The Art of Social Entrepreneurship
According to the World Economic Forum, there is an estimated number of 10 million social enterprises globally. I am the founder of one of them.
I feel lucky to be alive at such an exciting moment in history, where the role of social entrepreneurs is not only recognized but increasingly solidified in society.
My paintings capture a spectrum of my experiences as a social entrepreneur in a world that is not black and white.
War and Hope
Oil on canvas
(30x40 cm)
I finished this painting at the end of October 2023. The flower was a gift for my birthday and I placed it in a vase I had purchased from a Moroccan artist who turned old, discarded tires into statement art. The ensemble sits upon a stray of newspapers on the floor. One page tells the death of a woman in the newly-started war. Is she Israeli or is she Palestinian? Does it matter in the end? Hope is a word that lingers in the background. War and hope Death and bloom Trash and treasure This painting is a reminder that two truths can exist at once.
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The Burden
of Looking into the Future
Oil on canvas
(30x40 cm)
A metal head levitates precariously over a solid slab of stone. A steady, rhythmic wind has etched lines into the sand. It murmurs of something coming. A storm stirs in the distance. I watch with heavy eyes for what lies ahead.
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Strong Like a Woman
Oil on canvas
(24 x 30 cm)
What does it mean to be strong? This painting stands in contrast to the image of Atlas—that muscular figure bearing the weight of the world on his back. Atlas represents a classical vision of masculine strength: powerful, enduring, unyielding. But my painting explores a different kind of strength— that of feminine power. A power that nurtures and protects, not with forceful arms, but with embracing ones. A strength that uplifts, heals, and unites. This idea aligns with the reality of women’s impact in the world: - 1 in 2 social enterprises are led by women (compared to just 1 in 5 in mainstream business). - When women work, they reinvest up to 90% of their income into their families and communities. - Emerging research even shows that a mother’s empathy shapes a child’s ability to empathize later in life (how beautiful is that?) I’ve often found myself trying to fit into the mold of masculine strength—lowering my voice or standing my ground in ways that make me feel "strong". I know many women who do the same. And that’s okay. But what I want to share through this painting and this reflection is that there is more than one way to be strong, and that there is a uniquely feminine strength that we (both women and men) can tap into.
The Relentless Pursuit of a Dream
Oil on canvas
(30x40 cm)
Randy Babiera is a Filipino fisherman who never got to finish his high-school degree. His father left his family when he was young, forcing Randy to drop out of school to support his family. At 50 years old, he studies through remote learning in the relentless pursuit of a dream. Is a dream worth chasing if you know it won't change your life? Why?
