Culture and Measuring Social Value

     Culture is critical to the long term development of a social venture. I have been considering what kind of culture would be most effective in a social venture that targets human trafficking. Trying to be fun and cool may attract talent, but I feel it would not match up with the seriousness of the work. No one wants to take a slide down to the bottom floor for a meeting on slavery. I think someplace that is serious on the job with frequent opportunities to socialize with co-workers after hours would be the most effective culture possible. A culture focused on a mission everyone believes in, “freeing modern day slaves in the United States,” can foster intensity that is contagious. We are obsessed with rescuing victims of human trafficking, and will pursue all courses to that end.

     This past week, we discussed what it takes to measure the social value created by a social venture to show potential investors what progress is being made and why they should invest. Measuring the value we create may be easier than some other social ventures. Crime statistics will allow us to know if we are having an impact on states in which we operate. There will likely be a spike in arrests following some of our legalization and reallocation efforts but year over year there should be a decline. We can also measure success by the number of victims who are given refugee status in the United States and by estimating the amount of money traffickers are losing due to legalization of prostitution.  Finally, our social impact value can be measured by the number of policy makers we meet with, how they are voting, and how many pieces of policy we introduce or pass. As influence and connection grow, it should be easier to meet more policy makers and get legislation passed.