In between the schmoozing and the skiing at the recent World Economic Forum at Davos, Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, cut through the endless hypothesising with just nine words. “Goals are only wishes unless you have a plan,” she said.
But whose job is it to formulate those plans? And if, as the heads at Davos hinted, the world needs saving – from climate change, poverty, war and income inequality – whose responsibility is it? Can we – should we – rely on government? The private business sector? Charities? The digital revolution has given us as individuals more awareness of these issues than ever before, so is it our responsibility? And if it is, can we really make a difference?
As Cambridge Judge Business School launches its new Master of Studies in Social Innovation degree programme (later this year), and following a recent trip to Australia by CJBS faculty, it asked an academic, a business-woman and a social entrepreneur all based in Australia who they think should save the world.