In this interview by James Militzer at NextBillion, Ashoka’s founder and the pioneer of social entrepreneurship, Bill Drayton, shares why the ability to adapt, collaborate, and lead change is the new baseline for thriving — and how we can ensure every young person grows up with this power. 📖 A powerful conversation for anyone shaping the future of education, leadership, or social impact: https://lnkd.in/eEFsSE6G
About us
Ashoka is the world's largest network of social entrepreneurs and a global leader in social innovation. We champion social entrepreneurs who are shifting systems and creating new frameworks for society.
- Website
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http://www.ashoka.org
External link for Ashoka
- Industry
- Civic and Social Organizations
- Company size
- 501-1,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Arlington, Virginia
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Specialties
- social entrepreneurship, social change, venture philanthropy, fellowship, changemaking, system change, framework change, and empathy
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
1000 Wilson Blvd
Suite 1900
Arlington, Virginia 22209, US
Employees at Ashoka
Updates
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Together, the Bioregional Weaving Labs Collective are mobilising 1 million changemakers to protect, restore and regenerate 1 million hectares of Europe's land, rivers and sea by 2030. 🌱 The collective represents hundreds of system changers in the field - including many #AshokaFellows - working directly with farmers, nature conservationists, communities, and stakeholders in bioregions to restore, protect, and regenerate ecosystems and to preserve biodiversity. Check out this new, self-paced course on #SystemsChange for Bioregional Changemakers, offered free-of-cost 👇
We're super excited about launching this new FREE course — 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 🌱🌍 In this self-paced course, you'll learn how to craft your own systems change strategy in the context of the Bioregional Weaving Labs Collective and similar landscape development approaches. This course is uniquely designed for: 🧶 Bioregional weavers 🤝 Partners of the Bioregional Weaving Labs Collective 🌱 Nature restoration and landscape practitioners and innovators 💰 Funders interested in landscape work from a systems change perspective Structured in 5 short modules, you'll learn about: 1️⃣ Systems Change and Ashoka's 5R Methodology 2️⃣ Bioregional problems and their root causes 3️⃣ The systemic change process 4️⃣ Scaling systemic innovations 5️⃣ Leading multi-stakeholder collaborations So you can: 🌐 Apply a systems change perspective to your landscape work 💡 Learn about different methods for designing systems change strategies 🦸♀️ Learn from bioregional changemakers' experiences with systems change in their landscape 📃 Get access to many additional resources to deep dive into different aspects of systems change Thanks to Sarah Prosser from Bioregioning South East Ireland, Xander Beks from Eye for Nature and Oogst van Overmorgen, and Paul Chatterton from Landscape Finance Lab for sharing your systems change experiences 🫶 And thanks to Alexander Kesselring, Loic van Cutsem, Brechtje Smidt, Karin Müller, for putting this course together 🙏 How are you working on systems change in your bioregion? The link to sign up is in the comments below 👇 #systemschange #bioregioning #regeneration #changemakers #course
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At 19, Farell and a team of changemakers are transforming the way science is taught in their schools. Meanwhile, at 17, Maylyn recognized the challenges within Indonesia’s education system—and decided to take action. Across Indonesia and around the globe, Gen Z is stepping up, redefining leadership, and showing what it means to drive change in a world shaped by adults.
