Recent Webinars.

Here is a summary of our most recent webinars.

Watch the recordings in our ‘Webinar Archive’ using the button below.

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“Chariots of fire”: passing the baton. Held on Monday, 20th September 2021 16:00.

The founder and those who follow after them. Chariots of Fire, the magnificent film about the 1924 Olympics is always evoked by the wonderful song of the same name written by Vangelis. As we hear the music play, so we envisage the runners and, in turn, we see them one by one passing on the baton.

In this webinar we had several very powerful contributions to the idea of “passing on the baton” from Shona McDonald, Marisol Borbon, Arlette Hernández and Julia Lalla-Maharajh. Our speakers shared their perspectives on the process: handing over to the next successor, taking on the running of an organisation from the previous CEO; and we reflected on the observations and learning points from the conversation.

“Changes”: Facing and managing change through your life and career. Held on Monday, 21st June 2021.

After the wonderful song, “Changes” by David Bowie, we invited three extraordinary African women to reflect on transition and succession in their lives. Angela Benson, from Liberia, Salamatu Garba, from Nigeria, and Mahali Hlasa, from Lesotho, reflected upon the next steps they are thinking about as they each consider the transition pathway and a variety of options for succession. After a successful career with the WHO Angela co-founded the Benson Hospital with her husband, Salamatu is the founder of WOFAN, an association of thousands of women farmers, and Mahali was the Chief Public Health Inspector for Maseru and is now Chairman and Country Director of Riders for Health, Lesotho.

“I Did it My Way.” What next for the Founder when they leave their organisation: social entrepreneurs can take very different routes. Held on Monday, 12th April 2021.

Giving thanks to that fantastic song “I Did it My Way”, we were delighted to present Mary Nally, Rick Aubry, and Bob Bharij as our three speakers. 

Mary founded Third Age Foundation, being a structure that enabled older people to contribute to their communities and engage actively in society. The organisation grew to become a central voice in government and in the EU. Rick is now the CEO at Community Housing Partnership, but for many years he was the CEO and Founder of New Foundry Ventures (formerly Rubicon National Social Innovation), being an organisation designed for scaling social innovation in the US. Reflecting on the presentation of these two speakers of great experience, we were delighted to welcome Bob Bharij, the CEO & Co-Founder of Foundation for Change, that works with individuals affected by substance misuse in a fascinating and radically innovating way.

“I Did it My Way”: An insight into how Mary and Rick went about departing from their organisations and what they did next in their lives plus a reflection by Bob, a leading social entrepreneur in mid-career, on what this all means to him and to us.

“Don’t stop me now”: What’s it like taking over from the founder. Held on Monday, 15th February 2021.

With thanks to Queen for their magnificent song title: “Don’t stop me now”, we were proud to welcome Molly Melching and Elena Bonometti as our speakers. Molly is the founder of Tostan and in due time arrangements were made for Elena to become the Chief Executive Officer. Both colleagues now have a role to play in Tostan. It’s this exciting journey and how they have arranged matters so as to deliver Tostan’s incredible programmes that we met to understand and discuss.

“The Magnificent Dance”: Leaving Well and Living Well. Held on Monday, 7th December 2020.

With grateful thanks to the Clash for their song “The Magnificent Dance” we come to understand that the Social Entrepreneur is finally leaving their organisation after many years of satisfying work. In short are they leaving well and living well? This webinar focussed on the quality of life balance for the Social Entrepreneur as they continue their journey, indeed, as the dance comes to a conclusion. We received insights from Vera Regina Cordeiro and Sarah Corbett and Nancy Mortifee led a mediation exercise.

“When I'm Sixty-Four”: Provision in Old Age. Held on Monday, 26th October 2020.

With grateful acknowledgement to the Beatles famous song “When I’m Sixty-Four” this webinar was all about the practical matters of ensuring that you have financial security after your departure from your organisation. It is a sad but well recognised truth that social entrepreneurs spend a lifetime in caring for their beneficiaries, but either they or their boards will not make sufficient provision for the social entrepreneurs themselves. This theme speaks about the concerns that the older person has as they enter into retirement or an alternative way of earning sufficiently to be independent of their own organisation if they so choose. A fascinating conversation with insights from the speakers, Dorothy Stoneman, Gisela Solymos and Wietse van der Werf.

“Who Are You If Not Your Organisation?” Held on Monday, 17th August 2020.

As social entrepreneurs undertake their journey of creation and operation there is a natural tendency for the social entrepreneur to become closely identified with their own organisation. This can be healthy and unhealthy in equal measure. Jim Fruchterman from Tech Matters in USA was joined by Sheela Patel from India in a fascinating debate on the future sustainability of organisations as the Founder moves on.  

“Should I Stay, or Should I Go?” A Reflection on Transition. Held on Monday, 22nd June 2020.

This webinar featured Veronica Cabera from the Fundacion la Fuente and Sharath Jeevan, founder of STIR Education, who as social entrepreneurs talked about their different transition journeys. Alongside them we heard from Ian Pilbean, HR Dept Edinburgh and the Lothian Team who talked about transitions in the corporate sector. As our first ever webinar, the discussion was very insightful and it was interesting to get the outside perspective from the corporate sector.