Rippling: How Social Entrepreneurs Spread Innovation Throughout the World - Hardcover

Q & A with Beverly Schwartz, author of Rippling

How did you choose which Ashoka Fellows would be featured in the book?
I am privileged to know a fair number of Ashoka Fellows personally and I also had nominations from the 25 Ashoka country directors, so I was able to come up with a list of finalists that was a very balanced mix from around the world. All of them specifically illustrate one of the five approaches to system change--along with the inclusion and dependence upon many different types of changemakers as a criteria for their own successful spread of innovation.

How does Rippling fit into Ashoka's global strategy?
Rippling is the first book and one of the only "products" that Ashoka has to disseminate its mission and message. Many of our global offices have used David Bornstein's How to Change the World (2004) to help people understand what social entrepreneurship is about; Rippling will update the Ashoka story and tell a new one. Many of the country offices have been inquiring as to when the book will be available and in what languages.

This is the first book entirely devoted to Ashoka and its Fellows and your first book as well after many years spent in the public and private sectors. Why now?
Working at Ashoka for the past eight 8 years, I discovered the wealth of stories that existed--and at the same time realized that if we were to attain an "Everyone a Changemaker™" world (a world where everyone had the freedom and environmental, personal, and professional support to create change), a lot more people would have to be given the ability to visualize and understand what role they can play in creating that change. Over the past few years, more and more people have been attracted to the field of social entrepreneurship and intrigued with social innovation and social change. The time to write the book was right.

What kind of response did you get when seeking thought leaders to write the "Reflections"?
It was not as difficult as I thought it would be to get thought leaders to give their opinions to one of each of the five approaches. However, my "ask" was not random, as I did a lot of prior research on well-known and "thoughtful" people who could credibly converse on each strategy. My ask was, at the very least, grounded in subject matter compatibility. When I narrowed down my list of names, of course, it helped that for each one to the thought leaders who appear in the book, I had my one degree of separation who was willing to make the personal connection I needed to get to a "yes."

How challenging was it to work with changemakers in so many different parts of the world?
With modern technology and a multilingual Ashoka staff who understood the objectives of my interviews and translated the two non-English speaking Fellows for me, it was rather seamless. I backed up each interview on both a hand recorder and on my Mac's GarageBand application; one or the other seemed to pick up most everything I needed. Though I intended to interview everyone in person, when I physically could not, Skype did a wonderful job in connecting with Abdelfattah in Palestine (Chapter 18) and for asking clarifying questions for a few of the Fellows after the initial interviews.

Praise for Rippling

"Rippling is a wonderful and highly accessible book about people advancing creative and pragmatic solutions to the world's toughest problems. The remarkable breadth of global examples, combined with the depth of Schwartz's observations and analysis, make it a must-read for anyone who wants to understand some of the most powerful forces, ideas, and solution patterns that are reshaping society."
—David Bornstein, author, How to Change the World and coauthor, New York Times "Fixes" column

"Rippling will resonate with anyone who is eager to know more about how to create an (eco)system for positive change. It will lift your heart and change your outlook on what is possible when one combines innovation with entrepreneurship. Schwartz's skillful storytelling covers the challenges of 'life without' while sharing creative approaches to designing a world that nourishes human potential."
—Arthur Rubinfeld, president, global development, Starbucks Coffee Company

"Rippling is a must-read in the growing but often confusing literature on social entrepreneurship. Writing with great skill and passion, Beverly Schwartz weaves a beautiful tapestry of stories and insights that takes us from the traditional call to change to clear lessons for achieving impact. It is essential reading and will become a classic in the conversation."
—Paul C. Light, Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York University

"Anyone who feels overwhelmed by the thought of making a difference in the world will be reassured by these changemakers, who teach us how small steps can lead to enormous global progress. For all of us who dream of a more equitable, peaceful, and safer world, Rippling is a welcome invitation to hear the voices of changemakers everywhere. It's an inspiring read guaranteed to fill you with hope."
—Susan Grant, executive vice president, CNN

"Rippling's concepts are relevant and accessible for businesses of all sizes, from individual entrepreneurs to global corporations. Organizations that tap into the changemaker vision can spark innovation, engage employees, and better meet customer needs while improving the bottom lines for business and society as a whole."
—Ronald L. Sargent, chairman and CEO, Staples, Inc.