Rappler Talk: Fr. Ben Nebres, mentor for social entrepreneurs

Most teachers would be happy to have influenced one student who would go on to make a significant impact in their field. Father Ben Nebres, a professor, an academic, and the former president of Ateneo de Manila University, has arguably helped along at least four.

These four are all recognized leaders in the world of social entrepreneurship. They are Melissa Yeung, who founded Got Heart Foundation and Earth Kitchen; Reese Fernandez, who founded Rags2Riches; and Mark Ruiz and Senator Bam Aquino who together founded Hapinoy.

That Nebres mentored and guided some of the best social entrepreneurs in the Philippines is certainly no coincidence. Poverty alleviation is one of his top concerns, and he sees social entrepreneurship as an efficient way to address it. Encouraging and developing the next generation of social entrepreneurs, then, is a matter of national importance.

So how was Nebres able to contribute to the development of so many top social entrepreneurs? What values did he try to impart, and what business skills did he try to emphasize? Perhaps most importantly, what advice does he have for the aspiring social entrepreneurs who want to change the Philippines for the better? – Rappler.com