Our Ideas

What happens when you bring a cohort of more than a hundred ambitious social entrepreneurs together for a week of peer learning, problem solving and personal development, in a setting that can only be described as spectacular?

This very question has been asked and answered seventeen times at Hollyhock, an unparalleled centre of learning and connection, located off Canada’s magnificent west coast. The week of learning is Social Venture Institute, an esteemed annual gathering of mission-based entrepreneurs.

Designed for CEOs and leaders of established small companies and non-profit enterprises, SVI is an opportunity to fine tune strategies, build long-lasting relationships and learn from seasoned mentors in sustainable business.

But like any conference, it’s the space between the sessions that hold the magic….

• Unexpected encounters on Hollyhock’s wilderness beachfront evolve to spark founding of new organisations or campaigns.
• ‘One-on-One Advisors’ share the lessons of their training and accumulated wisdom with first-time entrepreneurs, focusing their advice on each leader’s specific needs.
• The casual atmosphere makes everyone an equal: You might find yourself chatting breezily with a sprout grower one minute, an internationally recognised systems theorist the next, and then a celebrated investor—all while in the line up for lunch!

Junxion Strategy is a proud sponsor of Social Venture Institute. This year, we’ve expanded our sponsorship to the Social Innovation Conference series, which includes the summertime Social Change Institute and SVI Vancouver, which premiered this year. Junxion’s Mike Rowlands (pictured), Peter ter Weeme, David Kuefler and Hilary Mandel have all participated in SVIs for years as faculty, sponsors and coaches.

We choose to sponsor these conferences – and SVI Hollyhock in particular – for three important reasons:

Genius lives in the grassroots. Small, dynamic businesses and the passionate entrepreneurs who lead them, have the energy to pivot in response to rapidly evolving markets. Their capacity to adapt, putting continuous learning into practice, positions them to solve market problems and address social and environmental concerns quickly and successfully. But the breakneck pace of entrepreneurial business and the stresses and strains of social entrepreneurialism in particular, are exhausting. SVI provides the energy to recharge and the support to rebuild resilience, so grassroots business leaders can continue to bring their genius to the world.

Learning is only valuable when it’s shared.  Every entrepreneur learns lessons every day. Some last a lifetime; some are forgotten as soon as they’re applied. But lifelong learning is unquestionably a vital characteristic for successful social entrepreneurs. SVI’s careful agenda design facilitates sharing of countless ideas, best practices and new perspectives, each of which contributes to every attendee’s work. This community of leadership is vital to society’s transition toward sustainability.

Open collaboration is one key to resilient, sustainable organisations.  Successful communities thrive when they work together. Businesses are no different.  And entrepreneurs need sounding boards, allies, suppliers and partners to help them achieve their visions of a world made better by their businesses. SVI’s open, collegial and social structure ensures connections run deeper than handshakes and the exchange of business cards. Ask any alum: They’ve probably made friends for life at SVI and many of them will be their allies in business.

What began with a question about what it would be like to gather 150 entrepreneurs on Cortes Island for a week, ends with another question: Is this your year?

Register to attend in 2013

SVI Hollyhock takes place September 19 – 22, 2013, at Hollyhock. Enrolment is limited and priority will  be given to second-stage entrepeneurs. Pre-approval is required prior to registration. Learn more here. And apply here.

Photos: Sara Dent