American Bill Drayton founded Ashoka in the 1980s, discussing a term that now seems much more common: social entrepreneurship. His foundation has enabled the identification and support of nearly 4,000 social entrepreneurs in over 90 countries, addressing issues such as education, technology, and the environment.
Dubois works at the Spanish headquarters of Ashoka as the head of alliances and philanthropy, and she delves into the difference between a purpose-driven entrepreneur and a conventional entrepreneur. “If the purpose is at the center of the project, we are talking about social entrepreneurship. When you place purpose at the center, you force yourself to reflect time and again on whether you are getting closer to solving the problem,” explains Dubois, who emphasizes that her organization does not attract individuals who operate within usual entrepreneurial circuits, but rather doctors, teachers, or firefighters.
