The Art of Social Entrepreneurship
I am the founder of one of them.
These paintings depict my personal experiences of nurturing hope in the face of harsh realities and fighting for a better future - the experiences of a social entrepreneur.
.jpg)
Strong Like a Woman
Oil on canvas
(24 x 30 cm)
What does it mean to be strong? I created this image in contrast to Atlas who is the 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 a woman. A strength that nurtures and protects, not with forceful arms but with embracing ones. A strength that uplifts, heals, and unites. This comes to life in the fact that 1 in 2 social enterprises are led by women, compared to only 1 in 5 in conventional businesses, pointing to the leading role women take in building a better world. As a woman in the workplace, I’ve often found myself trying to embody “strength” in the ways we’re taught to recognize it: lowering my voice, standing my ground, proving resilience in ways that mirror masculine norms. Many of us do this and that's okay. But what I want to share through this painting and reflection is that strength is not one-dimensional. There is a distinctly feminine strength that the world urgently needs. One that values care as much as courage and collaboration as much as conviction. It is not a lesser strength but a transformative one, to be strong like a woman.
.jpg)
War and Hope
Oil on canvas
(30x40 cm)
A protea in full-bloom is placed inside an upcycled vase made of old rubber tire. The arrangement sits on a stray of newspapers, some showing casualties of war and others telling words of hope. This painting reflects on the fact that our fragile world is not black-and-white, and that both war and hope can exist at once.
.jpg)
The Burden
of Looking into the Future
Oil on canvas
(30x40 cm)
A metal head levitates precariously over a solid slab of stone while a steady, rhythmic wind etches lines into the sand. It watches with heavy eyes for what lies ahead -- for the storm that is to come and to stay. Many social entrepreneurs are at high risk of depression and burnout because of the ever-expanding number of social and environmental problems that need to be resolved, the twofold challenge of balancing impact and profit, and the emotional and personal investment required on a daily basis to keep the important work moving. As the options for financial and operational support for social businesses grows, it is important to balance that with mental health and wellbeing support for the individuals behind them.
The Relentless Pursuit of a Dream
Oil on canvas
(30x40 cm)
Randy Babiera is a Filipino fisherman who never finished high school. When his father left, he dropped out to help support his family. Now, at 50, Randy sits with pencil and paper, diligently studying through remote learning to finally earn his diploma. A high school degree may not dramatically change his circumstances at this stage in life, but his determination is a powerful reminder that dreams are worth pursuing purely for the personal desire to realize them. To me, Randy embodies what so many social entrepreneurs fight for: a world where everyone has the chance to realize their dreams, no matter the odds or the timing.