Skoll World Forum

The Edmonton Journal recently called Jeff Skoll "the greatest Canadian you've never heard of." But, in fact, Skoll, beyond being the first president of eBay, has been a pioneer in the world of cutting edge philanthropy. Here is my interview with him.

David Brooks is concerned that social entrepreneurs have "little faith in the political process." But a number of organizations work with a "healthy political process."

We all laughed, of course, but we got the message: When important and powerful ideas are presented in ways that come from the heart, with the right intentions to influence and effect positive change, we cannot help but respond emotionally -- no matter our cultural conditioning or place of birth.

Building relationships, developing others, and exhibiting integrity are perhaps more vital to success given the complex ecosystems in which social entrepreneurs operate.

This is what happens when good people come together, whether in real-time or online, with a strong purpose and with intention to change what needs to be changed to create a more sustainable peaceful, prosperous planet for all.

There are epic, inspiring experiences of always bold, sometimes outrageous, entrepreneurs in remote and difficult places throughout the world, and these are stories optimally shared across many platforms.

If one billion whales, or anything else, were being violated or destroyed, the world would rise up and demand an end to violence. Yet, year after year, women and girls on every continent, in ever country, lose their lives to violence.

A healthy environment is not a luxury item. It is an essential human right. We not only need to defend our air, our water, our food supply, our homes and communities, we need to defend the first environment -- the bodies of our families, our children and grandchildren.

It is in the cracks of conflict and chaos where the light can come through and change can happen. This point was made so powerfully by the women in the session that I moderated called "Victors, not Victims."

I feel privileged to be a part of the Skoll World Forum -- as a moderator, from time to time, and always as an admirer of the people I meet there, the work I hear about, and the ideas and insights I take away.

Our mission at the Center is to help more social entrepreneurs help more people. Last year, we launched a GSBI Network among the network of Jesuit institutions of higher learning around the world -- all with a common mission to create a more just, humane, and sustainable world.

The constant theme is raising money for our social enterprises. But not just any money -- we talk about the most difficult money to raise: the unrestricted funding that is the lifeblood for a social entrepreneur.

When one is surrounded by men and women with a "can do" attitude, an infectious energy, and an ability to see opportunities for innovation and transformation at every turn, it is pretty hard to be gloomy about the state of the world.

I have cried every day this week. Remember as I tell you this, that I'm male. And British. And from Oxford. I cried when I heard Nick Danziger. I cried when I heard Eve Ensler. I cried when I heard Annie Lennox. I've also smiled a lot.

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Chavan is co-founder, president and CEO of Pratham, the largest nongovernmental organization working to provide quality education to the underprivileged children of India.

Participant Media, the production powerhouse behind films including "Waiting for Superman," "An Inconvenient Truth," "Good Night and Good Luck," and "...

The Skoll World Forum is the preeminent global gathering of social entrepreneurs. Over 1,000 of the smartest, most dedicated change agents in the world attend.