I spent the first part of my life wanting to be a first grade school teacher. That was until I realized how little tolerance I had for children. After which I began to envision myself as a high-powered corporate executive that wore pant suits, high heels, and exploited consumers in the most lucrative way possible.
That was until I realized I had a soul.
I’ve spent the last half-decade with quite different pursuits, believing that my way forward is in serving with others in pursuit of equity. Or–as it’s better known–the ever-elusive pursuit of development. I have oscillated between thinking I could save the world, to realizing I cannot, to questioning if I am doing more damage than good. But despite this turmoil of analyzing my intentions and my actions, I always knew I would work in the non-profit world. I could not conscionably do anything else.
The corporate world was for those without souls and it turned out I happened to have one.
Recently, however, my thoughts have changed. My time in Uganda, among other things has made me realize that free mosquito nets, $100 loans, mama kits and building classroom blocks can only do so much. They are not the answer to development.
The answer, I think is business.
The answer is in creating enabling environments where entrepreneurs can thrive, where farmers can access markets, and where job creation takes precedence over subsistence. The answer is in wealth creation, in industry development, and in fostering business innovation.
The answer is in renewing our faith in the power of the corporate world to bring people from rags to riches.
I’m not the only one in the NGO world who sees this answer, either. Organizations like One Acre Fund, PSI, and Acumen Fund are capitalizing on the potential of social enterprise and redefining the paradigm of development.
Philanthropists are embracing what The Economist call “philanthrocapitalism” favoring social investment over charity.
And scholars like Dan Pallotta are calling for us to rethink the way we think about charity. As he puts it, “we have a visceral reaction to the idea that anyone would make very much money helping other people. Interesting that we don’t have a visceral reaction to the notion that people would make a lot of money NOT helping other people.”
So a half decade after swearing allegiance to the soul-giving non-profit world, I am considering that maybe I was wrong. Maybe I can have a soul and still be corporate. And maybe it’s even better that way.
I have much still to learn but if I come to you asking for venture capital instead of donations, you’ll know why.