United Nations

“Social enterprise development is defined as creating and nurturing micro-, small-and medium-sized businesses that aim for positive social or environmental outcomes while generating financial returns.” – UN Global Compact

While the main goals of the United Nations are to maintain international peace and security; develope friendly relations among nations; promote social progress, better living standards and human rights, it seems like something is missing. With the restricting amount of resources available on a global scale, aids provided by the UN cannot possibly reach out to every aspects of our society.

Impoverished communities are often neglected due to limited resources. However, social enterprise development such as the Arc Initiative seek to touch every corner of the globe and focus on a broad range of fundamental issues. Rather than physical and material assistance, Arc provides support both socially and spiritually. Through building an “arc” that facilitates a genuine two-way exchange of knowledge and business skills between third-world and maturely-developed businesses, the long-term economic betterment for local communities is attained.

Indeed, the UN’s vision is make this world a better place through various humanitarian aids. Yet, countless local communities around the world still battle with educational inadequacy in which basic human rights are overlooked. Therefore, the establishment of social enterprises is absolutely crucial.

Elon Musk, the CEO and CTO of SpaceX, CEO and chief product architect of Tesla Motors

After Tesla reported earnings on Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk took questions from analysts. Analysts and media outlets have begun to address a possible decline in demand for the Model S. However, Musk insisted that demand is not the issue, it’s the production. “The battery industry has to have more B.S. in it than any industry I’ve ever seen,” Musk said during the interview, where he seemed ticked off that the battery industry doesn’t hold itself to a high standard of truthfulness.

As discussed in class, Tesla has been focusing on lowering the costs of production by mass producing car batteries (Tesla is preparing to construct a massive $5-billion battery factory in Nevada). However, it seems like the company’s pressing issue now is being able to simply build its cars, and build them well. Although Tesla is on top of the technology ladder, I think it still has a long way to go in terms of lowering manufacturing costs. Prices cannot be reduced if the marginal costs are high. And to further cut the marginal costs, Tesla has to invest more in its research and development. Otherwise, it will not be able to catch onto the rapidly growing demand for electric cars; and it will soon lose its slice of this big cake to other covetous competitors. Tesla definitely has the skills and technology, but the issue now is its affordability and surely the consumers do not appreciate such sumptuousness.

Jack Ma, the founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA), in its first earnings report as a publicly traded company, delivered on the growth prospects that have fueled a huge percent stock surge since its September initial public offering. This Tuesday, shares of the Chinese e-commerce stock are up 6% to $104.94, capping a 54% gain from the initial offering price of $68 a share. Given the company sold 320.1 million shares, that means IPO investors who bought those shares are now $11.8 billion richer.

Alibaba has proved itself as a company of superlatives, but what’s the secret behind its success? With a population of 1.357 billion, 632 million are Internet users, China indisputably has a internet-based market with enormous demands. Acting as a online platform for small businesses to cater to millions of consumers initially in China, and now worldwide, Alibaba strategically positions itself to meet both supplier and consumer demands.

Myself as a frequent online shopper, is frankly frustrated by scattered individual shopping sites and miscellaneous add-on taxes. Having a well-organized distribution network surely makes online shopping a much enjoyable, accessible, and diversified experience. Resources are optimized and everyone is happy.

But Alibaba is not satisfied yet. Its expansion into new businesses and markets is telling the world one thing: The lion is awakening.