Jim Bildner in Conversation with Stephanie Cornell
Join Jim Bildner, CEO of DRK, for a discussion of his new book, A Matter of Hope with renowned social entrepreneur and leader, Stephanie Cornell.
The event will feature a half-hour conversation moderated by Stephanie Cornell, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.
Tickets: $28 (includes admission + signed book), $18 (admission only)
Note: Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets can be transferred, if you are unable to attend.
About A Matter of Hope:
Hope is not in short supply; it is everywhere. Venture-philanthropy leader Jim Bildner shows what it takes to move beyond despair and into action.
In a world full of seemingly endless challenges, one human characteristic separates those who only see the world’s flaws from those who see its potential for change—and that characteristic is hope.
Drawing on two decades at Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK), one of the largest global venture-philanthropy foundations, and on the hard-won clarity that comes from profound personal loss, venture-philanthropy leader Jim Bildner provides a playbook on what it takes to turn hope into action, sharing inspiring stories of hope transforming lives and the ripple effect it can have on whole
communities. Grounded in real cases from hundreds of social enterprises reaching millions, Bildner weaves the psychology of optimism with intimate stories of individuals finding strength through vulnerability and lessons from social entrepreneurs changing the world.
A Matter of Hope offers social entrepreneurs, funders, impact investors, and nonprofit and philanthropic leaders a blueprint for:
Understanding the nature of the problem you are trying to solve
Analyzing the ecosystem and existing infrastructure
Defining your end game early so you don’t chase distractions
Developing your execution strategy
Knowing who needs to ultimately adopt your solution to embed or institutionalize it, and have a plan—and partners—to do that
About Jim Bildner:
Visionary leader and dedicated philanthropist Jim Bildner has lived an extraordinary life marked by success, adversity, transformation, loss, and unwavering hope. As CEO of DRK, one of the largest venture philanthropy firms in the world, Jim has seen firsthand, through hundreds of investments in social enterprises—the power of human beings to make a difference in the world. In addition to DRK, he is an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School and his research interests include understanding the role of philanthropic and private capital in solving public problems. Jim is a frequent contributor to numerous publications including the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Jim believes finding purpose in life is only met through service to others.
About Stephanie Cornell:
Stephanie Cornell is a social entrepreneur, advocate, advisor and leader who has dedicated her career to tackling complex challenges at mission-based organizations. Most recently, she led the Walton Family Foundation as its Executive Director. She is also the co-founder of several social ventures in the U.S. and internationally, including Strategic Grant Partners, Project Healthy Children (now Sanku) and the Maranyundo Initiative. Stephanie has served on over 30 nonprofit and foundation boards. A fellow with Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative, she holds a BA in English and Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and an MBA from Stanford University.