Issue 36 | Lead Young: A New Framework for Navigating a World of Change in partnership with ASHOKA

Dear Reader,

We have moved from a world defined by rules, hierarchy and repetition to one defined by rapid change.  To thrive in such a world be a full contributor in society, new skills are needed and those skills need to be developed and practiced young.  As Ashoka founder, Bill Drayton says, "Once a young person has had a dream, built a team, and changed his or her world, he or she has the power to express love and respect in action -- the heart of what brings health, longevity, and happiness.  He or she will be a changemaker for life."  

This issue of Social Innovations Journal provides a different lens for growing up today.  Drawn from Ashoka’s network of leading social entrepreneurs, business entrepreneurs, and youth changemakers, the stories featured in this edition highlight what it looks like when young people know they are powerful by creating and leading something for the good of all, and why we should make leading young the new norm for growing up.  They help us better understand the four competencies that are critical to navigating a constantly changing world that include mastering cognitive empathy; teamwork; multidimensional leadership; and changemaking which is creating one’s own solution to a problem for the good of all.  

We are honored to present this edition in partnership with ASHOKA and hope that this edition will provide invaluable insight into understanding “how” to develop new models or adopt current models as we interact with the young people of today and prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow.  In human centered design we are asked to put ourselves in our target consumer's shoes to better understand our proposed value proposition that, in turn, will inform our services and products. We hope this edition inspires our institutional leaders to ask the question on "how to" create system necessary changes that adapt to a changing world in lieu of defending outdated service models.

Thank you for reading this edition.  We wish you all the best with your social innovations and when you achieve success we hope you never forget your humble beginnings and remember to help those coming after you.  We hope this edition inspires you to dream and challenges you to become a better version of yourself.

Yours in Innovation,

Nicholas Torres, Co-Founder
Tine Hansen-Turton, Co-Founder 

Issue 36