The BGI Community has been in high gear this fall and we want to take a moment to pause and highlight some of that innovative and inspiring work.
BGI People
In Fast Company article, Social Intrapreneurs Are Just As Important As Entrepreneurs, Gifford and Libba are recognized for their pioneering work on and coining the word “intrapreneur”. The author writes about how working to create change inside a company–or being a “systempreneur” working to change an entire system–can be just as valuable to society and the economy as charting your own course. We couldn’t agree more!
You might have caught KING 5 TV where Jason Puracal was shown touring BGI, considering our MBA program as he adjusts to life after being imprisoned after a wrongful imprisonment. You can view the full interview with Jason Puracal (notice the Brian Weller’s mindmap strategically placed behind him) and as well, on My Northwest TV Show where he states his intent to go to BGI. Class of 2015?
John Eisenhauer, BGI Board Member, was written up in Kishap Business Journal for his new adaptive mobile technology that will sense what a specific user needs at a specific time and location, based on a variety of factors. Imagine the possibilities!
Lee Meinicke of Philly Compost. Photo by Michael Bryant, Philly.com.
BGI Alumni and current director of Philly Composts, M. Lee Meinicke, was captured on Philly.com for her work reducing city waste through composting. Her company motto: “In soil we trust.”
We’re especially proud to hear of two financial sector accomplishments from the BGI Community. Emily Havens, current MBA student, received a Regional Social Impact Fellowship, which is designed to support the development of the next generation of inspiring leaders in the social finance field. BGI Alumni, Brian Setzler, MBA, CPA, has been appointed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to the Sustainability Assurance and Advisory Task Force. This Task Force will focus on clarifying and elevating the role of CPAs in sustainability reporting and assurance both within and outside the profession.
Viva Farms and BGI Alum Ethan Schaffer were highlighted on the SVP Seattle Blog for their wonderful progress supporting small farms through their farm incubator over the past year since winning the Social Innovation Fast Pitch in 2011.
BGI alums, Casey Dilloway and Rachel Maxwell were featured in a Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal about the popularity of crowdfunding. Their Company, Community Sourced Capital has created a new type of crowd-sourced platform that is a micro-lending model for existing businesses to get loans ($5,000 and up) from the local community to finance growth.
The sustainable business success of BGI and Presidio Graduate School has inspired Bard College to offer a new MBA in Sustainability. We’re excited to have sustainable business comrades on the East Coast.
BGI Alumni and REI’s Corporate Social Responsibility manager, Kirk Myers, will speak at Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics for its Ethics and Social Responsibility Executive Strategy Speaker Series on Friday, Nov. 9. It’s free and open to the public.
BGI Events
Mayor McGinn and Gifford Pinchot cutting the ribbon on the new BGI home — The Center for Impact and Innovation. Photo by Broken Banjo Photography.
You may have heard that Mayor McGinn and Gifford Pinchot III cut the ribbon last Friday night to celebrate our new building — the Center for Impact and Innovation. We’re honored to featured with our partners HUB Seattle and SVP Seattle across the news:
- Triple Pundit, ”A Month of Impactful Innovation in Seattle”
- YES Magazine, “Center for Impact and Innovation Grand Opening”
- The Examiner, “Mayor McGinn cuts ribbon on Seattle’s new social entrepreneurial Center”
- KPLU News, “Seattle opens a town square for social enterprise community”
- Sustainable Industries Journal, “HUB Seattle, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and Social Venture Partners kick-off Grand Opening of the Center for Impact and Innovation in Seattle”
- Virtuosa Partners LLC, “Innovation In Our Own Back Yard“
- Startup Seattle, “Consciously” Creating a Startup Ecosystem”
- CSR NewsWire, ”HUB Seattle, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and Social Venture Partners kick-off Grand Opening of the Center for Impact and Innovation in Seattle”
- Washington Clean Technology Blog, “Bainbridge Graduate Institute Opens New Doors”
Upcoming in November is Global Entrepreneurship Week on the 12th through the 18th and BGI Ignite will be a part of promoting the ideas and inspirations of social change agents on November 14. Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators and in Washington, the state will highlight and encourage local entrepreneurs throughout the week. BGI Ignite will showcase social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs focused on creating social and business solutions integrating the triple-bottom-line. And it will be a great chance to be a part of the new space if you missed the Grand Opening! Register for Ignite BGI at ignitebgi2012.eventbrite.com.
Did we miss any BGI-related news? Please let us know in the comments.