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🌱Trust the Frontlines: The Role of Transformative Leaders in Migration and Humanitarian Change We believe that the people most affected by #migration are not just beneficiaries— they are leaders, first responders, and architects of solutions. This belief was powerfully echoed at the Transformative Leadership in Humanitarian Crises conference, where #AshokaFellows and #HelloAccelerator participants Myroslava Keryk (Poland) and Hannah Töpler (Mexico) took the stage as keynote speakers. From grassroots mobilization in Ukraine to tech-enabled inclusion in Mexico, their stories challenge traditional aid and show what real accountability and innovation look like. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dcyDVKv8 #EveryMigrantAChangemaker #AceleradoraHola #Ashoka
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Multi-stakeholder #collaborations are an extremely effective approach to tackling complex challenges. At the same time, bringing people together across sectors and across organizations to collaborate effectively can be as complex as the issues that those coalitions aim to solve. That's where we come in. Ashoka and CoCreative have joined forces to develop and launch a self-paced course, equipping individuals and teams with the practical tools and insights needed to enhance their own collaboration processes and leadership skills. The course is offered free-of-cost. Are you or your team interested in joining? Learn more and register here👇 https://lnkd.in/eZJUWYk2
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📣 The judges have spoken... Ercília Mata Ubisse Daniel Buchbinder Deanna Hendricks Sage Rutakaza Ara Kusuma Uygar Özesmi We present to you the 11 winners of The #PowerofLocal Challenge!! 🎉 ABALOBI, Bridging Gaps, Somo, Sustainability for Resource Collectors Initiative, OceanHub Africa, FreshBox, AMBUVETS KONSULT LTD, Resilience From Within, Expo Favela Innovation Brasil, Doorstep Flexiflow Prosperity Initiative, & Ukuzola! Hailing from South Africa🇿🇦, Uganda 🇺🇬, Kenya 🇰🇪, Indonesia 🇮🇩, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼, Nigeria 🇳🇬, Brazil 🇧🇷, and Cameroon 🇨🇲, these #smallbusiness ecosystem builders are supporting small businesses through: 📍Engaging and co-creating directly with community members to develop impactful programs and capacity building 🤝 Connecting small business owners and microentrepreneurs to resources and facilitating market access and linkages ⚡️ Defying the status quo and forging new paths and systems for small businesses to flourish And so much more! 🎉 CONGRATULATIONS to these incredible projects – thank you for showing the world the POWER of LOCAL and for all of your work supporting your communities! Learn more about The #PowerofLocal Winners and Finalists here: https://lnkd.in/ea6WrsN2
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A formal, indigenized education system has emerged in the Philippines thanks to the movement led by #AshokaFellow Ben Abadiano. This system ensures that learning is meaningful, culturally relevant, and provides pathways for Indigenous Peoples to access education, training, and leadership development—from elementary school to college. ➡️ Learn more about our work in the Philippines by following Ashoka Philippines
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Since 2015, thedotgood. (formerly NGO Advisor) has ranked Ashoka in the Top 10 global social good organizations. This year is no exception. We're proud to be #7 on the 2025 list, along with many #AshokaFellow ventures and other outstanding organizations. More here: https://lnkd.in/e7_WcVhx
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✨ Imagine a world where everyone seeks to elevate others to their highest possible capacity to give. A world that dynamically generates equality, collective wisdom, and shared consciousness. It strengthens us all and gives us an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the universe in meaningful ways. ✨ Join McKinsey & Company alum Bill Drayton, Founder and CEO of Ashoka, and envision a world where everyone is a changemaker. https://lnkd.in/gk9YxhgN
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Together with Inner Green Deal, we hosted a learning journey exploring resilience, regeneration, and mindfulness with changemakers from over 25 countries. We are committed to fostering spaces of connection for #socialinnovation, and we recognize that we need to #scaledeep for our initiatives to flourish. ✨ Thank you to everyone who participated!
What a deeply inspiring journey! This year, together with Ashoka, we guided a courageous group of changemakers through the six-week Resilience for Changemakers learning journey. A transformative, nature-inspired experience designed to nurture personal and collective resilience. Changemakers work in challenging environments that demand mental, emotional, and physical #resilience. Through these weeks of reflection, sharing, connection, and practice, participants deepened their inner strengths to navigate challenges and enhance their leadership and #impact. Together with our facilitators, Katharina Buchgeister, Jeroen Janss and Molly Stevenson, Ovidiu Condurache (he/him) and Martyna Markiewicz (she/her), we are touched by the commitment each participant has towards creating a positive, long-lasting change. All our gratitude goes to the Ashoka One Community for hosting this powerful learning journey. #InnerDevelopment #SustainableLeadership #Wellbeing