Catalysts of Change: The Role of Entrepreneurs in Advancing a Sustainable Wellbeing Economy

Seminar
This event has now finished.
  • Date and time: Thursday 10 April 2025, 1pm to 2pm
  • Location: In-person and online
    ENV/105, Environment Building, Campus West, University of York (Map)
  • Audience: Open to staff, students (postgraduate researchers only)
  • Admission: Free admission, booking not required

Event details

Speaker: Jacqueline You, School for Business and Society

Abstract: The world is increasingly facing a complex web of interconnected crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, rising inequality, and socio-economic fragility. These multifaceted challenges threaten both societal resilience and ecological integrity, prompting growing consensus on the urgent need for systemic transformation. In response, discussions around sustainable economic models are gaining traction, with a range of alternative approaches from incremental reforms to radical structuring in addressing the root causes of unsustainability.

Within this landscape, the Wellbeing Economy (WE) has emerged as a middle-ground paradigm, advocating for a shift away from material growth as the central objective of economic development. Instead, it prioritises human and planetary wellbeing as core measures of progress. While the concept of a Wellbeing Economy is promising, translating its principles into practice faces significant challenges.

This talk examines the catalytic role of entrepreneurs in driving systemic change and explore their potential to operationalising the Wellbeing Economy. Drawing upon case studies and emerging practices, it highlights how entrepreneurial innovation can act as a transformative force in advancing sustainable and equitable futures.

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