Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of the Skoll World Forum

Five Reflections on the Evolution of the Skoll World Forum with Professor Alex Nicholls

In 2004, when Jeff Skoll, Sally Osberg, and I (as the newly appointed Professor of Social Entrepreneurship) devised and curated the first Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford, we hoped that this event would offer a great opportunity to showcase, connect, and celebrate leading social entrepreneurs from around the world. It seemed somehow appropriate that such a new and important phenomenon should be celebrated at one of the oldest universities in the world.

Since then, this extraordinary Skoll Foundation event has evolved into the most important, annual, opportunity for the field builders of social entrepreneurship to meet, exchange ideas, debate, critique, and, of course, eat and drink in the wonderland of the 英国牛津大学 . Once described by Will Hutton as ‘the Davos of social entrepreneurship’, I would prefer a title of ‘the Burning Man for real people.’

I have been fortunate enough to attend every Forum since its inception in 2004. We began with thirty five speakers, one hundred and twenty attendees, and opening remarks from the then HRH Prince Charles, now HRM King Charles III. Looking back on the twenty years since, it seems timely to reflect on the journey we have all come on together since then. I offer five reflections of my own.

Reflection 1: Continuations

The first Forum included as speakers many of those who were driving the nascent field in 2004. A number have continued to join us in Oxford every year such as, Bill Drayton, Muhammad Yunus, Bill Strickland, Roshaneh Zafar, David Green, David Bornstein, and of course, Jeff and Sally. Subsequent ‘long-timers’ include Pat Mitchell, Joe Madiath, Jim Fruchterman (plus bow tie), Roger Martin, Martin Burt, and other members of the Skoll Foundation Board and wider Skoll family. The experience, inspiration, and energy of these participants has been a constant across each Forum.

Reflection 2: Institutionalisation and Growth

As the Forum grew, it developed a three day format that continues to this day: Opening Plenary; Skoll Awards Ceremony; Closing Plenary augmented by multiple, fascinating, panels and workshops throughout. In 2007, Stephan Chambers took over as MC, bringing in his very British, urbane, charm to the event. High profile academics also increasingly took part, such as Anthony Giddens, Mark Kramer, Paul Light, Doug Holt, Paul Collier, and Michael Porter.

Powerful high-level, political activists – such as former US President Jimmy Carter, former US VP Al Gore, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Nobel Laureate Archbishop Tutu and, perhaps most movingly, Malala Yousafzai – also inspired and motivated us to action.

• Malala Yousafzai Accepts the Skoll Global Treasure Award | 2014 Skoll World Forum

As the Forum developed exponentially, the fantastic work done by the Sa?d Business School, University of Oxford estates and catering staff and the brilliant Caspian events team - headed up by the indefatigable Heather Mason – ensured that as the Forum grew like topsy, it continued to be a high-quality experience, seamlessly run and managed.

Reflection 3: Bringing Culture In

Building on the social/cultural entrepreneurship of Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media, an important element of the Skoll World Forum - as it continued to evolve - was the presence of artists, musicians, dancer, actors, and journalists. Jess Search came to play a key role in terms of media as did Emily Kasriel. Sir Ben Kingsley, Robert Redford, and David Putnam gave insights into the role of cinema in social change. Musicians such as Peter Gabriel, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Bono, Annie Lennox, George the Poet, and KT Tunstall moved us (emotionally and physically). Dancing with Peter Gabriel remains a treasured memory for me!

Reflection 4 Disruption and Resilience

During the pandemic (in 2020, 2021 and 2022) the Skoll World Forum moved to an entirely virtual format. To demonstrate the resilience of the Skoll community under stress, it was decided that ‘the show must go on’. Under the banner title ‘Collective Strength’, the 2020 Forum used the virtual environment to continue to connect and inspire participants and sustain its community despite lockdowns and self-isolation. In 2021, the Forum was titled ‘Online Learning and Connection’ and used the Zoom environment to drive lively discussions and networking. With a more hopeful framing, the 2022 Forum was titled ‘Face/Forward’ noting that:

‘In this time of uncommon struggle, with painful truths revealed, we are learning from the past and moving collectively in the direction of progress. Together, we'll face today's challenges and advance the global solutions needed to bring people and planet into a thriving new era.'

Reflection 5: Onwards

It has been quite a Forum journey for me since starting it all in 2004. As I approach my 20th Forum, I am full of positive expectations of meeting old friends again and making new ones at college dinners and in the pub. I also reflect on the sad losses of three dear friends and fellow social entrepreneurship travellers over the years: Dean Anthony Hopwood, Professor Gregory Dees, and Pamela Hartigan. All played important roles in my and the Forum’s development. All are missed.

So, enough from me, now over to you!?When you come to Oxford - or engage with us virtually - let me pose three questions for your consideration before and during the Forum:

• What are the key issues that matter to you today?
• How can others help you find answers to them?
• What will you contribute to the conversations you started at the Skoll World Forum going forward?

After three years of virtual participation, this year promises to be a celebration of coming back together again after hard times as we reconvene the Skoll community in person at Oxford. You will be a part of this year’s rebuilding and reconnecting. Welcome back to Oxford. I’ll see you there, it will be a blast!

Alex Nicholls is the first tenured professor in social entrepreneurship appointed at the University of Oxford.?Professor Nicholls is a Skoll Centre Fellow and is also a Tutorial Fellow and Member of the Governing Body at Harris Manchester College . In 2004, he founded the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship for which he helped raise the core funding.?Find out more about Alex and his research.

Images sourced from the Skoll Foundation Archive