Methodologies for Change Makers

Webinar Innovation & Business Development through Inclusive Business

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 3 de July de 2014

WEBINAR |  July 15, 2014 | 9:00am Bogota | 10:00am NY | 15:00 London| 19:30 New Delhi Companies seek innovation opportunities, business development and market expansion. Meanwhile, countless communities around the world face market inefficiencies, exclusion, disconnection from markets, and many other development challenges. While they struggle with poverty and inefficiency traps, these populations represent an untapped productive resource and…

My interview on the Social Innovation approach in Luxembourg: If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 29 de June de 2014

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together: What is Collective Impact?” This article has been published in the last newsletter of Innovationsocial.lu  the recently created  initiative to promote social innovation in Luxembourg. The project is lead by CRP Henri Tudor and supported by the Department of Solidarity Economy…

Investing in Women´s Employment: Good for Business, Good for Development. New IFC report

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 9 de June de 2014

International Finance Corporation published a report that outlines how investing in women’s employment has led to enhanced business performance and productivity for companies in diverse countries and sectors. The report, ‘Investing in Women´s Employment: Good for Business, Good for Development’ presents specific examples of how initiatives tailored to women—such as training, childcare support, health services, and…

5th European Microfinance Award on Microfinance and the Environment

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 3 de June de 2014

The objective of the 5th European Microfinance Award on Microfinance and the Environment is to highlight opportunities for microfinance to improve environmental issues in the South and encourage the industry to find innovative solutions for global environmental concerns. The award of €100,000 from the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs will be…

social innovation

What is Social Innovation?

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 18 de May de 2014

I like the way Social innovation is enjoying growing recognition all over the world.  I really think it is the future to solve many of our current social and environmental problems,  and that is the reason why I support it and share methodologies, case studies and all kind of information of all those that want to…

The Five Monkeys Experiment: "this is the way things are done here"

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 2 de May de 2014

Have you ever wondered why people do things for no good reason? Ever looked around and wondered how habits and obscure social norms formed? Have you ever asked the why of a norm or a practice and you were told: Because “this is the way things are done around here”? The 5 monkeys experiment reminds…

Designing for Generosity

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 27 de April de 2014

Amazing and inspiring talk from Nipun Mehta, the founder of ServiceSpace (formerly Charity Focus), an incubator of projects that works at the intersection of volunteerism, technology and gift-economy. What started as an experiment with four friends in the Silicon Valley has now grown to an global ecosystem of over 350,000 members that has delivered millions…

Measuring the Happiness of the Planet: Which countries are the happiest?

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 11 de April de 2014

Lately, I have been exploring ways to link two of my passions: how to have social and economic impact (improving people´s lives) and how to be and make people happier. After all, how good is increased social and economic development if the result isn’t increased human satisfaction. One factor that is increasingly being cited as…

10 Reasons Employees Really Care About Their Jobs

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 26 de March de 2014

Want your employees to really care? First you have to really care about them. I have been talking a lot lately about happiness with my friends and colleagues. The happiness book that I have been writing has had that  “positive side effect”, getting feedback  and ideas about the importance of the search of wellbeing, happiness…

We have created a Course where you can learn to Change the Word: You can also be a Change Agent!

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 24 de March de 2014

After working in the design and preparation of this course for about a year, the EOI Programe: “Becoming Change Agents: Values and Skills for the Future” is now launched!  I am really proud of being part of this amazing course and to do it  together with three international experts (Daniel Truran, Leda Scott and Gonzalo de la…

Social Innovation Definitions

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 20 de February de 2014

What is social innovation? I have put together the definitions proposed by key researchers and actors A novel solution to a social problem that is more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just than existing solutions and for which the value created accrues primarily to society as a whole rather than private individuals. (Phills, Deiglmeier & Miller, 2008,…

What is Social Impact Investing?

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 16 de February de 2014

Social investment is the provision and use of finance to generate social, or social as well as economic, returns. Over the last ten years various forms of social investment have grown rapidly and new forms have been introduced. This growth reflects a range of developments on both the demand side (a new generation of social…

The power of citizens (Citizen 2.0): 17 examples of government social media innovation

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 4 de February de 2014

The internet has changed the way information is relayed and how people use it. We have gone from an era of broadcast dominated by passive reception to an era of digital natives, where communication is interactive and instantaneous. This new generation has grown up with the Internet and expects continuous participation. This evolution towards new communication…

5 conditions for unleashing innovation in the public sector

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 2 de February de 2014

I am very interested in the increasing trend of using Social Innovation within Governments worldwide. Lately I have even been able to participate and experience how different public sectors institutions are using innovative approaches, methodologies and processes to tackle the increasing social needs. I find fascinating how more and more public sector innovators are improving government by replicating…

Resources for Innovators: The Secret of Life from Steve Jobs in 46 Seconds

By Guadalupe de la Mata | 27 de January de 2014

“When you grow up you tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world, try not to bash into the walls too much, try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money. That’s a very limited life.…