3 Quizβ’30 minutes
This module focuses on creating innovative solutions to social challenges through the process of user-driven design. This approach facilitates the development of your solution by mobilizing existing resources in a new way.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 55 minutes
- What is the design process?β’4 minutes
- How to generate ideas?β’8 minutes
- How to test ideas?β’3 minutes
- How to evaluate ideas?β’10 minutes
- Module 4 Do's & Don'tsβ’6 minutes
- Module 4 Case Study: Hippocampus Learning Centersβ’8 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Ruchit Nagarβ’15 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 4 Quizβ’30 minutes
In this module, youβll figure out how people will interact with your offering. To do so, you need to talk to as many people as possible! First, you'll work on articulating your mission, vision, and values. Then, youβll ask for informational interviews and talk to customers, others who have tried similar ideas, and anyone else who will talk to you and help connect you to others. The goal is to understand how your customers will interact with your solution.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 55 minutes
- How to bring your idea to your customer?β’2 minutes
- What is your organizational compass?β’5 minutes
- How to create a customer profile?β’4 minutes
- What is a customer flowchart?β’3 minutes
- How to differentiate your solution?β’10 minutes
- Module 5 Do's [SWOT & PESTEL]β’6 minutes
- Module 5 Case Study: Daily Tableβ’11 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Doug Rauchβ’14 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 5 Quizβ’30 minutes
This week, you will specify what success looks like, and how you will measure it.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 50 minutes
- Congratulationsβ’0 minutes
- What does it mean to measure outcomes?β’5 minutes
- How to think beyond reach?β’6 minutes
- What is a logic model?β’8 minutes
- Module 6 Do's & Don'tsβ’7 minutes
- Module 6 Case Study: Soufraβ’9 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Camila GΓΌiza-Chavezβ’15 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 6 Quizβ’30 minutes
In this module, you will address the financial viability of your solution, based on revenue and distribution models that are commonly adopted by social enterprises.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 76 minutes
- What is financial viability?β’2 minutes
- What are typical revenue models?β’12 minutes
- What are typical payment models?β’4 minutes
- What are typical distribution models?β’8 minutes
- How to achieve operational efficiency?β’11 minutes
- Module 7 Do's [The Financial Template Tool]β’14 minutes
- Module 7 Case Study: Aravind Eye Systemsβ’11 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Trishan Panchβ’15 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readings & Financial Templateβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 7 Quizβ’30 minutes
In this module, you will review the financing approaches associated with social entrepreneurship. Hopefully, you will determine which one(s) could be right for you!
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 70 minutes
- What is social financing?β’3 minutes
- What are common funding sources?β’11 minutes
- What are common funding vehicles?β’8 minutes
- How has funding evolved over time?β’13 minutes
- What are non-financial forms of support?β’9 minutes
- Module 8 Do's [The Resource Organizer]β’5 minutes
- Module 8 Case Study: DBL Fundβ’8 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Onyeka Obiochaβ’14 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 8 Quizβ’30 minutes
This week, you will learn how to organize and structure the resources required for institutionalizing your endeavor.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 61 minutes
- How to build infrastructure around your idea?β’2 minutes
- How to recruit the right people?β’8 minutes
- How to standardize your processes?β’6 minutes
- What are different governance structures?β’8 minutes
- What legal structures are available in your country?β’12 minutes
- Module 9 Do's & Don'tsβ’2 minutes
- Module 9 Case Study: B Labsβ’7 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Kendall Barberyβ’15 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 9 Quizβ’30 minutes
This module is about effectively communicating with stakeholders. Pitches and Business Plans are essential communication tools, but theyβre not the only ones. You are encouraged to draft and comprehensive communications plan that specifies what to convey to whom and why, when, and how.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 72 minutes
- How to communicate your ideas?β’2 minutes
- How to pitch?β’10 minutes
- What goes into a business plan?β’3 minutes
- Why do you need a communications plan?β’16 minutes
- Module 10 Do's & Don'tsβ’10 minutes
- Module 10 Case Study: Student Pitch [Act to Change]β’17 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Caroline Tanbee Smithβ’14 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 10 Quizβ’30 minutes
In this module, you will learn different ways to reach beyond your solution. While you are contributing to the improvement of your social challenge, thereβs a limit to what you can achieve on your own. To broaden the impact of your solution, you need to build partnerships with other entities that share your goal. This is the last module of the course, but your journey is just beginning!
What's included
10 videos1 reading1 assignment
10 videosβ’Total 79 minutes
- What comes next?β’1 minute
- What are different ways to expand impact?β’14 minutes
- Module 11 Do's & Don'tsβ’4 minutes
- Module 11 Case Study: Catalyst 2030β’8 minutes
- Thank YOU!β’4 minutes
- Campus Conversation with Sally Abi Khalilβ’12 minutes
- From Social Change to Social Movements and Indigenous Wisdomβ’9 minutes
- Three Social Entrepreneurs Weigh in on AIβ’6 minutes
- How Publicspheres.org Engages with AIβ’6 minutes
- How HAVN Is Powered by AI Prototypingβ’14 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Optional Readingsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 11 Quizβ’30 minutes
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Reviewed on Jul 7, 2024
One of the best courses I have done! REALLY WELL TAUGHT an really shifted my mindset on several aspects.
Reviewed on Mar 9, 2025
Great introduction to becoming a social entrepreneur
Reviewed on Nov 3, 2024
This course has been beutiful new learning and knowledge leading to more beutiful ideas and passion for knowledge and learning.
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Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you canβt afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, youβll find a link to apply on the description page.
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