Social Siesta Webinars (Interreg CE-RESPONSIBLE)

Published by Net4SocialImpact Support on March 6, 2022

The Social Siesta Webinar Series features three challenges which most social entrepreneurs:

How do I explain the value of my social business to partners?
How do reach out to my customers?
What can Europe do for me?

For these three questions, the project “CE-RESPONSIBLE” organized three webinars. The webinars featured speakers from Central European countries and consisted of an informal discussions on the above questions, with short inputs from the speakers.

Social Siesta Webinar #1 – What social entrepreneurs do for society!

Social entrepreneurs from Central Europe explain how they make the world a better place.

Speakers (detailed info below):
- David Kovalsky, Serial Entrepreneur, Business Hacker, Mentor, Investor and Education Angel
- Teo Petričević, Director at ACT Group
- Živa Lopatič, Ustanovitelj at Zadruga Buna z.o.o.
- Manuel Kreitmeir, Systems Entrepreneur, creating ecosystems for Open Social Innovation, organizer of the European Social Economy Summit
Date: Jan 11th 2022 – 2pm – 3pm CET

Social Siesta Webinar #2 – How to do effective communication

Social entrepreneurs from Central Europe explain the best ways to communicate effectively.

Speakers (detailed info below):
- Kama Kępczyńska-Kaleta. Project Manager at CREATIVITY WORKS PRESTON, involved in various social initiatives.
- Thorsten Bühner: Facilitator, Trainer & Strategist for Co-Creation, Fairstärker // goodworkshops.org
- Kristina Lauš: Communications and Crowdfunding for Good Causes
Date: Jan 25th 2022 – 2pm – 3pm CET

Social Siesta Webinar #3 – The European Social Economy Action Plan and its impact on social entrepreneurs

The European Social Economy in figures:

But what does it mean?

We invite speakers to explain how the European Social Economy Action Plan by the European Commission will support the growth of social entrepreneurs.

Speakers:
- Guy Lejeune, European Commission – Senior expert Entrepreneurship Unit G.3.: Social and Inclusive Entrepreneurship DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Francesco Silvestri: University of Bologna
- Marino Cavallo: Metropolitan City of Bologna
Date: Feb 7th 2022 – 2pm – 3pm CET

Our Speakers:

Guy Lejeune

Guy LEJEUNE is senior expert entrepreneurship in the European Commission’s DG Employment, Social affairs and Inclusion, after having worked four years on labour market analysis in that same DG. He mainly works on social economy and inclusive entrepreneurship policies, which support under-represented groups, such as women, youth and migrants in starting and growing a business. He has a degree in economics from the University of Brussels (VUB).

Website: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=952&langId=en

Marino Cavallo

Marino Cavallo has relevant experience in the economic sector and he developed many analyses and studies about the relations between social and economic issues and about the role of ICT technology and New Media in the cities and in the territories. He has been working for more than 20 years in Local and Territorial Authorities in Italy (Province of Bologna, Metropolitan City of Bologna).

In this period he achieved knowledge and experiences about public administration, innovation processes, projects to stimulate local and regional development. Moreover he started succesful activities for the managment of European Projects and Programmes of interregional cooperation between the different countries of the EU. He is Head of the Department Research, Innovation and Management of EU Projects in the Metropolitan City of Bologna (Italy).

Website: cittametropolitana.bo.it

Francesco Silvestri

Francesco Silvestri has a PhD in Economics (University of Ferrara), degrees in Economics (University of Bologna) and Political Science (University of Bologna). He is partner and CEO at eco&eco Economics and Ecology Ltd., a SME specialized in sustainability studies.

Mr. Silvestri is adjunct Professor in Economics at University of Bologna, University of Ferrara and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, author of about 30 scientific papers and books on circular economy, sustainable economy and rural development.

From 2016 to 2021 he was member of the National team of experts supporting the Italian National Strategy on Inner Areas (SNAI).

