Author Archives: The Optimistic Cynic

Measuring Impact

Trust Waikato are running a Community Impact Event – Measuring Impact presented by two international experts, Michael Weinstein and Aunnie Patton Power. Michael and Aunnie will be sharing their knowledge around effectively measuring community impact and impact investing. WHAT – Measuring and Leveraging Impact WHEN – 10am – 1.30pm, May 4 2018 WHERE – Brooklyn Rooms 1 and 2,Continue reading “Measuring Impact”

Are you a Waikato business?

OK you operate a business, one that earns a profit to support a range of people that depend upon it for their livelihood, but the reality is that this doesn’t stop you having a normal interest in helping support your community. You may donate to a local school or sports club. You allow the GuidesContinue reading “Are you a Waikato business?”

Let’s not invent another silo

I’m loving my journey into the new world of social enterprise. It’s fresh and exciting, people are both innovative and real, it’s awesome. I just have a little itch in the back of my mind. A little feeling that there still looms a danger that Social Enterprise will become ‘a thing’, something different and separateContinue reading “Let’s not invent another silo”

Are we doing this wrong?

More and more we’re asking ourselves, how can we support the new generation of social entrepreneur.   The Gen Y’s (and an increasing number of Gen Z’s) are setting up businesses with a goal of making the world a better place. Environmental, community, health, whatever drives their passion also inspires them to be creative aroundContinue reading “Are we doing this wrong?”

It’s never just about the money

If you believe the movies, business is a world of corporate cut throats, prowling Wall Street looking for victims to fleece. We all know that our local businesses are nothing like that (in fact I doubt there are many in New Zealand like that), however we all still need to pause at times and rememberContinue reading “It’s never just about the money”

With business, not against business

Attending a conference about sustainable business, it quickly became apparent that the approach of this conference (and the attendees) was very much about environmental sustainability, how important it was and the fact that business just has to come on-board. The message of the conference was, this is how bad the problem is, now you goContinue reading “With business, not against business”