Harvard Professor On How to Find Meaningful Work
Key topics:
- Brian’s journey from nonprofit work to impact investing and academia
- How purpose and profit can coexist in business models
- The decision framework between starting a nonprofit or a for-profit social enterprise
- Principles of impact investing and market readiness
- Leadership and ethics principles from Harvard Business School
- The ALI program for late-career leaders seeking purpose
- Navigating philanthropy, impact investing, and entrepreneurial persistence
- Strategies for incorporating purpose into existing careers and boards
- Systems thinking approach to solving societal problems
- Tips for testing ideas, engaging with communities, and building meaningful relationships
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Principles of Benevolence and guest Brian Trelstad
00:45 - Brian's background and interest in purpose-driven business 01:12 - Impact of social entrepreneurship on societal change
02:10 - How Brian and Ebony know each other through impact capital organizations
03:03 - The case study of Meaningful Gigs in Harvard Business School
04:44 - Challenging the notion that profit and purpose are mutually exclusive
05:19 - Transition from nonprofit sector to impact investing
06:13 - The evolution of impact investing and purpose using profit
07:36 - Brian’s work in impact investing in different countries
08:01 - Moving to Harvard and teaching social entrepreneurship
09:29 - Roles of Brian at Harvard and impact beyond venture capital
12:51 - Leadership and corporate accountability course themes
14:57 - Ethical decision-making in emerging sectors like AI and unregulated markets
16:44 - The significance of the ALI program for late-career leaders
18:32 - Defining purpose in the third chapter of life and work
19:48 - Framework: Person, Problem, Pathway for purpose exploration
22:18 - How to research societal problems beyond Harvard
24:55 - Narrowing focus: Education, environment, health, etc.
26:49 - Validating ideas through user interviews and field research
28:39 - Deciding whether to launch a nonprofit or for-profit social enterprise
30:23 - Market readiness, economic viability, capital environment as decision factors
33:27 - Access to privileged resources through organizational form
35:19 - Making decisions under uncertainty and the importance of conviction
36:48 - Persistence fueled by deep commitment to the problem
37:35 - Incorporating purpose into current roles via volunteering, boards, and community engagement
40:33 - Final words on taking action to make a difference
41:06 - How to discover your cause through personal stories or experimentation
Resources & Links:
- HarvardX Social Entrepreneurship Course
- Harvard Business School Case on Meaningful Gigs
- HBR Article | Should Your Start-up Be Non-Profit or For-Profit
- Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot’s "The Third Chapter"
- Julie Battilana and the Person, Problem, Pathway framework
- Impact Capital Managers
Connect with Brian Trelstad:
