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September 05, 2012

Yoxi: So You Think You Can Be a Social Entrepreneur?

by Hannah Jang, Chief Blogger

"Changing the world should be fun. When seriousness is embedded in entertainment, and complexity is hidden behind an elegant layer of simplicity, we create intrinsic motivation for people to do good in more creative ways. Yoxi is about creativity and collaboration in the deepest sense we can imagine."

Sharon Chang is a media executive, brand strategist, social entrepreneur, impact investor, and Sharon_Standard_cropphilanthropist. She is the Founder and CEO of Yoxi, an innovative media platform that discovers and elevates Social Innovation Rockstars (SIRs) and leverages their influence and expertise for shared value business opportunities.

Before founding Yoxi, Sharon was the Chief Creative Officer of 19 Entertainment, the company behind popular TV shows American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. She is the Managing Trustee of TTSL Charitable Foundation, serves on the Board of Trustees of New York University, and advises a number of non-profit organizations, technology start-ups, and social ventures.

Learn how Yoxi cultivates a movement for social innovation by becoming part of pop culture.

Tell us a bit about Yoxi and how you came up with the name.

I don’t like to use terms like “think tank” or “lab”, but it’s hard to find the perfect phrase to describe Yoxi otherwise, because we are essentially a creative project in continuous evolution. I founded Yoxi to experiment with different ways to understand and harness the social innovation movement through the lens of media. I want to define a better connection between social responsibility and cultural influence. I see an opportunity to construct a new ethos that reflects a strong desire to build shared value, not through academic rhetoric, but by creating incentives for smarter and more sustainable lifestyle choices.

Currently we are developing a media platform called SIR.tv to capture the intelligence and energy surrounding Social Innovation Rockstars. Capitalizing on the knowledge and insight gained through working with these SIRs, we have also established a strategic consulting practice on shared value collaborations, with the goal to help brands align resources so they can pursue projects that focus on both business opportunities and social impact. We put a strong emphasis on finding media expressions for these collaborations because you have to see and experience impact before you can understand and measure it.

The name Yoxi means game in Chinese. I am not talking about game in a narrowly defined sense such as video games or sports games. I think “game” is the most effective metaphor and framework for change. When you design a good game and set up smart and consistent rules for people to play, you engage a community with shared and tangible goals. If we are playing a game designed to encourage conspicuous consumption, we can’t expect the outcome to be sustainability. In order to change the outcome, we have to start with the fundamental design of the game.

What specific qualities and traits must a 'Social Innovation Rockstar' possess?

Social Innovation Rockstars are original thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and inspiring leaders who care about creating lasting social value. These are the mavericks who see that each of us has an opportunity to alter the course of history, and then take bold steps to do just that. They march fearlessly towards what others have deemed impossible goals, with relentless determination to make things better, fairer, and more meaningful. One defining characteristic is their eagerness to take action. They do not sit idle and wait for others to come up with solutions. Also, they are not afraid to make mistakes because they understand that the conventional notion of success doesn’t necessarily lead to value.

These are social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs building the shared-value economy everyday. We celebrate their individual contribution, and more importantly, we recognize that their collective impact transcends the accumulation of knowledge and solutions to embody a lifestyle commitment emblematic of the Millennial psyche.

Can you share an inspiring "SIR" story with us?

I’d invite you to watch a video profile on Chid Liberty: http://sir.tv/profile/chid-liberty

There's a growing market for social innovation and "doing good" for society. How can we ensure that social entrepreneurship is not just the next trend or latest fad?

We live in an era where finite resources must meet the demand of seemingly unbounded growth. Social innovation is the key to creating a better balance by either unlocking new resource potential or curbing irresponsible growth. I don’t think it’s just the next trend because it offers the most essential and fundamental building blocks for achieving more efficiency in an increasingly complex global society. We shouldn’t treat social entrepreneurship simply as a discipline. Instead, it needs to be understood as a mindset.

A big part of what we aim to do is embedding that mindset in popular culture. If social innovation can be appreciated through a wide range of cultural contexts, rather then being confined in an echo chamber of experts, then its influence will be broad, deep, and lasting.

What exciting projects are currently in development for Yoxi?

We have just released a very basic beta version of SIR.tv. I am excited about what we have planned for the coming months. There will be incremental design improvements, as well as more inspirational stories to demonstrate the power of Social Innovation Rockstars.

In collaboration with one of our SIRs Chid Liberty, we are also working on a big project called Made In Africa. It’s a docu-reality show to discover and invest in emerging social entrepreneurs in Africa. Beginning in Liberia, the project will chronicle a high stakes competition to start the next socially responsible business in one of the toughest and most dynamic economies in the world.

 

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Comments

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I definitely agree that living the ever changing modern world should be fun. This is the only way you can make sure that you are living life to the fullest whether in business or just ordinary days.

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Sharon gave her support to help launch the NYU Game Center in early 2009. Her gift provided programmatic and operational support

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You can find the newest and totally free online and flash games here. Enjoy our daily updates.

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I had to refresh the page 2 times to view this page for some reason, however, the information here was worth the wait.

Kadia@soliloquy

Ms Chang brings a lot of experience to her new venture. She has the skills that will make her bale to guide a business like this one well.

Her background with social start ups and entrepreneurship will allow her to easily identify individuals with Klout online, those who know what audiences respond to and how to leverage it to create a desired outcome.

I was wondering whether you gave any real examples of the type of people she would consider SIRs. I saw your example further on in the post.

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