Future of Business:

An Intercompany Course for

Changemakers

8th Edition

ONLINE
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING

NEXT SESSION
February 26 – April 5, 2024

Applications open!
Course Description

Considering the world's rate of change and the increasing demand for
meaningful adaptations, embracing social impact and collaboration across
sectors has become essential to a company’s survival. To create a
corporate culture of changemaking, developing and fostering skills like
intrapreneurship, agility, teamwork, empathy, and collaborative leadership
is increasingly important. This is the future of business.

At Ashoka, we believe that equipping your workforce with

changemaking skills is key to building an enterprise that can thrive in the
competing business landscape of the future.

To help companies succeed, Ashoka Changemakers and Ashoka

Changemaker Companies created Future of Business: An Intercompany
Course for Changemakers. This six-week online learning experience Offered to Ashoka’s
trains business professionals on the fundamentals of social impact, while corporate partners,
unpacking the role of corporations in building sustainable systems. In this ASN members, and
edition, the course is offered to Ashoka's corporate partners, Ashoka young business
Support Network members, Ashoka Africa Builders, and young innovators
innovators in
in the Ashoka network working with the business sector.
the Ashoka network
This course is delivered through an online platform and requires a
minimum recommended time commitment of two hours per week.
During the course, we have three live events, in which learners can
engage with guest experts and share their projects and learnings with
other participants and with the facilitators. To accommodate busy
schedules, we communicate the webinars in advance and construct a
learning environment that offers participants plenty of options to explore
6-week course, with a
the content most relevant to them through assignments, discussion
minimum of 2 hours
forums, readings, and videos.
of commitment weekly* -
Participants earn a certificate by completing the course modules and self-paced
accumulating points, which are awarded by interacting with the platform
features and with other learners. Those who go above and beyond
receive a certificate of distinction and a letter signed by Ashoka's
Founder and CEO, Bill Drayton.

Learners connect with a global community of changemakers from diverse

backgrounds, industries, and leadership levels. This experience also takes
participants through a self-reflection journey – each stop presents an
Ashoka
opportunity to deepen participants’ knowledge of how they can change
the world for the better and grow confidence in their ability to contribute certificate provided
to that change.
*Learners who complete the course
with distinction usually spend an
average of 4 hours/week.
Course Topics

Module 1: Why Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society's most
pressing social, cultural, and environmental challenges. Looking to examples that
have reshaped global industries, in Module 1 we connect the dots between big
innovations and social entrepreneurs to learn how they have influenced new
systems and modes of thinking and operating.

Module 2: Social Intrapreneurship and the Corporate World

Module 2 explores the definition of social intrapreneurship and how to frame
the social innovation happening within companies. Participants draw
understanding from real-world examples and learn about necessary skills to
grow as an intrapreneur and create impact from within an institution.

Module 3: Systems Change and Levels of Impact

Module 3 introduces learners to the concept of systems change and the
different levels of impact. We focus on how to create change and how we can
escalate our impact within systems by understanding how solutions can address
the root—or a portion—of a social problem.

Module 4: Developing Changemaker Skills to Advance Social Impact

In Module 4, we look at the skills needed to advance social impact in a rapidly
changing environment, such as empathy, new leadership, collaborative
teamwork, creativity and more. We review examples of real-life challenges to
advancing social impact and learn how successful innovators employed these
skills and others to overcome barriers.

Module 5: Shared Value & Co-creation

In understanding the primacy of the relationships between people in the system,
participants explore co-creation as a tool for organizational transformation and
an opportunity for businesses to spark the next generation of sustainable
solutions through cross-sector collaboration. We can inspire new business
models and ideas by developing shared value and working closely with non-
traditional partners.

Module 6: Final Review and Wrap-up

The final week is an exercise in reflection and an opportunity to review content.
It also allows participants to crystallize their professional connections from the
course and discuss the concepts we’ve explored together.
 Who should take this course (and why)
This course is offered to Ashoka’s corporate partners and their employees, Ashoka Support Network
members, and young innovators in the Ashoka network working with the business sector. The content
focuses on the way private, for-profit institutions can develop practices and mindsets that address the
future challenges of businesses and society. Professionals are invited to follow a learning journey and
incorporate their learning into their roles. Our cohort is mostly comprised of:

● Business managers who want to use their role within their companies to build more socially
sustainable practices with both social and business impact;

● Executives with the desire to bring social impact into the fabric of their institutions;

● Corporate leaders interested in advancing a sustainability culture in their departments or

sectors, who need tools and best practices to implement a plan;

● Early and mid-level business professional managers who want to expand their skill sets in leading
positive change;

● Professionals with multiple backgrounds who work closely with the private sector on the
development of sustainable practices in their value chain.

Course Resources and Features

10+ Videos 20+ Readings * 15+ Discussion Forums 3+ Live Events **

* Case studies, articles, excerpts from books and publications, and sections from academic work
** Live webinars and office hours
 50+
COMPANIES
REPRESENTED
450+
PARTICIPANTS
FROM

25+
COUNTRIES

Feedback and reflections from past participants

“ I've always seen myself as a changemaker, but going through this course and learning that there is a name
for what I have been doing is like finding my tribe. I have a lot of notes and ideas that I don't want to
lose—concepts that I want to learn more about so I can share them with my colleagues and my networks.
Financial Industry, Philippines

In our current society, we tend to think and act in silos, and we keep forgetting that we are actually actors
in a system, no matter if we are entrepreneurs, NGOs, big companies, or citizens. Thinking and acting in
silos is also a problem affecting organizations internally and impeding them from achieving their goals or
their mission. Having a learning mindset and focusing on collaboration are very important also within an
organization to be able to make a difference.
Energy Industry, Romania

“The course has given me reassurance and knowledge on how to work and think in terms of innovation to
make impact… large or small. [...] Every step counts towards the end goal and the learning process in
between. I would like to try to apply some of this new knowledge and understanding to create a better
workplace: more healthy, fair and inclusive at all levels, boosting the shared value. Open minds and
empower change, to improve the business culture and to support the company’s community to adapt to
this constant changing world.”
Food Industry, United Kingdom
 Course Development
As the world’s first and largest network of social entrepreneurs, Ashoka understands how leading
changemakers are tackling problems and reimagining systems for the common good. Ashoka’s Changemakers
and Changemaker Companies teams are working together to offer corporate partners structured trainings that
build upon its 40 years of experience supporting cross-sector institutions in addressing the world’s most
complex problems in climate, healthcare, education, unemployment, gender, and more.

Changemakers is Ashoka’s program that uses the power of digital technology to equip everyone to be a
changemaker. We launch initiatives in partnership with companies and foundations, such as innovation
challenges, courses, entrepreneurship bootcamps, online publications, and more, to empower individuals with
the tools, resources, and network for them to succeed as agents of change in their communities and work
environments.

Changemaker Companies is a global initiative launched by Ashoka in 2015 to shape business for impact.
Changemaker Companies develops leaders with skills to navigate and create change as a first step in
cultivating a corporate culture that aligns mission with values. We connect companies with social
entrepreneurs working on an issue related to the company’s core business and build tailor-made collaborations
that benefit both. This collaboration often leads to impactful new services, products, and business models.

Applications open until February 16, 2024* For companies, our

pricing model is based on
the number of enrolled
bit.ly/intercompany2024 employees.

Limited free seats available.

* This course is offered to Ashoka’s current and future corporate partners, ASN members, and young
business innovators in the Ashoka network. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact
your management or send us an e-mail at [email protected].