Ep. 42 Exploring Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Impact with Dr. Sara Minard

Welcome to the DO GOOD X podcast, your trusted source for insights and inspiration to help you build impactful businesses! In this episode, hosts Kimberly Daniel and Stephen Lewis welcome Dr. Sara Minard for an engaging conversation on redefining development and fostering social entrepreneurship. Together, they dive into topics like the transformative power of informal markets, economist Amartya Sen's profound work, and social capital's critical role in driving sustainable change. Dr. Minard also shares valuable strategies for measuring and demonstrating impact, navigating fundraising pitfalls, and embracing multidimensional approaches to human well-being. Stay tuned for a thought-provoking discussion, resourceful insights. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:24) Dr. Minard’s journey of social entrepreneurship and sustainable investing

(09:53) Discussion of the work of Amartya Sen

(14:24) Dr. Minard discusses some fundraising pitfalls

(16:18) How can social entrepreneurs measure and demonstrate their impact

(19:57) Head to DO GOOD X to explore resources

(20:16) Dr. Minard answers questions “off the cuff.”

(25:08) The hosts discuss their guilty pleasures and encourage the listener to indulge for a moment

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Although informal markets are often overlooked, they are rich in social capital and trust and demonstrate remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in low-income communities.
• Actual development focuses on human well-being and capabilities, going beyond GDP measurements to include multidimensional aspects such as education, trust, and community values.
• Trust and reciprocity are critical in addressing market imperfections and fostering collective action in communities facing economic challenges.

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GUEST BIOGRAPHY: 

Dr. Sara Minard, Ph.D. in Economics from Sciences Po, Paris (highest honors), conducted groundbreaking research on social entrepreneurship in Senegal under Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. Founder and CEO of Manarine LLC, she specializes in impact measurement, sustainable investing, and participatory governance, with over 25 years of experience working globally with organizations like the World Bank, OECD, and NGOs. Dr. Minard is the Associate Director of the Mockler Center for Faith and Ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a professor at Columbia University, teaching sustainable investing and impact management. Fluent in French and Wolof, she also lives on a family farm in New Jersey and is a certified yoga and meditation instructor.