Response to "Reshaping Social Entrepreneurship" by Paul Light

One of the overarching themes of this article by Paul Light is that the most commonly accepted definition of "Social Entrepreneurship" is too narrow, and places too much emphasis on the individual, rather than the organization, or the "pipeline of support" that goes into making the social venture successful. His argument is that this places more emphasis on who the entrepreneurs are, rather than what they have accomplished. To some extent, I would say he has a point - it is hard to imagine an article about Grameen bank without it mentioning Muhammad Yunus. However, this focus on the individual leaders is what gives a human face to the overarching corporation. Understanding the attributes necessary to become a social entrepreneur (traits such as innovativeness, perseverance, and the ability to market an idea) helps prospective entrepreneurs to observe and better prepare themselves for the challenges that lie ahead. Knowing what a particular organization has accomplished is only part of the story - but it is an understanding of the skills and traits necessary to lead the social change that is translatable to future social entrepreneurs seeking new ventures in potentially dramatically different circumstances.