Purpose: Driving the New Economy

Financial crises, climate crises, and the growing iniquity of our market-dominated society have prompted a range of startups to ask what a New Economy might look like — and to start building it today.

James Slezak (Purpose Partner and New Economy Practice Founder) joins Aparna Mukherjee (Social Media Editor for a major consulting firm, formerly of The New York Times, Bloomberg), Marissa Feinberg (Green Spaces NYC Co-Founder) and Erica Berger (Storyful, formerly of The Economist) for a panel discussion and debate on what trends and movements are best poised to disrupt unsustainable and unjust economic models.

How can online strategies accelerate the movement towards sharing, co-production, renewable energy, and greater democratic influence on the economy? What’s working and what’s not? What role can big established organizations play, and where are the spaces for new social enterprises? Engage with our panel of experts on these questions and many more.

ON STORIFY :: Purpose: Driving the New Economy - #SMWneweconomy

Social media, collaborative consumption, and the sharing economy. 21 February 2013, Bloomberg Tower.

With the emergence of 'collaborative consumption' startups such as Zipcar and AirBnB, many are pointing to the rise of a 'sharing economy' geared towards access to services rather than ownership of goods. What are the characteristics of this new economy, and how should we shape it? At the very least, given the sharing economy's reliance on human-to-human connection, one can be certain that social media will be a key utility.

How does one define the sharing economy?

For those hearing 'circle of value' or 'circular economy' the first time, this video, presented as part of the 2013 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, serves as a concise overview.

Online and offline collaboration go hand-in-hand.

1. Everyone is a social media entrepreneur, not that one actually needs a Twitter handle to be one (Remember, social media is human-to-human connection, not merely tools for online engagement.).

2. Arié Moyal@amoyal

   If you have a twitter handle you're a social media entrepreneur?#smwneweconomy

3. To enable people to connect with each other as easily offline as they do online, Marissa founded Flockd so that individuals at a co-working space can quickly signal to each other whether and how they wish to connect in-person.

1. Everyone is a social media entrepreneur, not that one actually needs a Twitter handle to be one (Remember, social media is human-to-human connection, not merely tools for online engagement.).

2. Arié Moyal@amoyal

   If you have a twitter handle you're a social media entrepreneur?#smwneweconomy

   ​To enable people to connect with each other as easily offline as they do online, Marissa founded Flockd so that individuals at a co-working space can quickly signal to each other whether and how they wish to connect in-person.

   Why not give credit to those who try? Mass appeal is not necessary to succeed -- niche appeal works just as well (or even better).

Scepticism about Flockd from the audience. 

Arié Moyal@amoyal

I can do that with a cup #smwneweconomy

Why not give credit to those who try? Mass appeal is not necessary to succeed -- niche appeal works just as well (or even better).

1. Arié Moyal@amoyal

   @Hassanmirza @marissafeinberg What do you like about it?#smwneweconomy

   Hassan Mirza@Hassanmirza

2. @rikuniaku97 @marissafeinberg it's useful. Way less offensive than people saying 'I'm too busy' which makes me want to scream#smwneweconomy

   ​@we_flock The Flockd analog device idea seems promising to #SMusers! How do I get one? @marissafeinberg#SMWNEWECONOMY #smw #networking

Apt example of marketing by social media entrepreneurs -- get a Flockd device by tweeting @we_flockd with #SMW.​

@marissafeinberg @we_flockd entrepreneurs "Flockd" together. Awesome idea. #SMWneweconomy

How can a diverse set of stakeholders (or rather, brandholders), collaborate to shape the sharing economy?

@jslez reminds us that we need business and brand leaders with activists to shape the new economy. #smwneweconomy

Great concept @ServiceForLife: @marissafeinberg talking about@GreenSpacesNY and shared economy #smwnyc#smwneweconomy cc @clubworkspace

Keep in mind that co-creation, or bringing all stakeholders/brandholders into your value chain, is the future of business.

​For the full story, visit http://storify.com/yangbodu/purpose-driving-the-new-economy-smwneweconomy. Thank you to Yangbo Du for posting this great timeline and commentary on our talk!