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The INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme – developing leaders who will shape business as a force for good.

rice relief
Remote villagers receiving rice as part of Friendship-Bangladesh’s post-flood emergency food services

The INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme (ISEP), the flagship programme of INSEAD’s Social Impact Initiative, takes INSEAD’s mission of developing leaders who will shape business as a force for good to another dimension by bringing business knowledge to those who are committed to serving society through for- and- non-profit organisations.

Today, ISEP is the global business education leader in the dynamic field of social entrepreneurship and impact driven business. This six-day programme, co-directed by Professor Jasjit Singh and Hans Wahl, runs on both our Europe and Asia campuses. The programme teaches business skills and frameworks that enable high-level entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs from around the world to build support amongst stakeholders, attract investors, and scale their innovations to maximise impact.

Case studies developed by INSEAD faculty, many on prior participants of the programme, provide a platform to analyse the uniquely complex issues and challenges faced by these impact business leaders. Since its launch in 2006, ISEP’s learning and tools help participants to re-think their organisational structure and business design. At the same time, ISEP alumni help to further research and analysis. INSEAD monitors their organisations’ growth, innovative practices and entry into new markets. Insights from breakthrough solutions are then integrated into our teaching for subsequent ISEP cohorts and beyond. 

ISEP participants are leaders in fields ranging from impact investment, housing and education to healthcare, sanitation and sustainable tourism and are routinely selected to participate in the World Economic Forum, Young Global Leaders and the Clinton Global Initiative. A large part of ISEP’s success is the rich pipeline of participants developed through INSEAD’s partnership with leading organisations including Ashoka, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, Ashden Sustainable Energy Award, and, most recently, the Tommy Hilfiger Social Innovation Challenge. 

An important asset of ISEP is the ongoing relationship with the alumni. Today, the network numbers more than 700 in over 80 countries. Annual summits bring together ISEP participants with leading thinkers, business leaders and policy makers to grapple with complex and unmet social needs.

In addition to ISEP, the INSEAD Social Impact Initiative is also advancing research on social entrepreneurship and impact driven education for MBAs through courses, boot camps and world-class competitions.  Through the Campaign, we seek to raise support to advance knowledge, education, fieldwork opportunities and networking to maximise the impact of remarkable social entrepreneurs and impact business leaders.

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