I recently had the opportunity to take part in SVI Women in Vancouver, an urban, female-focused version of Hollyhock’s long-running Social Venture Institute leadership conference.

SVI Women presents a unique opportunity for female social entrepreneurs to share their successes and challenges in a supportive environment.  Most importantly, it enables participants to meet potential mentors, business partners and friends.

In mid-September, 140 business leaders and social entrepreneurs gathered on Cortes Island to share challenges, successes, and experiences with peers during the 17th Annual Social Venture Institute (SVI) at Hollyhock. Here is what this year’s participants had to say about it.

SVI alums Jennifer Williams and Peter ter Weeme featured in the June issue of SEE Change Magazine

Opportunity to Create Social Economy is Now: Kevin Lynch
Social Enterprise Alliance CEO says social entrepreneurs are the secret weapon to change the world

March 8, 2012 was proclaimed Social Enterprise Day by the City of Vancouver. Speaking at an event honoring that proclamation, SVI alum Kevin Lynch emphasized the importance of social entrepreneurs and their passion in shaping the economy.

SVI Alumnae, Vanessa LeBourdais, was featured today in the Vancouver Sun.

In the article "Actor Gets Down To Business", LeBourdais mentions the Social Venture Institute (SVI) at Hollyhock as a key factor in the success of her DreamRider Theatre.

Social Venture Institute (SVI) founder, Renewal2 Advisor and now rap artist, Gary Hirshberg….

The other night I attended a local gathering of folks organized by Social Venture Network, Renewal Partners, B-Lab, Vancity and RSF Social Finance. It was billed as “an evening of connections and collaboration” and it went down at the home of Dana and Joel Solomon, a couple whose names are synonymous with the success of values-driven businesses in this city and who we’ll be bringing you more about in the future...

Chantal Schauch, founder and president of ImmerseUs Communications in Vancouver, has just published an abridged version of her thesis:  Authentic Identity:  The Essence of How Successful”Ecopreneurs” Communicate in the Journal of Values Based Leadership (JVBL).

I believe that there is a new era of corporate humility where building on another company's fine grained experience in social responsibility and stewardship is permitted and respected.