Rutgers University – Newark demonstrates leadership in social entrepreneurship as host of New Jersey Social Entrepreneurship Summit

The Great Hall inside 15 Washington Street at Rutgers University – Newark was energized with over 250 people – including students – intent on building businesses that do good at the New Jersey Social Entrepreneurship Summit.

Leading social entrepreneurs, impact investors and social innovators presented in more than 15 sessions. Themes included leading-edge approaches to aligning “mission and money,” legal issues to consider for the right business structure of a social enterprise and the importance of story-telling to achieve social justice.

See a video of the summit that captures highlights of the event from social entrepreneurs, thought leaders and other professionals who attended.

The conference was led by Jeffrey Robinson, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship and academic director of The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (CUEED) at Rutgers Business School, who first held the Social Entrepreneurship Summit in 2011. CUEED has been training small businesses for more than 10 years [see story: CUEED celebrates its first decade with big plans for the future].

“The purpose of the summit was to raise the profile of social entrepreneurship in New Jersey by bringing leaders of the social sector and entrepreneurs who address social and environmental problems in their businesses together to learn from and support one another,” said Robinson.

Speakers came from these organizations and more:

• Rutgers Business School
• Support Center/Partners in Philanthropy
• Pro Bono Partnership of New Jersey
• Forward Ever Sustainable Business Alliance
• NJ Office of Faith Based Initiatives
• Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
• The Watson Institute
• Newark Arts
• Heal R World Incubator
• Uplift Ventures