Christopher Gergen Entrepreneur, Social Innovator, FOUNDER OF SMARTHINKING AND OTHER VENTURES
Problem Gergen felt motivated to innovate and be a part of the solution to problems in the world rather than be a bystander. After working at CNN Gergen desired to travel and use technology to bring about education development. He believed that by providing distance education programming would serve as a powerful way of providing equitable learning opportunities for the disadvantaged. SMARTHINKING is a free service to students which allows them access to valuable tutoring and writing assistance that would otherwise be inaccessible to them due to costs.
Innovation Christopher Gergen started SMARTHINKING to provide free tutoring and educational services to students around the world. It is currently one of the leading online tutoring provider in the United States. SMARTHINKING is used in higher education to increase student retention and persistence. He has since gone on to co-author a book with Gregg Vanourek called Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives. Interviews for Life Entrepreneurs were conducted with "life entrepreneurs"—that is, people who create lives of significance through opportunity recognition, innovation, and action—including both business and social entrepreneurs. Among other ventures, Gergen is also the the co-founder of Bull City Forward, a sustainable innovation campus in downtown Durham where people can can come together and be creative and innovative in a supportive space. Gergen has helped create these “ecoysystems of entrepreneurship” because he desires to connect people and transform areas with the use of innovation. Bull City Forward supports social entrepreneurs that directly impact Durham, NC and the surrounding community with ethical practices, economic community empowerment, and sustainable environmental practices.
Impact The impact of Christopher Gergen’s innovations has been the creation of a culture and environment where others are empowered to innovate with a positive purpose. It what he refers to as an "ecosystem of innovation."Whether it is a coffeehouse/bar in Santiago, Chile, a innovation campus in Durham, or a entrepreneurship leadership development company, Gergen is about bringing people together so that they can resolve social issues in new and innovative ways. SMARTHINKING enabled Gergen to reach students in such a way that had not been done before. Students no longer have to wait to get help with their work - they are able to access tutors online at any time of the day from any computer with internet connectivity. Students are also able to receive feedback on written assignments more quickly on their strengths, weaknesses, and areas of needed improvement. While he certainly was not the first to provide online tutoring service, his company is one of the largest in the U.S., serving over 200,000 students from more than 1,000 universities, colleges, and high schools. Gergen's book, Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Live, has also allowed him to reach a wider audience with the lessons learned by 55 successful entrepreneurs. Through this book, Gergen has impacted others by sharing with them how to integrate "life, work, and purpose through entreneurial leadership and personal development."
Skills Gergen argues that innovation starts with challenging the status quo. By refusing to accept the current social conditions, people are more able to challenge and transform existing arrangements. One must first question what is, and what has been, in order to make improvements. When looking at what already exists, sometimes something entirely new must be created, sometimes the process or product can be improved.
Gergen believes in a holistic approach to innovation. To improve social issues, service and purpose must be integrated. For Gergen, service is not an option, but rather a part of who he is as an individual. Gergen believes in committing one's whole life to creating a better life for others. This does not mean that everyone he works with he necessarily agrees. In fact the opposite is true. He surrounds himself with people that challenge and do not mind being challenged. This brings out the best in innovators because it forces them to continually think differently and truly question whether their solution is really the best answer for the problem.
Gergen makes discoveries in the course of his traveling and doing what he loves. For example, the idea of bringing innovators together in a coffeehouse setting occured during a visit to Santiago. There he saw firsthand how musicians, writers, and thinkers came together under one roof to exchange new and creative ideas.
Gergen believes that anyone can be life entrepreneur, but that to be one, a person must work intentionally toward that goal. Gergen states that to be a successful life entrepreneur, one should pursue the following:
Discover your core identity: Learn who you are and what you value - both internally or intrinsically and externally
Awaken to opportunity: Find ways to increase your awareness of favorable conditions in which to innovate
Envision the future: Learn to imagine how a situation or set of conditions could be different as a result of an innovation
Develop goals and strategies: Learn to develop a process to accomplish tasks but also set benchmarks of achievement that are clear and achievable
Build a healthy support system: Develop healthy relationships with other individuals and groups who are committed to innovation and to creating an environment of success
Take action and make a difference: Learn to not only identify issues or problems but also how to step out, take risks, in order to make a positive impact about those issues
Embrace renewal and reinvention: Learn to take time to reflect on accomplishments and look forward to future goals
Bio Gergen is the co-founder and chairman of SMARTHINKING. Gergen also serves as the VP of New Market Development for K12 Inc and COO and VP of Business Development and Strategy for New America’s Schools. He is also the founding partner of New Mountain Ventures, a national consultation company that helps aspiring leaders achieve mastery of entrepreneurship. Gergen has worked to create a life focused on entrepreneurship and service to others. These two passions have found expressions through SMARTHINKING, New Mountain Ventures and other innovative initiatives by Gergen. Gergen holds a B.A. from Duke University, an M.A. in Public Policy from George Washington and an MBA from Georgetown University.