Local Heroes, Global impact: Nordic Talks at social business conference Creative Shock

Social business competition and conference Creative Shock aims to introduce students to real-life global social business models and encourage them to develop their social ideas. The event is organised by student association of ISM University of Management and Economics.

Creative Shock’s conference is getting ready for its 13th year with the topic “Change the game. Shape the world” with another inspiring line-up of international speakers and Nordic Talks discussion Local Heroes, Global Impact: Empowering Social Entrepreneurs.

We will explore how the actions of social entrepreneurs within their local communities can become powerful catalysts for addressing global issues and consider whether social entrepreneurship can be the remedy for revitalizing rural areas and creating sustainable change. Social entrepreneurs often have fantastic ideas for solving social issues, yet often lack business development, marketing, and communication competencies. How to bridge this gap and bring their innovations to life? Lastly, we’ll talk about making social business appealing to young people. What can draw them into the world of social entrepreneurship instead of opting for careers corporations? Young people can bring knowledge and fresh perspectives that many social entrepreneurs might be missing.

Meet the speakers:

• Abdallah Sobeih, Managing Director of SwIdeas AB. SwIdeas is a Swedish enterprise with a social mission that focuses on environmental and social sustainability. Sobeih has an extensive experience in project management for community development, corporate social responsibility and inclusive education. He coordinates project conceptualization and execution and collaborates with diverse international stakeholders to develop innovative projects that bridge digitalization, and social and environmental sustainability. His main interests and fields of work are economics for development, digital technologies, non-formal and informal education, sustainability, and diversity.
• Simona Šimulytė, Founder of ChangeMakers’ON. Simona, a leading expert in life-centered design, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), startups, and community building, is driven by a passion for creating positive change in the world. With 20 + years of experience in the industry, she has established a reputation for delivering innovative solutions that enhance people’s lives while promoting sustainability and social responsibility. Simona was recognized as TOP100 women leaders in social enterprises in the social innovations category.
• Vilius Vaitiekūnas, cultural educator and producer, founder of Akee Space for Culture. Currently, Vilius is studying MA in Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art at Aalto University, Helsinki, where he is exploring themes of locality and rurality in contemporary culture. Vilius is a founder of Akee Space for Culture, a community initiative that aims to enrich the discourse on Lithuanian and international culture related to non-urban areas and to create opportunities for cultural producers and researchers to implement socially responsible as well as site-sensitive projects in non-urban areas.
• Moderator: Jurgita Ribinskaite – Glatzer, founder and CEO of Geri norai LT and Rykantai post. Jurgita is a well-recognized face of Lithuanian civil society. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the non-governmental sector locally and internationally. The organization “Geri norai LT” founded by Jurgita contributes to the creation of a better ecosystem for social business in Lithuania, implements capacity-building programs for civic organizations, increases the understanding of corporate social responsibility, social impact, and its measurement.

Watch the conference: