The Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs “is a rich space for reflection and exchange of experiences, in which we are all students.”
Vera Cordeiro
Founder and President of the Board of Dara Institute
Social entrepreneurs and Ashoka staff at the first gathering in Aix-en-Provence, France
Webinars.
In our webinars we explore some key topics that the social innovation community needs to consider. These can be around succession and transition, money, leadership, wellbeing and more. Our next webinar will be announced in Spring 2026.
Join as a member (it’s free) to keep up-to-date with upcoming events, news and more!
Our past webinars can be found on our Insight platform which includes webinar recordings, articles and podcasts based on important discussions with incredible social innovators from around the world. Some previous topics have included ‘Hero culture damaging the social sector?’ and ‘Who am I without my organisation?’
Friendship Bench.
We are proud to partner with Friendship Bench Zimbabwe to provide a Friendship Bench for social innovators at international conferences.
It’s an opportunity for social innovators to seek advice and support from elders of our community (experienced social innovators of any age). They can bring any issues or opportunities they want to discuss - succession planning, money worries, leadership opportunities, wellbeing concerns or even just ‘thinking out loud’. Anything that is on their mind.
We have been invited to host two benches (one English-speaking and one Spanish-speaking) at the Skoll World Forum 2026. Find it on the SWF 2026 programme and add it to your schedule on the SWF app.
Find us at the Skoll World Forum:
12:00-14:00
Wed 22 and Thurs 23 April 2026
Reception Area of the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.
Our Friendship Bench for social innovators has previously been part of the Ashoka Changemakers Summit 2024 and Skoll World Forum 2025.
Read our report to see what our volunteers and visitors thought last year.
Mentoring.
We intend to offer a special mentoring service for social entrepreneurs, launching in 2026.
In the meantime, if you would like to speak to someone please send us an email and we will get back in touch as soon as possible.
Events.
We hold in-persons sessions at some of the best conferences in the social innovation calendar (past events include Ashoka ChangeMaker Summit 2024 and Skoll World Forum Convenings). They are an exciting opportunity for members and fellow social innovators to explore questions like “what’s next once you leave an organisation you founded?”
Join as a member (it’s free) to keep up-to-date with upcoming events, news and more!
