From climate change, and growing income inequality, to the loneliness epidemic; today’s global problems seem insurmountable. Solving them will require innovation, and persistence, driven by a deep sense of purpose; qualities readily available in the sphere of entrepreneurship. Ivey Associate Professor Oana Branzei believes the ground is ripe for a new type of entrepreneurship, focused on human flourishing, to find solutions to these, and many of the world’s greatest problems.
Through December 9-11, 2019, Branzei will host the Venture for Humanity Conference in New York City, aiming to explore how entrepreneurs are called to answer human suffering, and create game-changing templates of purposeful organizing that can transform the world.
Joining Branzei in exploring the topic of ‘humanistic entrepreneurship’ are Michael Pirson, Associate Professor at the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, and a Harvard University Research Fellow, and Scott L. Newbert, Lawrence N. Field Chair in Entrepreneurship and the Academic Director of the Lawrence N. Field Programs in Entrepreneurship at Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business.
The conference will act as an introduction to humanistic entrepreneurship, which will be fully explored in an upcoming book, and podcast series with the addition of conversations with twenty global thought, and practice leaders. These final outcomes will be produced in partnership with the Humanistic Management Association at the Larry N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship, where Branzei is currently cross-appointed as the Lawrence and Eris Field Family Visiting Scholar.
Homo Ausum
Central to the discussion is the introduction of the Latin term, Ausum. “It’s reserved for those who ventured purposefully, who dared to make a difference through their creativity, courage, and compassion,” explained Branzei.
With humanity at the core of their business, this new type of entrepreneurs, or Homo Ausum, can create products, services and workplaces that intentionally bring qualities that are essential for human flourishing, and well-being.
The conference description goes on to state:
They fight injustice with care, beauty, dignity, wholeness, and worth. They deliberately craft lives and legacies where people matter, and make our world better every day, whether by a warm hug, a human rights campaign, an art piece, or an uplifting story. Nobel Prize laureates, international best-selling authors, award-winning artists, and multimillionaire brand-builders reveal one shared secret of their global success as serial entrepreneurs: they all put people first.
Guest speakers for the three-day conference will include Canadian serial entrepreneur Kelsey Ramsden, MBA’04, social entrepreneur Kanika Gupta, and international film director and cinematographer, Amit Kehar.
Hosted at Baruch College, City University of New York, the conference will include a total of seven unique events and experiences, with three open to the public. It is a collaborative effort between the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship at the Zicklin School of Business (Baruch College), and the Pierre L. Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Ivey Business School (Western University).
To attend any of the invite-only events, please contact Dr. Oana Branzei at obranzei@ivey.ca.
For more information, please visit http://go.ivey.ca/ausum2019