Meet a FLiP: Social Enterprise Fellow Annie Lam

Annie Lam on Social Enterprise and Microfinance 

By Jordan Walker

FLiP recently sat down with Annie Lam, who was selected as the first Social Enterprise Fellow of Changing Our World, an international philanthropy consulting firm.  Chosen out of over 40 qualified applicants, Annie is spending 12 weeks researching the challenges and opportunities in social enterprise.

In her interview with FLiP, Annie talks about her personal experiences with philanthropy and social enterprise and where she plans to go next.

Ok, first things first…what is social enterprise?  And why is it important?  

Social enterprise is an organization/venture that advances a social mission through market-based strategies. It also refers to any earned-income business or strategy undertaken by a nonprofit to generate revenue in support of its charitable mission. Its role is increasingly important, as it provides a sustainable way for nonprofits to run their organizations, and a medium for for-profits to do good through their social missions. 

You had an incredible opportunity to travel to Cambodia on behalf of Deutsche Bank’s Social Investment Funds. What does microfinance look like first-hand?

I was representing the Bank to conduct due diligence with a few microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Phnom Penh. Other than understanding their headquarters' operations, I was brought to remote rural villages to observe how micro-loans were distributed and collected. 

I remember in one of the villages, the loan officers gathered borrowers - mainly women - and educated them on how money should be spent and saved before distributing the funds. The procedures were very primitive, however. For instance, borrowers fingerprinted their loan agreements as compared to how we sign documents with pens.

In an interview with a woman who borrowed $100 for half a year, she reported to need the money to produce and sell pillows at the marketplace to make a living. She managed to repay her first loan with this mini-business (first phase of production: 200 pillows), and she anticipated to double her production scale with merely another $100. I was overwhelmed by the monetary power of $100 in Cambodia. In the US, that amount of money could probably only purchase a few pillows.

Now you’re pursuing a Master’s degree at Columbia University.  What makes the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) right for you? 

I have always been interested in meeting people of diverse cultural backgrounds, and SIPA's community displays that. On top of classes that are taught by a number of renowned professors, the most rewarding experience is to meet other students from all around the world. Each student has a unique story prior to attending SIPA, and oftentimes we learn from each other's experience. Even though I was on international rotations in my previous job, and I got to build friendships with people from other countries, I seldom came across natives from developing countries, especially those from Sub-Saharan Africa. Learning their cultures, gestures and hospitality fascinates me. 

My first year focused more on building the foundation so that in my second year I will have the opportunities to partner with external organizations and experience real world cases. I think this is another rewarding part of the education and I am looking forward to it. 

What’s the next step for you after you graduate next summer?

I am still exploring how to develop my career into the next stage, and I am grateful that I am learning a lot through this summer fellow opportunity - both on the subject of social enterprise itself as well as the approach towards conducting independent research. It definitely enhances skills I have acquired. Upon graduation, I am hoping to land in a job where my hard and soft skills can be utilized, as well as doing good for society. 

About Annie

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Annie first realized she wanted to study international relations when she attended the Future World Leaders Summit in Washington DC in 2001.  A double Quantitative Economics and International Relations major, Annie received her Bachelor’s degree at Tufts University before going on to work in the Credit Risk Management division at Deutsche Bank AG.

While at Deutsche Bank, Annie volunteered with its Global Social Investment Funds, primarily in Cambodia.  In her work with the Fund, Annie was tasked with interviewing recipients of microfinance loans to ensure responsible spending and repayment as well as achievement of measurable impacts.  

Annie is currently pursuing a Masters of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University.  Her coursework includes a focus on economic and political development.

Annie can be reached at alam@changingourworld.com.

Are We Ready to Lead?

Echoing what our friend Elizabeth Miller eloquently outlined as challenges faced by the next generation of potential leaders of the nonprofit sector, a recently released study asked close to 6,000 “next generation leaders” for their input on this seemingly hot topic.

The study entitled, “Ready to Lead? Next Generation Leaders Speak Out” was produced in partnership by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Meyer Foundation and Idealist.org.

Whether we like it or not, we are the focus of discussion relating to the future of this sector. What a sigh of relief then that our feedback has been gathered into this comprehensive study.

Check it out, come back to FLiP, and let us know what you think!

Challenges for Young People by Elizabeth Miller

Editor’s Note: FLiP is pleased to bring you another post from our friend Elizabeth Miller, Senior Program Associate at the Overbrook Foundation.  You may contact the author at emiller@overbrook.org.

Someone recently asked me what the primary challenges are that prevent young people from working in the field of philanthropy. That query echoed questions that I’ve had from my peers about why one would want to pursue a career where “you don’t make a lot of money” and where it’s unclear what skills you bring to the position and besides “what do you do all day?”. These kinds of comments get me thinking about how best to address these kinds of concerns so that we can encourage more young people to be excited to join the foundation and nonprofit world.

