Stories from Ashoka Entrepreneurs

This story looks at the power of intergenerational changemaking

From North Carolina to China: Samantha Lumpkin experiences changemaking around the globe

From bridging the gap across generational disconnects as a young person, Garu now enables the spread of mindset shifts through supporting front-line changemakers from country to country in their journey of impact.

Rachel Centariczki explores the intersection of empathy and changemaking in Micronesia

In a conversation with Shafat Khan, we learn about what inspired him to pursue social entrepreneurship, his thoughts on the role of young people, and his journey with Ashoka to date.

In a conversation with Santiago Mejia, we discuss migration, the importance of being cognizant of one’s identity, life in Colombia, and leadership.

Flavio Bassi works for social entrepreneurship, inspired by popular education and indigenous peoples

When we look around, women today are more empowered than ever before and occupy positions of power all over. Despite what gender stereotypes may tell us, women excel at leadership. In this Special Issue, we identify 50 outstanding women who are UNSTOPPABLE—who have made a mark in whatever they do...

Nico’s story illustrates a changemaking journey in which development and communication intersect, detailing how Nico uses such an intersection to create multiple inclusive communities.

Being a social entrepreneur with a history of young changemaking himself, Shantanu firmly believes that cognitive empathy is the most critical skill for becoming a young changemaker - an individual who has an idea, forms a team, takes on an initiative, and creates meaningful change in their world.

Ara's story shows how an early start at changemaking set her on a changemaking pathway for life.

In elementary school I could not imagine why I was being tortured by Latin or Math, and my perception of soccer was chiefly that of being a crashee. But I loved starting things, especially newspapers. Once I had saved enough to buy a mimeograph machine (the prior technology being typing hard with as...

Simon Stumpf, Director of Ashoka’s Fellow selection program in the U.S., shares how he seized his own opportunity to lead as pre-teen when family circumstances demanded and how he didn’t stop there. As a parent today facing a world of great change and challenges, he shares his thoughts on what it...

Valeria Budinich is a social entrepreneur and organizational strategist with 25 years’ experience specializing in high-impact business/social entrepreneurship. Valeria’s pathway as a leading social entrepreneur started with a roulette wheel. When she was ten, she asked her parents for one for...