Website: https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/w21_ais-lisbon_it-strategy-inner-areas_silvestri.pdf

Experienced Vice President with a demonstrated history of working in both public and private sectors. Skilled in independent projects coordination, Public Speaking, Nonprofit Organizations, Event Planning, external communication. Strong professional, law graduate with a Post Graduate studies focused in Administration and Management from Warsaw School of Economics. Shrewd negotiator with a vast experience in international relations setting. Has something to say in 6 languages 🙂

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kama-k%C4%99pczy%C5%84ska-kaleta-9958a521/

Kristina Lauš

Kristina is a communications and crowdfunding expert specializing in supporting organizations and companies that are contributing protection of human rights and sustainable development. By coordinating and mentoring the implementation of crowdfunding campaigns for a dozen of civic initiatives, associations, and social enterprises, she has helped fund more than $ 100,000 for a series of socially and environmentally beneficial projects, including projects in the field of low-carbon development, gender equality, education, LGBTIQ rights, and independent culture. She is the co-founder of the Crowdfunding Academy, an internationally acclaimed educational program on crowdfunding. Through the role of Communications and Marketing Manager at the Green Energy Cooperative, Kristina is currently supporting the popularization of community and solar energy in Croatia.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-lau%C5%A1-8a525bb8/

Thorsten Bühner

As a strategist, facilitator and trainer, I get teams and groups into cocreative flows. In workshops, conferences and projects. For sustainable ideas in and around Munich.

As fairstaerkung.org we bring NGOs, initiatives and sustainable companies into collective vibration and strengthen their social impact. We want to strengthen those who are already active and inspire more people to get involved in impactful actions.

Website: https://goodworkshops.org/
Website: https://fairstaerkung.org/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thorsten-b%C3%BChner/

David Kovalsky

David is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong IT background. Through multiple companies he’s spent a decade in bringing FinTech innovations to the CEE market. After successfully exiting, David redefined himself as an advisor, supporter, and an investor. He brings startup know-how and experience by taking a company to the next level. David loves to travel across Europe from west to east in search of startup talent. He’s also a huge space fan and still keeps his plans for outer space travel on the roadmap. Primarily he’s working with CEE companies as a strategist and CEO coach. He’s also Chairman of the Board of Spirála – an NGO in the field of mental health. And a Founding Member of SoFarm NGO, where he helps social farms to reach the same opportunities as regular farms.

Website: https://in2greators.cz/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkovalsky/

Živa Lopatič

Živa Lopatič is co-founder of the Buna Cooperative and head of Fair Trade in Slovenia, she has been involved in communication, management, and planning for a long time. She runs the only fair-trade store in Slovenia, the Fair Trade 3MUHE, and the Fair-Trade mushroom shop. She is in regular contact with suppliers and buyers of fair-trade products. In the Buna Cooperative, she deals with business and communication, as well as the organization of events and lectures on the effects of international trade.

Website: https://www.buna.si/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zadrugabuna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zadrugabuna/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zadruga-buna/

Teo Petričević

Teo Petričević is director at ACT Group and a social innovator, social business architect and consultant, social economy and civil society expert with 10+ years of experience in organisational development, project management, fundraising, policy, research, training and capacity building. Since 2007 he is active in the development of social economy and enterprise legislative, institutional, financial and educational framework in Croatia and Western Balkan countries. He initiated and developed 20+ social businesses and support organizations.

Website: https://act-grupa.hr/en/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teopetricevic/

Manuel Kreitmeir

System Entrepreneur and ‘Third Culture Kid’ with a background as a 2nd generation tea and spice farmer in Sri Lanka- today creating ecosystems for open social innovation.

University Lecture, Facilitator and Thought Leader (openSAP) for Social Innovation. Chairman at Social Entrepreneurship BW. Organizer European Social Economy Summit for the European Commission. Social Entrepreneur in Residence at Ohana Social Enterprise.

His vision is an economy that works for people and planet. At the Center for Open Social Innovation they create (digital) ecosystems where social innovation can thrive. Partners include SAP, Microsoft, Audi, Harvard University, Mannheim Business School, Ecopreneur and the European Commission.

Passionate about New Work, Sustainability and Digital Social Innovation.