UCL Minds

Growing Pains: Mastering Sustainable Growth in Social Enterprises

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Episode notes

In the final episode of series 2 of The Life of PIE, we explore the unique challenges social enterprises face as they balance growth with their mission. How can social enterprises expand while staying true to their core purpose? Onya and Jacob McMahon, a Life of PIE alum from the 22-23 cohort, discuss external pressures, such as securing funding and managing customer expectations, alongside internal struggles like aligning diverse activities and maintaining focus. Jacob shares strategies organisations use to manage these tensions, including creating flexible structures, monitoring staff and stakeholder engagement, and fostering collaboration within networks. How can growth both ease and create challenges for social enterprises? Why is it important to share knowledge instead of trying to own everything? We invite you to join us as we explore valuable lessons for leaders in social enterprises on how to grow sustainably and impactfully, while offering thought-provoking insights for anyone interested in the balance between ambition and purpose in any organisation. Since graduating from the PIE programme, Jacob has gone on to work as a Program Manager at Impact Hub London, Impact & Operations Manager at Cambio Consultancy, and Strategic Partnerships Lead at ZNotes, applying his expertise in strategy, innovation, and organisational design to drive sustainable growth and social impact. Date of episode recording: 2024-12-05T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:34:53 Language of episode: English Presenter:Onya Idoko Guests: Jacob McMahon Producer: Juan Manuel Castillo