Keynote Deb Bauer Talks Global Entrepreneurship at This Year’s Banner Brunch

We’re honored to host Deb Bauer, Dell’s director of strategic giving and community engagement, as our keynote speaker for this year’s Banner Brunch on April 28. (By the way, have you bought your ticket yet?)  Deb will share some of the ways storytelling has fueled Dell’s giving efforts, especially the Dell Social Innovation Challenge (DSIC).
We sat down with Deb recently and asked her to tell us a bit more about DSIC in her own words. She’s included a few bonus stories along with ways YOU can get involved in the Challenge.

Powering the Possible for Global Entrepreneurship
By Deb Bauer

I’m looking forward to joining AWC Austin members and friends at April 28’s Banner Brunch, as we celebrate the recipients of your scholarships and awards, as well as the power of storytelling.

I know how rewarding it is to see your efforts culminate in an event like this. As the leader of Dell’s global giving efforts, I have the opportunity to see the many ways our team members, our technology, and our funding help bring the dreams of others to life.  We support non-profits in countries around the world, working to bring technology access and learning to students, to support young social entrepreneurs, to accelerate cancer treatment for children, and to provide relief in times of disaster. Having the opportunity to meet our partners doing this work and hearing their stories is the best part of my job, and a true gift.

So for me, June is my favorite month. In June, the finalists for the Dell Social Innovation Challenge will arrive in Austin for a weekend of learning and for the final challenge and awards event.  Dell, in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin, sponsors the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, an ongoing competition that rewards aspiring social entrepreneurs for developing ideas that address environmental and societal problems. In June, we will meet high potential students from around the world who pitch their ideas with hopes of taking home a portion of the $150,000 in cash prizes and Dell technology that will help bring their dreams to fruition.

Last year, we met Malo Traders, two brothers who work to ensure that rice farmers in Mali are not malnourished by fortifying rice with minerals and vitamins and creating a brand of Malian rice that adheres to international export quality standards.  We met Daniel Paffenholz, a London School of Economics student who is also the founder of TakaTaka Solutions, which provides affordable and responsible waste management services to Nairobi residents by recycling and composting up to 85 percent of collected waste. And we met two students from India working to provide hygienic sanitary napkins to women in slums across Delhi, while also providing them with a sustained means of livelihood and better standard of living.

It is truly inspirational to meet university students with innovative ideas for tackling some of today’s most pressing social issues — students who are moved to act and make their ideas a reality.  I think back to my college days, and I can’t imagine going to school and starting an entrepreneurial venture – but there are thousands of students who are doing it today.  This year’s competition has more than 1,500 entries from 90 countries.  Amazing!

In 2011, Dell committed $5M over 5 years to enhance the program, moving it to a year-round, web-based community with resources and support for students at every level.  Whether they merely have a dream or they’ve already built a business plan and are looking to raise funds for a pilot, our aim is to be there to help.   Dell employees engage as judges and mentors – more than 500 have helped this year.  And a new web platform invites literally anyone in the world to participate.  You can read about projects, offer comments and support, vote for People’s Choice Award winners, and sign-up as a mentor at http://www.dellchallenge.org/

Getting their stories told well and often is a big key to the students’ future success.  So if you are looking for some inspiration and an opportunity to share your knowledge, please join us!