The Virgin businesses and Virgin Unite are also supporting a suite of innovative entrepreneurial initiatives that are helping to protect forests around the world with business based approaches – from Australia, to the UK and the Congo.
All of these initiatives and others are supported by a number of influential celebrities such as Estelle, Jewel, Natalie Imbruglia and Christian Slater who have joined forces with Virgin Unite, as ambassadors to raise funds and awareness of social and environmental issues in the global media. In 2008 alone, through its ambassadors, Virgin Unite had a media reach of over 50 million people and had significant impact on hard to tackle issues such as obstetric fistula (a preventable childbirth injury affecting over two million women and girls across the world) by raising awareness and funds.
Richard’s ‘Big Ideas’ New Global Leadership Models
The Elders
Founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, Desmond Tutu, Peter Gabriel, and Richard, and incubated and supported by Virgin Unite, The Elders comprises ten visionary leaders who speak freely and are fiercely independent. The Elders work both publicly and behind the scenes, collectively and individually. They support courage where there is fear, offer hope where there is despair, foster agreement where there is conflict, including in areas such as Kenya, Cyprus, Darfur and Zimbabwe. They also work on a number of global issues, such as health and gender equality.
The idea of The Elders came from Richard and Peter Gabriel, who felt very strongly that, in an interconnected world, we need leaders who are respected and experienced in problem solving at a global level. They were inspired by the role that elders play in traditional societies – as a source of advice, wisdom and experience. They took the idea to Nelson Mandela who agreed to help bring a group of ‘global elders’ together. Virgin Unite was then instrumental in building the initial concept plan, in bringing together a group of passionate and influential partners who provided $18 million US in support of this initiative and in recruiting a strong management team led by Mabel van Oranje.
In 2009, Virgin Unite supported Richard to start two new global leadership models; The Carbon War Room and The Disease Control Hub.
www.theelders.org
The Carbon War Room
Achieving sustainability of the human race on our planet is the defining challenge of the 21st Century. The Carbon War Room believes that the private sector, public sector and civil society must join forces to build a common framework that can take on this challenge with the urgency and scale required. In June 2009, Virgin Unite helped support Richard to bring together a group of the world’s top entrepreneurs to kick off the Carbon War Room. This global initiative will harness the unique influence, resources and spirit of entrepreneurs. The vision is to mobilise capital, innovation, expertise and international collaboration to speed and scale sustainable new market models to drive a low carbon economy. The Carbon War Room will increase the effectiveness of climate change efforts already underway; it is not about duplicating existing efforts but will focus instead on filling gaps. Jigar Shah, the founder of Sun Edison, is the CEO. He is joined by former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres who has taken up a role as the Chair of the Board. Together, they will lead some of the best entrepreneurial minds to help find solutions that will deliver a low carbon economy.
www.carbonwarroom.com
The Elders with Richard Branson and the advisory board members
Disease Control Hub
Developed in partnership with the South African Government, the Disease Control Hub will bring together a number of national and global partners, including experts and frontline organisations, to create a health resource for South Africa and the Sub-Saharan African region. This initiative is intended to transform responses to devastating
Lazarus Seema
Born in a small village in the Freestate, 26 year old Lazarus has lost both parents and he now supports his three siblings.
Always being told that “he talks too much”, Lazarus felt that marketing was his ideal vocation. Through the Branson School of Entrepreneurship, he developed skills in Business Communications. He is now the MD of his own company, Milestone Communications, which was funded through the Branson School of Entrepreneurship and Virgin Unite. The business continues to do well, recently employing two more people and increasing the
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positive impacts within the community. Lazarus remains focused on continually improving the company by developing its own marketing strategies. He feels that being a graduate of the Branson School of Entrepreneurship has given him “status” within the business world. Lazarus hopes that he will be a positive role model within his community. He is the only person from his village who has graduated from University and who owns their own company. He aspires to show others that by having a “go getter” attitude, anything is possible.
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