Social Impact Series: Part 1

This 3-part series focuses on how the practice of Business Design can lead to positive social impact. I interviewed Haris Blentic, MBA about how he has successfully applied Business Design to social innovation over his career.

Why Business Design?

Business Design is an effective approach to innovation and problem-solving that combines the principles and practices of design with those of business. It is most often associated with creating commercial value. In my experience, I have also seen how this practice can help create new value in the not-for-profit and public sector. Any initiative or venture that creates new value, and is intended to be sustained and scaled over time, should be thought of as a business.?Thinking ideas through to how they will be delivered and scaled within the social ecosystem will lead to lasting positive change.

That’s what makes the practice of Business Design such a powerful approach to social innovation. Haris Blentic has dedicated most of his career bringing the principles and practices of Business Design to the organizations that he has led in public services through not-for-profit organizations. He’s had a consistent track record of improving people's lives and delivering value to his communities.?

How does he know so much about Business Design? After his early career as a software engineer, Haris earned his MBA from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, where he became part of the team that pioneered Business Design. From there, he went on to become a devoted champion for social impact. ?

Heather: Haris, why did you decide to devote your career to social impact?

Haris: Having spent the first part of my career in the private sector, I found myself at a reflective point in my professional (and life) journey when a close friend, deeply involved in the housing and homelessness sector, invited me to dinner. I had always admired her dedication to her work and the meaning it brought her. As we shared our life stories and passions, she remarked “You’d be a great Board member”. She suggested I join the Board of Directors of a social enterprise for skills development and advocacy for individuals with mental health challenges, a cause dear to my heart. I applied and, lo and behold, they invited me to join.?

I will always remember coming in for that first Board meeting - I noticed a sign prominently displayed on the entrance door:? “A home. A job. A friend.” That really struck me.? I thought: Yes, this is what it’s all about!? I spent over 15 years on that Board, inspired by stories of success (and struggle) faced by communities experiencing poverty and mental health.

This experience had a profound effect on me, inspiring me to devote my career to effecting positive social change.? By leveraging my business background, I applied those insights and lived experiences to the field of social impact, recognizing the universal aspirations for stability, employment, and meaningful connections.

Heather: Why do you see the need for Business Design in your work, and how do you integrate these principles into your initiatives?

Haris: Social purpose organizations today face unique challenges as they strive to address complex social issues while navigating financial constraints and societal expectations. These issues are often interconnected and systemic in nature. That requires organizations to adopt a holistic and collaborative approach to drive meaningful change.?

That’s where Business Design comes in – it provides a framework and principles that allow you to design initiatives with the goal of long-term impact and systems change. Thinking through new initiatives as a ‘business’ is essential for scaling impact and sustaining efforts.?

Business Design is a logical process of moving from discovery through to a ‘business idea’. It’s a process that helps you design more robust and innovative solutions to important problems, and reduce undue risks by ensuring the ‘business idea’ is clear. And, what is really important, that process leads to insights, ideas and a strategy that help you to make a compelling case for securing the funding and financing to support innovation. That’s how it’s a business.

Heather: In your experience, what is the most important foundation for success?

Haris: Central to the Business Design approach is the philosophy of user-centric innovation. I firmly believe in the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’. At the heart of designing effective solutions are the lived experiences and perspectives of those directly affected by social challenges.?

By immersing ourselves in these experiences, we not only foster inclusivity but can also co-create solutions that authentically address the complexities of the issues at hand. This approach not only enhances the relevance and effectiveness of interventions, but also cultivates a sense of ownership and empowerment among the communities we serve. And that lays the groundwork for sustainable, lasting change.

Heather: Can you share a specific example of where Business Design played a crucial role in shaping new solutions and achieving positive social impact?

Haris: One of my early projects focused on Community Economic Development in one of Canada’s largest urban revitalization projects. Our challenge was to address youth unemployment within a complex urban redevelopment context.

By applying Business Design methodologies like co-design workshops and prototyping, we tailored solutions such as employment programs and entrepreneurship training to meet the evolving needs of underserved youth. Moreover, we adopted a ‘systems’ approach, integrating various facets of community revitalization and addressing structural challenges through partnerships and wrap-around services.?

This comprehensive approach, coupled with rigorous measurement and continuous refinement, informed the project's strategy, ensuring alignment with community needs and fostering long-term sustainability and impact.

Part 2 will expand on the approach, challenges and outcomes of this project.

Heather Fraser is the Founder of VUKA Innovation, a company that offers Business Design programs and tools to help innovators and entrepreneurs in any sector design and de-risk their 'business ideas', and bring clarity to their aspirations. You can learn about VUKA at VUKA Works and www.vuka.works.