Social Enterprises: The Intersection of Business and Humanity

Abstract

Consumers today are becoming more conscience of the businesses they support. Whether it is buying groceries, clothing, or furniture, consumers are now turning to the environmentally friendly and socially responsible businesses. In the recent years, there has been a rise of social enterprises- businesses that strive to maximize improvements in human and environmental well being. This senior honors project will explore design thinking and the creative process behind building social enterprises amongst student entrepreneurs on a college campus. Through an independent project under an internship with the Innovation Design Lab in Greenville NC, I will launch the Hult Prize@ East Carolina University as the campus director. This will provide students with an opportunity to build social ventures around reducing the human cost of involuntary human migration with a mission of restoring the respect and dignity of those who are misplaced.