The 7 Pillars
GCSEN was founded on a foundational blend of 7 pillars.
Social Entreprenuership is a team effort, and GCSEN is no exception. A solid group of generous leaders who we can turn to, our Strategic Advisory Board holds up our 7 Pillars, while our Regional Hub Advisors assist in our international operations.
1. Innovation
2. Teaching and Learning
3. Community
4. Thought Leadership
5. Marketing
6. Capital Access
7. Acceleration
1. Innovation
Constant innovation of technologies, frameworks, courses, and content:
Ignacio Despujol
Kristin Backhaus
Steve Mariotti (1953-2024)
Patricia G Eisner
John Cary
2. Teaching and Learning
Education of existing, emerging, and aspiring social entrepreneurs. Assures program quality and establish differentiation and competitive advantage:
Stephanie Singleton
Prof. Paulo Gomes
Dr. Eric Strauss
Richard Berman
Charlie Lord
Bob Dean
Prof. Jay Rao
3. Community
Facilitating communities of social entrepreneurs within & across academic institutions. Enables lifelong social entrepreneurship learning for students and faculty:
Julie Kantor
Jamie Kent
Jennifer Kushell
Georgia Beattie
4. Thought Leadership
Influences social entrepreneurship policies and practices through thought leadership:
Prof. Mary Kate Naatus
Michael Shuman
Charles Venti
Dennis Hanno
Imran Chowdhury
Len Green
Isobel Cunningham
Anthony Di Marco
5. Marketing
Traditional and social media marketing approaches to increase student attraction. Increases number of students interested in social entrepreneurship:
Yana Averbukh
Lauren Birnbaum
Michael Ward
Flor Nájera
Jason Reuben
6. Capital Access
Provides easier and more effective access to all viable sources of startup funding. Increases capital available to student social ventures:
Stephen Silver
Ben Parvey
Matthew Gilmore
Mark Ferri
Laird Q. Cagan
7. Acceleration
Bridges learning to practice through coaching, mentoring and other business acceleration approaches. Accelerates growth and success of student social ventures, turning dreams into realized dreams:
Cameron Mckenzie
Bill Towell
Colby Creedon