In recent years, societal risks such as inequality, along with environmental threats together with armed conflicts, have ranked among the world's top concerns, according to the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report. Simultaneously, the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer highlights an unprecedented level of distrust in all four major institutions: government, NGOs, media, and, of course, business.
In response to these macro trends, impact entrepreneurship has emerged as a powerful force for addressing some of the world's most urgent challenges. More professionals turn to business schools and executive education programmes to gain the necessary business and leadership skills to launch or develop social impact enterprises. Proponents of this fast-growing movement that integrates business and impact to find sustainable solutions to societal challenges develop and deploy innovative solutions to improve their communities, nature and the world in which we live.
, a member of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), is a supporter of impact entrepreneurship ecosystems. Its flagship , named after its longstanding director and human rights activist Hans Wahl, was founded in 2006. Dr. Jasjit Singh, INSEAD Professor of Strategy, has been the lead faculty and the Programme Director of INSEAD Impact Entrepreneurship programme, and one of the top researchers in the fields of impact entrepreneurship, impact investing and innovation. Today, almost 20 years later, INSEAD¡¯s impact entrepreneurship programme is a global leader in the dynamic field of impact entrepreneurship and impact driven business. The course blends the deep academic knowledge of INSEAD faculty with practitioners¡¯ expertise, also providing peer-learning opportunities through a unique collaboration with the ChangeNOW Summit, Paris.
Katell Le Goulven, the Programme Director of HWIEP and the Founding Executive Director of , explains: ¡°As educators, our objective through this programme is to help and equip changemakers so they can scale their impact. Perfectly aligned with the mission and values of INSEAD...my objective is to help grow the impact entrepreneurship sector.¡±
Impact In Practice: Who are the Impact Entrepreneurs Joining the Programme?
The programme welcomes entrepreneurs and executives from companies or organisations, either for-profit or non-profit organisations, with coursework focused on business models, scaling and evaluating impact, funding impact ventures and, of course, thinking strategically about impact.
Camilo Jos¨¦ Herrera graduated from INSEAD¡¯s Social Entrepreneurship Programme in 2013. Born and raised in Colombia, he is the Executive Director of Litro de Luz? LATAM, a company aimed at bringing sustainable energy, internet access, and lighting to communities in extreme poverty. Over the years, Litro de Luz has impacted over 500 communities in 35 countries, providing solar-powered lighting and connectivity solutions that enhance safety, education, and economic opportunities. One of their latest projects is the AI-Powered Digital Learning Hubs designed to bridge education gaps in off-grid communities. When asked why he chose INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme, Herrera says that it was for its academic rigor, global reputation, and credibility in the field of business and social impact.
¡°INSEAD provided a research-driven, skills-based learning experience that helped me refine my strategic approach to social entrepreneurship. The programme also opened doors for me to explore further studies towards an MBA, an option I am still pursuing,¡± - he adds.
Sarah Al Charif graduated from the programme in 2017. Originally from Lebanon, she represented Lebanon at the World Economic Forum's Annual Summit in Davos as part of the DAVOS 50 Youth Delegation. For the past 13 years, Al Charif has served as the Founding Director for Ruwwad Al Tanmeya Lebanon, a regional non-profit community development organization working with disenfranchised communities through education, youth volunteerism, and grassroots organizing. She led efforts to empower marginalized communities through youth education and volunteerism, women¡¯s advancement, child development, economic empowerment, social entrepreneurship, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution.
Sarah Al Charif shares: ¡°Although I had studied business before, social entrepreneurship was an area I wanted to explore further. I saw ISEP as the ideal opportunity to bridge my business knowledge with purpose-driven entrepreneurship. I wanted to integrate social entrepreneurship into Ruwwad¡¯s work in Lebanon as part of diversifying its revenue streams, sustaining its core educational fund program in the long run, empowering women economically, and contributing to social cohesion. Six years later, Atayeb Tarablos, our community kitchen, which later evolved into a key sustainability arm for the organization¡¯s core educational program, providing 15 to 20 university scholarships per year for our youth.¡±
Going Forward: Measures of Support for Impact Entrepreneurship Community
Among the strengths of the Hans Wahl Social Entrepreneurship Programme is its enduring relationship with graduates. The network currently comprises around 1,000 members across more than 80 countries. Many graduates are recognised by international entrepreneurship community and have won top awards such as Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year like Catalina Cock Duque (Colombia, 2024) and Aline Sara (Lebanon, 2025).
Each year, INSEAD hosts Impact Entrepreneurship Forums at the ChangeNOW Summit in Paris. The goal is to foster collaboration among ISEP participants, academics, policymakers, and corporate leaders to advance social impact and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Such events as annual forums and networking sessions are, without doubt, important points of collective encounters and knowledge exchange for impact entrepreneurs who share similar challenges.
We asked the graduates what else academic institutions and ecosystem partners could do to help impact entrepreneurs in their work. Camilo Herrera shares that to truly thrive as a changemaker, he would benefit from mentorship by experienced alumni and faculty to navigate leadership challenges, a structured alumni network to foster collaboration, and access to refresher courses. Many graduates mention financial support for further training would also be invaluable in scaling their work effectively. The community ran a .
Aligned with UN Academic Impact principles, higher education institutions strive to adopt best practices that advance sustainability. Developing top-tier programs for impact entrepreneurs and establishing support measures for the ecosystems they enter after graduation are direct contributions to advancing the SDG agenda.
.
For more information about :
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 