One of the primary problems is that foundations and nonprofit organizations are not very well understood by young, would-be professionals. Likewise, the organizations themselves are not very good at educating college students about the field nor are colleges. This invariably leads to a field that can be esoteric. Unfortunately, this deflects interest not only from young people, but from other seasoned professionals who don’t understand the nonprofit field. However, for young people this lack of understanding is more severe because they don’t often understand how their skills can contribute to the sector and although young people are often filled with a sense that they want to “do good” or “give back” they aren’t clear about how nonprofits can provide the opportunity toward achieving that larger goal.

Notes from a Team In Training Insider – Part I

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is dedicated to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease.  Its mission is also to improve the quality of life of patients and their families through education and support.  Since inception, the organization has given more than $483 million for blood cancer research, nearly all of which comes from contributions made to LLS’s fundraising campaigns.  Of the 66 Chapters nationwide and in Canada, the National Capitol Area Chapter (NCA) and the New York Chapter (NY) are two of the largest.

LLS was established in 1949.  Following the death of their 16 year old son, Robert, from leukemia, the de Villiers family started a fundraising and education organization in his name.  They were frustrated by the lack of effective treatments available for leukemia, a disease that carried a certain death sentence at that time.

Food for Thought: Brainfood Students Get Cookin’

Washington D.C. can finally satisfy your hunger for philanthropy - literally.  Get out your cookbooks and aprons because Brainfood, a DC nonprofit for youth, is in the spotlight of teen culinary education.

Brainfood is a nonprofit youth development organization designed in 1998 to provide cooking activities as an outlet for teens in the nation’s capital.  Food preparation and skills in the kitchen are in place to build life skills and promote creativity in a safe and positive atmosphere.  Students can chose from two participation options by making a commitment to either a four day after-school program or a six week summer session.  In addition to cooking, curriculums incorporate multiple aspects of the food service industry including, culture, science and technology.  Special events are an important part of the Brainfood experience and include guest chefs, interactive lectures from doctors and nutritionists, field trips to local restaurants, shopping trips and neighborhood community service projects.  Though curriculums vary, students in the after school program end their experience by participating in Brainfood’s Chef Challenge and Graduation. The program is open to the public and includes a graduation ceremony designed by the students. Ultimately, the “graduated” students are empowered with experience, confidence, and skills essential to community activism and contribution.

Operating with only three full-time staff, Brainfood is continuously seeking new volunteers and summer interns.  Like any organization, structure and leadership in the workplace can be disrupted at a moment’s notice, but Brainfood’s new blog system and Open Night Kitchens ensure stability within the organization.  “A Bite of Brainfood” is an interactive blog that provides updates and reviews of past and current events in which Brainfood teens are involved.  Students post comments regarding their experiences over the year and reflect on the power of the program as well as the relationships they made within their communities.  Open Night Kitchens are a result of numerous requests from the community to be able to observe and contribute to the Brainfood experience.  Community organizations or companies are welcome and encouraged to schedule times to cook and learn with the students.  Subscriptions to the Brainfood newsletters keep community members up to date on the events of their students and neighbors and also offer opportunities to sponsor events, to donate support, and even to create a Brainfood program within an individual’s own community.

So now that your senses (and stomachs!) are tingling with excitement about this fantastic organization check out the Brainfood website!

Why Choose the Non-Profit Sector?

Here’s why I think young people should choose a career in this sector: every night, I’ve got a great reason to wake up the next morning and go to work.

The Mainstreaming of Philanthropy

These days, philanthropy seems to be everywhere you turn.

Whether it is a yellow bracelet proudly displayed on an individual’s wrist, 10 concerts being performed simultaneously around the world, or a fundraising event featured on an episode of The Apprentice, philanthropy appears to be ever growing in our mainstream culture.

Breaking into the Non-Profit Sector

In the past five years, the philanthropic sector has seen a growing interest from recent college graduates and young professionals. More and more often, these students and recent graduates are realizing that a career at a not-for-profit organization, or serving at another organization in some philanthropic capacity, does not have to lead to a life of destitution. There are real jobs – dare I say: careers – to be had in this industry, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Is Doing Good All That Matters?

An inquisitive look at the real bottom-line for nonprofits.

In the minds of young people like ourselves, at the mention of the word “Nonprofit,” images of happy, smiling faces and selfless, backbreaking volunteers enter our heads.

May 2006: What's FLiP?

"If you know how to raise a dollar, you're eminently employable." -Paul C. Light, director of the Center for Public Service at the Brookings Institution.

If you’ve found your way to the FLiP website you’re either thinking about, or involved in, a career in the philanthropic sector.