Entrepreneur Speaker Series

The Entrepreneur Speaker series continues on Nov. 5 with Kelli Peterson, who was the acting director for Richard Branson's Social Entrepreneurship division Virgin Unite until 2013. She will talk about the evolution of philanthropy, how the market conditions have shaped the stage for social enterprise, and what it takes to be a social entrepreneur. Click to register.

The evolution of philanthropy, the emergence of climate change and the Great Recession have created a perfect storm for the rise of social enterprise. Instead of looking to charity, these new mission-driven, business-based solutions will play a key role in the future of our economy. From legal frameworks and accounting practices to a lens of entrepreneurial innovation, social ventures will provide a significant pivot point in the history of capitalism.

This talk will address:

• The evolution of philanthropy
• How market conditions have shaped the stage for social enterprise
• What a social venture is (and what it is not)
• The role of social ventures in reshaping how business innovates and operates
• What it takes to be a social entrepreneur - key personality traits and why this matters
• How social ventures are getting funded
• Resources for social ventures (tools, platforms, legal structures)

Kelli Peterson has over 20 years of brand strategy, business development and marketing experience for Fortune 500 companies, with a client roster that includes Microsoft, T-Mobile, Xbox, Target, the NBA, Nike, Levi’s, Nestle, Red Bull and many other mature and startup brands. She has held senior positions with San Francisco’s Sterling Brands, Cheskin Added-Value, MarketSource, The Wilkinson Group and Highway One.

A passionate believer in business for social change, Kelli has also consulted for international NGO’s and startups in the social impact space, including The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, US Fund for UNICEF, UN Foundation, Virgin Unite, Global Impact Investing Network, and many others. She is a founding member of Impact HUB San Francisco, designed their first Communications Lab, has consulted with Taproot through both their offline and online platforms and is an active member of the Bay Area Women Leaders Network.

Register by Nov. 5, 2014