Articles by Aarthi Rao
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Guest Articles
Friday
May 2
2014Good Ideas, Multiplied: How NGO, research collaboration is boosting social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurs are celebrated for bringing new ideas to the table. But is a great idea enough to have the intended impact? While entrepreneurship celebrates the new, what role should existing research networks and NGOs, who bring deep sector expertise and trusting relationships with target communities, play in supporting social entrepreneurship?
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
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Thursday
February 20
2014Considering Social Impact in Big Business: Can pioneer companies spark a race to the top?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is defined in many ways, covering everything from employee volunteerism to recycling campaigns. But how do companies actually reach a point of systemic corporate responsibility? Aarthi Rao explores this question in the context of the outdoors industry, focusing on Patagonia and the Deckers Outdoor Corporation.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment
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Tuesday
October 29
2013Moments of Serendipity in Driving Social Change: Making your own luck and other observations from the Net Impact Conference
Just as good business requires good strategy achieving social impact takes strong ideas and effective mechanisms for planning and executing those ideas. But while a good plan can guide operations, the best ideas often arise unexpected moments. A few of these moments of serendipity came up at this year’s Net Impact Conference in San Jose, California.
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- Uncategorized
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Tuesday
July 2
2013Keeping Up with the Indians: Exploring emerging practices in a health care innovation powerhouse
Extending health services to the 350 million living below the poverty line in India is no easy task. But due to necessity and ingenuity, the country has become a vibrant testing ground for new solutions that help meet the needs of its large, diverse population. In this post from CHMI, Aarthi Rao explores some of the approaches that have made India a powerhouse in health care innovation.
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- Health Care
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Friday
April 26
2013Is Social Enterprise ‘Social’ Enough? : Reflections from the Sankalp Unconvention Summit in Mumbai
This year’s Sankalp Forum, coyly named the “Unconvention Summit” after its link up with Villgro, had a heavy focus on impact investing. Sessions ranged from ways to encourage more angel investment in India, to innovations in financing social enterprises and approaches to align donors’ agendas in fostering the sector. But an important undercurrent to the entire summit was a question that Vineet Rai, managing director of Aavishkaar, posed in one of the opening sessions: Is impact investing living up to the claim of impact?
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- impact investing
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Guest Articles
Tuesday
March 12
2013Measuring Impact – Do Non-Profits Do It Better?: Reflections on Dasra’s Philanthropy Week
The number of millionaires in India is growing, and their interest in philanthropy along with the growth of corporate foundations in India means that the social sector will receive an infusion of capital. Born from an era of private sector growth these new funders will likely bring high expectations for scale and impact to the table when assessing social initiatives. Dasra’s Philanthropy Week, is a unique forum in India to compare a number of social enterprises to the standards of these high impact philanthropists.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
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Monday
December 17
2012A Cure for Baldness – But Not Malaria?: Attracting Businesses to Global Health R&D
The business of global health R&D isn’t working. Companies are seeking profitable treatments for relatively minor health problems, while largely ignoring major global diseases. But innovative new funding models are combining profit motives with an integrated social cause. Can they change the face of global health R&D?
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- Education, Health Care, Technology
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Tuesday
December 4
2012What’s the Matter with India?: A Powerhouse of Social Innovation Struggles to Take the Next Step
India is the site of countless cutting-edge programs focused on the base of the pyramid. In health care alone, the Center for Health Market Innovation profiles more than 240 innovative programs in India - including 46 social enterprises. But are these programs really reaching communities with the greatest need?
- Categories
- Health Care
