How Social Entrepreneurs are Collaborating to Achieve the SDGs by 2030; with Jeroo Billimoria
Jeroo Billimoria brings her extensive background in social enterprise to Catalyst 2030. This collaboration brings together approximately 200 organizations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
In the interview below Jeroo gives her insight and advice to fellow social entrepreneurs, based on her career of starting 9 social enterprises.
Tell me about the work you do and your organization.
Catalyst 2030 is a practitioner-led movement, mainly by social entrepreneurs. What we want to do is systems change work. At the current rate of progress, the Sustainable Development Goals will be achieved by 2094. That was pre-COVID, so probably the next century post-COVID. We have the solutions to help expedite the change, so how can social entrepreneurs and other social innovators work towards expediting the change, towards making things happen?
That was the reason that we started Catalyst 2030, with now close to 200 members who are part of the network, and growing rapidly. Our main objective is to make sure that we achieve the SDGs by 2030, and that we change ecosystems so that they become more supportive of this.
What was your background originally?
I studied social work and management, and I have started nine social enterprises, three of them global.
What prompted you to go into social enterprise or to start those originally?
My mother was a professional social worker. She had worked a lot in adoption. My father was an accountant, but he really believed in social change issues. I think I was just obviously brainwashed into it. It was a natural evolution. I don’t take any credit.
What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far throughout starting all of the various social enterprises?
You make lots of mistakes, so just accept it. I made so many, I can’t even count. Whatever you do, you’re just a drop in the ocean, so don’t take yourself too seriously.
What advice would you give to other social entrepreneurs?
One of the things which I learnt along the way was that it’s very nice to be passionate, but it’s as important to have a concrete strategy. So you always know where you’re going and you know your own result, and the scale you want to achieve.
What’s your vision for the future, either for the organization or any of your other social enterprises, or just in general?
Everyone should be sustainable and there should be no poverty. We can achieve that if we achieve the SDGs.
Is there something you’re particularly curious about right now?
I’d like to see how the world takes shape after COVID. Will there be more social cohesion? Will there be more proactive work towards achieving the SDGs, or will it be again business as usual? We’ve seen how much it has benefited the environment, being at home, not being reckless. I would like to hope that we as humanity learn from it.
What action do you want readers to take?
If you see something, do something about it. Follow your heart, but also use your head. Find the balance between intuition and strategy.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Be happy. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Find Jeroo Online
Catalyst 2030: https://catalyst2030.net
One Family Foundation: https://www.onefamilyfoundation.one
