This paper explores how young social entrepreneurs create social change, and how their ability to engage with traditional decision-making structures shapes both their strategies and impact. Drawing from two Canadian youth-led social enterprises, the study presents a framework linking strategic approaches (socialization, influence, direct control) to different levels of impact (individual, community/inter-organizational, systemic).

Key insights include:

  • A youth-led organization's access to decision-makers and organizational capacity are critical factors influencing its ability to achieve systemic impact.

  • Socialization and influence strategies such as mass mobilization and social media campaigns are more accessible for youth-led ventures but can be time-intensive and less direct in solving complex social issues.

  • The innovative nature of youth-led enterprises is often shaped by their unique challenges, limited resources, and outsider perspective.

Authors: 

Dr. Amelia Clarke - Corresponding Author
 Principal Investigator, Youth & Innovation Project

Ilona Dougherty - Co-Author
Managing Director, Youth & Innovation Project