What social entrepreneurs can take away from Pride month
Throughout the month of June, thousands around the world have taken to the streets with glee. From Tokyo to Rio, rainbow flags were held to the wind in colorful displays of love and acceptance. From pompous parades to intimate local events, Pride is a time for the LGBTQ+ community to come together to celebrate identity and admire the progress made by leaders who unapologetically dared to be their true selves.
LGBTQ+ trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, Harry Hay, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk committed themselves to the “radical” notion that change was possible, action was needed, and perseverance was key. Although they understood that challenge and failure were inevitable, they threw off the cloak of complacency in pursuit of their vision. They helped create and galvanize an equality movement that courageously questioned the status quo while perpetuating a steadfast belief in themselves, their community, and their mission.
Although never considered “social entrepreneurs” in the traditional sense, these leaders embodied the true and simple essence of the entrepreneurial spirit: a bold determination to undertake community-based problems by building solutions. And in the spirit of Pride, I believe that social entrepreneurs around the world — LGBTQ+ or allies — could learn from these trailblazers’ legacies and the movement we celebrate this month.
The power of resilience
When liberation groups began their campaigns against homophobia in the 1950s and ’60s, they were met with repeated failure. This was a time when every aspect of society told LGBTQ+ folks, “No, you aren’t welcome” — from the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder, to the exclusion of “sexually perverse” folks from US federal jobs, to the repeated imprisonment of activists. Decades later, the HIV/AIDS epidemic took the lives of thousands of gay men across America. And even today, hate crime rates against the transgender community remain astonishingly high in almost every nation on the planet.
Nevertheless, the LGBTQ+ community has persisted. Rather than let obstacles or failures define the trajectory of the movement, community leaders have remained committed to beliefs, strategic in action, and resilient in nature. Simply put, the LGBTQ+ community has always taken “no” in stride and pressed on to find a new way forward.
Social entrepreneurs, too, must practice the art of resilience, accepting difficult experiences with calculation and recovering from setbacks with purpose. In an entrepreneurial world characterized by unknowns and uncertainty, any shade of complacency can be toxic. Instead, with an ounce of resilience and fortitude, a social entrepreneur can begin to uncover possibilities in the impossibilities and turn dead ends into highways. The resilient social entrepreneur must do more than adapt to new and changing circumstances — they must find ways to thrive in this environment. In the face of external and internal adversity — a product failure or a glimpse of self-doubt — the resilient entrepreneur will confront setbacks with strategy and aim to flip the script. By accepting uncomfortable lessons and confronting crises with curiosity, the social entrepreneur can practice resilience by failing with purpose and returning with strength in bold and humble fashion.
The power of small wins
The LGBTQ+ movement has existed on broad goals of systemic and societal change — ending discrimination, greater representation, and fair treatment under the law. These visions of widespread change have largely remained the same over many decades despite their grandiose and perhaps unrealistic nature. To those living in the mid-20th century, the ability to say “I do” at the altar or be elected to public office as openly transgender were seen as far-fetched, unachievable dreams. Yet in 2018, they seem a bit more plausible in some parts of the world.
It’s no secret — there is still tremendous progress to be made around the globe. But the advancements witnessed in recent decades for the better treatment and understanding of our community did not happen overnight. Instead, incremental changes from legal victories, local policy shifts, and media representation — or “small wins” — have built the movement’s continued success, rendering the unrealistic a bit more realistic.
Traditional narrative tells entrepreneurs that success lies in your ability to achieve large goals with visible results. Yet the problems social entrepreneurs are trying to tackle are often overwhelming, leading to grand programs, products, or interventions that fail in the face of impracticality. Instead, recognizing and celebrating the small wins — a new donor, positive customer feedback, or even a well-received social media post — can evoke a taste of victory that translates into the momentum needed for future achievements. Simply put, small wins have the unique ability to convince a social entrepreneur that bigger achievements are possible, even those that once seemed implausible. Breaking down a larger goal into a series of more digestible steps can clarify direction while boosting a social entrepreneur’s confidence and the probability of early successful outcomes.
The power of allies
The leading voices in the LGBTQ+ movement are members of the community themselves, acting on behalf of personal experiences and interests. We have made ourselves increasingly visible and vocal around the world, despite the significant challenges that still exist in many regions. We have fought for more representation and demanded fair and just treatment by society and governments.
But when our voices have been ignored, silenced, or labeled illegitimate, we have discovered that the voices from those outside our community have often received the most attention. Allies and supporters have played significant roles in creating space and awareness for their LGBTQ+ peers in society, while helping drive societal change through the resources and validation often not afforded to marginalized groups.
Social entrepreneurs need allies too. Although classically depicted as rugged individualists who single-handedly build game-changing companies or organizations, this often isn’t the case. Social entrepreneurs rely on the power of their allies and the networks they provide for the awareness and resources necessary for their venture’s success. Whether they come in the form of strategic alliances, service providers, donors, peers, volunteers, or investors, the allies a social entrepreneur has will often shape the types of validation the venture receives. Through allies, the information, experiences, and resources available are essential to a venture’s sustainable and responsible growth.
So, as Pride month slowly comes to an end, I encourage aspiring and seasoned social entrepreneurs alike to look to the LGBTQ+ movement for lessons in practicing resilience, celebrating small wins, and surrounding oneself with allies to boldly solve today’s most pressing social issues.
Lucas Rivers is a Program Manager at The Resolution Project, a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering the next generation of socially responsible young leaders through social entrepreneurship.
