Social Entrepreneurship

Bring social entrepreneurship and impact investing into clear focus through the Learning Lab’s breakthrough experiential learning platform, Looking GlassWhether studying business strategy, entrepreneurship, leadership or finance through the philanthropic lens, this uniquely engaging and highly interactive simulation allows students to immerse themselves in the operations of an international nonprofit.

Participants are placed on small teams, where they are tasked with guiding their organization – the Angel Impact Matrix (AIM) – through the transition process as a new CEO comes on board. In doing so, they’re drawn into a meaningful exploration of executive decision-making dynamics, strategic growth, and financial sustainability, while actively furthering AIM’s mission: connecting angel impact-investors with social entrepreneurs in the developing world.

A robust array of characters representing all levels of nonprofit leadership serve to guide, engage, inform and challenge players through the multi-day journey as it unfolds in real time. 

In turn, the Looking Glass interface provides everything students need to hold meetings, track tasks, meet deadlines, and communicate with colleagues (both real and virtual) as they earn a succession of achievements badges and receive direct feedback on various deliverables.

Coupled with a structured pedagogy embedded in the game’s storyline, our proprietary interactive learning platform deftly hones the soft skills crucial to success in any field, in the course of providing a exhilarating environment to apply and test social-entrepreneurial acumen

The time is certainly ripe for entrepreneurial approaches to social problems. Many governmental and philanthropic efforts have fallen far short of our expectations. Major social sector institutions are often viewed as inefficient, ineffective, and unresponsive. Social entrepreneurs are needed to develop new models for a new century….ultimately have a very positive impact on society at all levels. But it will take some inspired entrepreneurs to get us there.

For more information about The Looking Glass: Social Entrepreneurship, email us at learninglab@wharton.upenn.edu.

Social entrepreneurs are one special breed of leader, and they
should be recognized as such. This definition preserves their distinctive status and assures that social entrepreneurship is not treated lightly. We need social entrepreneurs to help us find new avenues toward social improvement as we enter the next century.

― J. Gregory Dees,  The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship