Acumen Academy Courses

Contar Historias para el Cambio

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Acumen  and  The Ariel Group  have developed this workshop to help you develop your skills for storytelling. Whether you work in an office doing presentations in the boardroom, is professor of 30 or 300 students, interact with customers, or relating to people individually, using narrative elements will allow you to establish a closer relationship with his listeners. Storytelling makes your message memorable, the listeners will find a way to relate to you and, most importantly, attract the attention of his listeners, motivate and inspire in ways unprecedented. A story leverages more than an element of communication. Seasoned storytellers are great communicators and effective leaders. Acumen believes that the narrative is essential to change the way poverty in the world begins to change combat because conversations about what we see, feel, and know to be true in our environment tool. Change leaders recognize the potential in the world and have powerful stories that inspire action. Key Outcomes of Learning:After completing this course you:You'll feel safe when using stories, especially personal stories, as part of its communication tools box.Know how to tell stories and use a specific set of narratives to connect with ears and minds of his listeners skills.There will be developed, tested and received feedback to a personal story that will serve as a replicable model so that you can develop your "library" personal or stories to keep on hand to use on various situationsIt will be able to use a process that involves five steps to integrate history presentations aimed to change, to work or a variety of circumstances Further questions?For more information please visit our website: + Acumen . We invite participants to form groups to work together. For a group, please send this link to your friends or colleagues to join.https://novoed.com/storytelling-change-spring-2015-es/ If you have a group, no problem. Within the platform will be an option to form a group. Or they could also participate individually and interact with others on the course forum.Please send any questions to  courses@plusacumen.orgThis course is for you if:You make many presentations or want to improve your presentation skillsYou are a teacher, facilitator or instructorThink you do not have stories (Well, we'll find it for you!)Want a different way to connect with people (great for networking!)He is attending interviews to find jobs and want to present yourself in a shocking wayWant to change your communication styleJust want to have fun! About Courses + Acumen:Acumen  is a nonprofit organization that changes the way in which the world fight poverty and build a world based on dignity, investing in companies, leaders and ideas. Furthermore  + Acumen  ("Acumen plus") was established in 2009 to provide people an interesting way to incorporate wit - "+ Acumen" - in their lives. + Acumen makes available all the work that has developed in the field of leadership. In Acumen, Leadership begins with the moral imagination: the humility to see the world as it is and audacity to imagine as it could be. In combination with the operational and financial skills, our courses are designed to provide emerging leaders who are change agents, tools to change the way the world fights poverty and build a world based on dignity. We invite you to learn here other  courses + Acumen . You can contact us through courses@plusacumen.org  Leadership Model  

Networking Leadership 101: Building Your Core Professional Network

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When you think of networking, do you envision awkward mingling at cocktail parties and self-promotional pitches? This doesn't have to be the case. At Acumen, we believe leaders should have the audacity to imagine the world as it could be AND the humility to recognize that they cannot change the world alone. To tackle the world's toughest problems, you need collaboration from people across your network and across sectors.In this 4 hour course from +Acumen and the Center for Creative Leadership, you'll complete interactive diagnostic activities that will help you and your team unearth the social capital & relationships that you bring to the table. You'll be exposed to new data visualization tools for mapping your network; learn about 5 network traps to avoid that are particularly common to the social sector; and, most importantly, gain concrete strategies for building genuinely collaborative relationships.

Financial Modeling for the Social Sector

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Nonprofit leaders must connect their social impact work with the right business model to achieve sustainability. With finite resources and limited staffing, developing the most appropriate business plan can be a challenge for many nonprofits that are more focused on the immediate needs than their sustainability over the long haul.This course teaches nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and social change leaders how to use financial modeling and creative approaches to market-based funding to scale the impact of their work. This course will be valuable for organizations of all shapes and sizes, and particularly useful for those in the early stages of development.

The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Stories Beyond the Headlines

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Since the Syrian Civil War erupted in 2011, millions of Syrians have fled their homes. Due to the scale and complexity of this humanitarian crisis, many of us still struggle to grasp the human reality beyond the news reports.We teamed up with the filmmakers from Living on One and 1001 MEDIA to bring you this Discussion Toolkit to challenge all of us to go beyond the headlines and learn about the individuals and families in the Za’atari refugee camp. The award winning documentary film, Salam Neighbor, will serve as a jumping off point to discuss the complexities of the crisis. Through the film’s immersive storytelling, you’ll hear from the refugees themselves and walk away with a greater appreciation of how we are interconnected as neighbors. By the end of the course, you will gain a better understanding of the crisis as well as the actions you can take.

Lean Data Approaches to Measure Social Impact

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If you’re running a cash-strapped enterprise, it's easy to see impact measurement as a “nice to have” rather than a critical need. But, there is a fundamental alignment between measuring impact and creating value for customers.Impact starts and ends with data. Data allows us to see how we performed, test assumptions, contrast performance, align incentives and hold ourselves accountable. Yet data gathering in the social sector often seems like a costly, time-consuming and daunting challenge. At Acumen we think that data collection can be made significantly more efficient through 3 interconnected components we call the Lean Data Cycle: new mobile technology;innovative survey questionnaires; and integration with existing company-customer touch points.In this 4 hour course, you’ll learn more about the Lean Data mindset and how to scope your own lean data initiative. The course will be interspersed with real case studies from social enterprises in Acumen’s portfolio so that you understand on-the-ground challenges and rewards associated with implementing a Lean Data approach. Key Learning Outcomes:By the end of this course, you will:Understand the Lean Data mindset and the 3 connected components of the Lean Data CyclePitch the value of a Lean Data approach to the enterprises, organizations or stakeholders you work with in ways that align with their business prioritiesVisualize the current information flow within your organization and identify places where data could be collected in the least disruptive wayBegin to scope a lean data initiative for your organization that identifies the timeline, personnel, costs, and technology associated with implementationThis Course Is For You If:You are a social entrepreneur looking to align your impact priorities with your business priorities and collect data in the least disruptive way possibleYou are a social sector organization looking to shift from a monitoring and evaluation approach to an impact measurement approachYou are anyone in the impact investing space looking to learn more about how to measure impactYou took +Acumen’s longer course on “Measuring Social Impact” and are looking to learn more about one approach to data collection

Introduction to Human-Centered Design

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Human-centered design (HCD) is a creative approach to problem solving pioneered by the design firm IDEO.This is an intensive, hands-on learning experience that will challenge you to get out of your chair and out into the real world to talk to people and test your ideas. You’ll leave this experience equipped and energized to apply the human-centered design process to challenges across industries, sectors, and geographies to generate breakthrough ideas.

Jonathan Greenblatt on Fighting Hate & Bias

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In this course, Jonathan Greenblatt, the current CEO of the Anti-Defamation League and the previous Director of Social Innovation for President Obama, will share concrete tips and strategies that everyone can take to fight hate in their communities, workplaces, and online. Learn how to recognize the signs of bias and develop strategies for taking a stand in your communities. Whether you’re a human resources manager, a parent, a social entrepreneur, or a concerned citizen, you’ll learn strategies to become a force for good—and help the people around you do the same.

Lean Startup Principles for the Social Sector

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Lean for Social Change draws on the latest thinking in Silicon Valley on how to build companies that maximize customer value while minimizing wasted effort and makes it relevant for social innovators. The lean approach relies on validated learning, experimentation, and iterative product releases to shorten product development cycles, measure progress, and gain valuable customer feedback. In an environment where the majority of startups fail, lean principles aim to give startups a better chance of success by helping entrepreneurs learn more quickly what works and discard what doesn’t.These principles aren’t just for high tech startups but tools for life for any innovator, especially those determined to solve the world’s toughest social problems.What you’ll learn:By the conclusion of this course you will:Have a framework for taking a social impact idea and assessing its potential for creating long-lasting impact and achieving financial sustainabilityUnderstand how to create and validate a business model intended to create social impact.Develop a “lean mindset” for tackling problems of poverty that can be applied to other settings in the corporate, public, and NGO sectorsYou’ll love this course if:You’re an aspiring or very early stage social entrepreneur/founding team member that is building an impact enterprise to tackle a specific problem of povertyYou’re looking to learn the lean mindset to drive a social change initiative in a larger organization. (For example, you could be an employee within an established business, public sector organization or non-profit).You just completed the Human-Centered Design for Social Innovation course and are ready to take your project to the next level.How this course works:This is a practical but intensive class where you will learn by doing. In this course you will:Be expected to come with an idea for a new model to solve a problem of povertyWork in teams learning how to take your idea and assess its potential for achieving long-lasting impact and financial sustainabilityLearn how to use a tool called The Business Model Canvas to brainstorm each part of a business, and Customer Development, a systematic approach that forces you to get out of the building to see whether anyone other than you would actually want to use your product/service.Along the way you’ll have the opportunity to recruit a mentor from Acumen’s community to accompany you through the course, And at the end, the top-ranked teams will get a chance to pitch their ideas for feedback to a virtual panel of social impact investors.You can take this course by yourself but it will be a lot of work. We highly recommend you form a team of 3-4 people, preferably located in the same place. You may enter the course with a team or find a team using the course platform once the course starts.

