Coming up with unusual solutions
The Kessels & Smit consultants work on social innovation by organising special meetings where creative and original solutions can be generated.
We do this, for instance, by:
- Contributing towards the solution for an issue that a school, NGO, municipality or health facility might have;
- Bringing young professionals and the business world together and having them work on innovation and social entrepreneurship;
- Working ourselves on an issue that is of personal importance to us;
- Evaluating initiatives in a learning way.
Our motivation
Many people apply themselves towards a goal that lies outside of their self-interest. They organise help and care, and search for kindred spirits with which to collaborate. The Internet and social media make it increasingly easy for them to find one another. In the business world, there is also an interesting development going on. Social enterprises have arisen that strive towards a socially beneficial objective, for example, by using electric taxis or producing ‘slave-free’ chocolate. We want to stimulate the dialogue between different parties in society, which is crucial for social innovation.
Our contribution
How can we use the 'crowd-sourced wisdom' when solving contemporary problems? By organising meetings where experiential learning can evolve out of participation in particular. Participation makes people smarter and wiser. You get to understand the perspective of others, think of the issue as a whole and come up with solutions that connect all the different interests. We unite people from all walks of life and with different perspectives. People that would not otherwise meet or that would normally have no voice in the issue.
Related blogs
-
04-17-2023 / Blogs / View in DutchMet het initiatief ‘leiders van de toekomst’ willen we mensen die bezig zijn met het maken van maatschappelijke impact verbinden met elkaar en hun leren versterken. Recent vond de eerste live ontmoeting plaats met alle ‘leiders van de toekomst’ die wij het afgelopen half jaar hebben gesproken over hoe zij richting geven aan maatschappelijke thema’s binnen hun organisatie. Al deze interviews hebben we gebundeld in een podcastreeks genaamd ‘leiders van de toekomst’, binnenkort te beluisteren!
-
01-09-2023 / Blogs / By Marieke Grondstra
Leaders of the future: on the move for a more sustainable world
How much you really believe in something can only be shown by what you are willing to risk for it. This is a quote from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of the book Skin in the game. In recent months, I had the privilege of meeting many people who are actually doing just that: turning their belief in a better, just, healthier, sustainable world into action. They are 'leaders of the future' who are initiating great change within the context in which they work by following their compass and 'just' doing what their heart tells them to do. -
11-04-2021 / Blogs / View in Dutch
Toekomstbewust handelen: hoe kunnen wij goede voorouders zijn?
De onderzoeker Jonas Salk stelt dat ons tijdperspectief radicaal dient te verschuiven naar de lange termijn. We moeten ons richten op de gevolgen van ons handelen, tot voorbij ons eigen leven. Waar organisaties vaak opgaan in de waan van de dag, is juist dit toekomstbewustzijn van groot belang. Maar ja, hoe doe je dat? Hoe rek je het spanningsveld tussen urgentie in het nu en belang voor de toekomst op? Hoe breng je het juiste gesprek op gang of verder in je professionele omgeving?