WASHINGTON, DC | September 2, 2014 - This week on BIZ+SOCIAL, we bring you the best from the New Global Citizen, Realized Worth, HBR, and more.

GLOBAL PRO BONO

6 Solutions for International Corporate Volunteering

Thinking about offering international volunteer opportunities through your company’s volunteering program? These opportunities can be rich for both personal and professional development, taking employees beyond their comfort zones and teaching them to use their skills in new ways while benefiting international communities. It’s in this unfamiliar space that employees are given the opportunity for a truly transformative experience. 4. PYXERA Global: Do you want to offer international pro bono opportunities with clear social and economic benefits as part of your corporate volunteering program? PYXERA Global provides unique opportunities tailored to the specific professional skills of your corporate employees looking to build grassroots capacity abroad with local public and civic partners. These opportunities act as a way to give back, as well as a way to enable your employees’ personal and professional development in a new context. Read More…

IMPACT & INNOVATION

Q&A with Alexandra van der Ploeg: SAP’s Approach to Pro-Bono

Earlier this month, PYXERA Global’s Amanda MacArthur answered questions about global pro bono, highlighting the leadership development advantages that such volunteer programs bring. Technology and software solutions company SAP uses these programs to give high-performing employees the chance to develop skills while making a positive impact in the developing world. Alexandra van der Ploeg, SAP’s Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program Lead, kindly responded to my questions about the logistics of implementing these programs, and why SAP invests so much in them. In Part 1, she describes SAP’s work and how it measures success. Look out for Part 2 next week. Q: What is the social sabbatical and why did SAP become involved in such pro bono programs? A: In 2012, SAP introduced the Social Sabbatical program as an innovative learning opportunity for SAP employees to contribute their time and talent to helping social entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Read More…

LEADERSHIP

Great Leadership Isn’t About You

The year 1777 was not a particularly good time for America’s newly formed revolutionary army. Under General George Washington’s command, some 11,000 soldiers made their way to Valley Forge. Following the latest defeat in a string of battles that left Philadelphia in the hands of British forces, these tired, demoralized, and poorly equipped early American heroes knew they now faced another devastating winter. Yet history clearly records that despite the harsh conditions and lack of equipment that left sentries to stand on their hats to prevent frostbite to their feet, the men who emerged from this terrible winter never gave up. Why? Largely because of the inspiring and selfless example of their leader, George Washington. He didn’t ask the members of his army to do anything he wouldn’t do. If they were cold, he was cold. If they were hungry, he went hungry. If they were uncomfortable, he too choose to experience the same discomfort. Read More…

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

A Child’s View of Inequalities Drives a Future Commitment to Social Entrepreneurship

Routine. Just the thought alone makes me squirm. “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.” Paulo Coelho sums up my sentiment exactly. There is a thrill in the unexpected and, as it turns out, I have a keen ability to adapt quickly to changing environments, to thrive in chaos and ambiguity. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn towards the next new challenge or adventure. AfricaNo single defining moment or event in my life inspired me to follow the path I am currently on. Instead, a collage of experiences has brought me to where I am today. In July 1995, my family moved from a quiet town just outside of Toronto, to Nairobi, Kenya. For the next four years of my childhood, everything was a new adventure. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, those years inevitably played a big part in defining my future. It was the first time I was truly exposed to socio-economic disparity. Coming from a country where such inequality is unfathomable, the unjust and stark disparity was shocking.  Read more…

CITIZEN DIPLOMACY

Helping International Students Meet America

The world is growing more and more interconnected each day. This simple fact is reflected in the rise in number of international students attending American colleges and universities. According to the Open Doors report released by IIE, the number of international students enrolled in U.S. institutions for the 2012/13 academic school year climbed to a record high of 819,644. This represents a 7% increase over the previous academic year as well as a 40% surge from over a decade ago. Hailing from countries all over the world, particularly China, South Korea, and India, the United States continues to be international students’ preferred destination for higher education. But despite the impact these students can have on strengthening ties between individuals and nations, there remains a significant challenge in ensuring that they have a positive and diverse experience. Though many universities offer opportunities for international students to integrate into the university and the surrounding community, many struggle to find opportunities that allow them to experience the true diversity that the United States can offer. Read More…

MORE

WHITE PAPER: Accelerating Market Entry in Africa

BENCHMARKING SURVEY: Corporate Global Pro Bono: State of the Practice

Meet Gavin Cepelak, a 2014 VolunteerMatch Client Summit Speaker