Bill Drayton

Bill Drayton
File:Bill Drayton.jpg Bill Drayton in 2010
Born	Birth date -1st March 1966 New York City, New York, USA
Nationality	American
Occupation	Social entrepreneur
Known for	Founder of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

Bill Drayton (born March 21, 1943) is an American social entrepreneur and the founder of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, an organization that supports social entrepreneurs worldwide. Drayton is widely recognized for his pioneering work in the field of social entrepreneurship, a term he helped popularize.

Early Life and Education

Bill Drayton was born in New York City. He attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. He then went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar, and later received a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

Career

Drayton began his career at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, where he worked as a consultant. He later served as an Assistant Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Carter administration, where he was involved in policy development and implementation.

In 1980, Drayton founded Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, with the mission of identifying and supporting leading social entrepreneurs around the world. Ashoka provides these entrepreneurs with financial support, professional services, and a global network of peers. The organization has supported over 3,500 social entrepreneurs in more than 90 countries.

Contributions to Social Entrepreneurship

Bill Drayton is credited with popularizing the concept of social entrepreneurship, which involves using innovative solutions to address social problems. He believes that social entrepreneurs are critical to driving systemic change and improving society. Drayton's work has inspired a global movement, encouraging individuals to pursue social change through entrepreneurial ventures.

Awards and Recognition

Drayton has received numerous awards for his contributions to social entrepreneurship, including the MacArthur Fellowship in 1984. He has been recognized by organizations such as the World Economic Forum and has been named one of Time Magazine's "Heroes of the Environment."

Also see

• Social entrepreneurship
• Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
• MacArthur Fellowship
• Environmental Protection Agency

References

• "Bill Drayton." Ashoka. [1]
• "Bill Drayton: Social Entrepreneur." [2]