Adaptive Leadership

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Effective leadership disrupts the status quo, navigates resistance and creates growth and new possibilities.This introductory course helps you identify and make progress on a leadership challenge in your own life, team or community. You'll apply the tools and techniques of Adaptive Leadership, a practical framework developed at Harvard Kennedy School of Government for leading change, particularly during times of uncertainty or when there are no easy answers.At Acumen we believe that Adaptive Leadership is critical to drive systemic change. We're pleased to offer this course in partnership with Eric Martin of Adaptive Change Advisors (ACA) who trains Acumen Fellows in leadership.

The Path of Moral Leadership

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The world needs you, now more than ever. Many of our institutions have run their course, but we've not imagined what to replace them with. Change not only is possible, but the need for change is urgent.This is a moment for each of us to show up and lead. The work has never been more important.But how to start and what to do?The good news is that the world is ready to redefine success. More and more of us understand that the skills of the last century aren't enough to tackle the complex problems we face today. What is needed is a new set of skills if we are to build truly inclusive, sustainable solutions.Join Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen, along with hundreds of other social entrepreneurs, social innovators, and leaders in a collaborative course that will help you make a difference.In this course, you’ll access the most important principles Acumen has learned from more than 20 years working with leaders who are breaking boundaries and improving how the poor, the vulnerable, and the earth are treated.There is no action too small, and there is no time like right now. You don’t need to be a social entrepreneur, nonprofit leaders, or an activist to benefit from this course. The work belongs to all of us and you can start right where you are.

Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail

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Issues of injustice persist in our world today and require urgent action. Yet conversations around race, activism, extremism and justice can be difficult to have. This course will equip you to lead a discussion on these important and challenging topics by using Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” as a springboard.  The discussion guide provided in this course will help you explore MLK’s arguments, dissect his masterful use of rhetoric, and come to a better understanding of how to address issues of social injustice in the present time and in your own community.

Designing for Environmental Sustainability and Social Impact

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This course was designed for social entrepreneurs, conservation specialists, or corporate innovators who want to apply entrepreneurial mindsets and methodologies to address challenges related to environmental sustainability and social impact.This is a hands-on, project-based course that consists of weekly readings, videos, and workshops. In the first week of the course, you will select an environmental challenge to explore. In each workshop, you will apply the concepts you learned in the reading to propose solutions to the environmental challenge.The course features insights from Mark Tercek, CEO of The Nature Conservancy; Vien Truong, CEO of Green for All; and Michael Kobori, Vice President of Sustainability for Levi Strauss & Co. It also shares case studies from social entrepreneurs and conservation organizations around the world.    

Social Impact Analysis

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This course will introduce you to frameworks and practical tools for measuring the social impact of your company, organization, or initiative. You'll learn how to articulate short-term outcomes and long-term goals, and connect them to quantifiable metrics that support your decisions.

Human Capital Strategy for Social Enterprises

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When scaling a business, many entrepreneurs consider the financial capital they’ll have to raise. However, a social enterprise’s ability to succeed in complex markets is also contingent on its human capital.Developing strategies to attract, retain and develop employees can give a business significant competitive advantage. This course will lead you through the basics of developing a human capital strategy.You’ll learn how to intentionally design your company’s values and culture, recruit and hire the right people, adapt your organizational structure as you scale, and build effective teams.You’ll also learn how to structure compensation, manage employee performance, and offer relevant professional development. This course is ideal for early stage entrepreneurs thinking about how to build and grow their teams in impact-driven companies.

Social Entrepreneurship 101

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Ever dream of changing the world or making a difference? You are invited to roll up your sleeves and join a group of entrepreneurs on a journey to change lives by changing systems. In this 4 week course from +Acumen, you'll learn to apply entrepreneurial skills to social problems and design lasting solutions. Built from Acumen's years of experience investing in social entrepreneurs, this course will also featuring firsthand stories and advice from 4 inspiring founders: Charles Best of DonorsChoose.org, Thulsiraj Ravilla of Aravind Eyecare, Leila Janah of Sama Group, and JB Schramm of College Summit.Designed for anyone approaching social entrepreneurship for the first time, this interactive learning experience will give you an overview of the sector. It will help you explore pathways for initial engagement with social enterprises and uncover your relevant passions and skills.By the end of this course, you'll have found a concrete way to contribute to a social enterprise OR you'll be engaged in early stage ideation for your own venture. Specifically, you'll begin to identify a problem you care about, understand the considerations needed for impact and financial sustainability, and learn about how various social entrepreneurs have thought about scale. Sign up to get started!