In this session, we’ll learn how Acumen Fellows have applied the principles of Moral Leadership to build scalable solutions to poverty. We’ll start by hearing from four Fellows working in the fields of education, capacity development, financial inclusion and social justice, and then open the discussion to explore how Acumen Academy can continue to support the next generation of builders with the right tools, skills and community.
The key takeaways have been compiled for each Imagine Dignity daytime session from statements made by a diverse group of speakers with unique backgrounds and experiences. Acumen hosted these sessions to provide a forum for conversation and debate. The takeaways are for informational purposes only; they do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Acumen nor constitute an endorsement by Acumen.
New types of leadership skills - grounded in moral imagination - are required in order for [who] to take on the worlds deeply complex and interconnected challenges. Acumen Academy is building the world’s school for social change as the place for anyone, anywhere to learn these skills and start building solutions.
Our current education system still anchors to the traditional “hard skills”, which are indeed required to build enduring solutions, but aren’t sufficient to create a different world – the inputs need to change for the output to be more inclusive, sustainable and centered around human dignity. How might we reframe the idea of “soft skills” ie.e. humility, deep listening, resilience and courage as mandatory learning?
Community is at the heart of deep transformation, both internal and external. Creating learning experiences that allow for vulnerability and the formation of life-long relationships are critical for social entrepreneurs who have chosen to walk a lonely path and will ultimately require the accompaniment of peers to sustain on the journey. Systems change is about changing hearts and minds, this is work that can only be done in community.
Bavidra is the Director of Leadership of Acumen’s Fellows program. Bavidra started his career as a Social Strategy Consultant with JWT, helping Fortune 500's create shared value by aligning social impact with overarching business strategy. In 2011, Bavidra was selected as an Acumen Global Fellow. Upon completion of the Global Fellowship, Bavidra co-founded a technology start-up that built mobile products for sustainable urban mobility. Bavidra then spent four years in the Acumen Mumbai office, launching and leading the Acumen India Fellows Program. He holds a bachelor's in Sociology from Queen's University and a master's from Kingston University.
Uthara's purpose is to lead people to find their own voice and achieve their dreams by unleashing their potential. She does this through Buzz India, which builds leadership capabilities (financial skills, business skills, personal development skills) in low-income women. Her vision for India is to see it flourish with people who are truly independent; who think for themselves and are out of the despairing cycle of poverty. She is also a wife, a mother to a lovely one-year-old, recovering sufferer of OCD, traveler, pretend optimist, enthusiastic polyglot and an amateur interior designer.
Wainright is a social entrepreneur reimagining the future of secondary education in Liberia. He is the Co-founder & CEO of TRIBE, an education social enterprise on a mission to develop a new generation of purpose-driven young problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and storytellers. TRIBE utilizes research, data, and technological tools to create innovative programs and digital solutions to prepare young Liberian and African secondary students for the future of work. He is passionate about bridging the gap between opportunity and privilege.
David is the Founder and President of Somos CaPAZes, an organization that uses technology to promote peace and leadership in Colombia and other countries. In 2017 he represented Colombia in a meeting of young leaders with the Dalai Lama in India. He has also worked as professor at the Public Leadership Center of the Universidad de los Andes; as Manager of Technological Development of Seguros Beta; and he is also a board member of Texmodas Foundation (Zara) and the Alumni association of Universidad de los Andes.
