Founders of Editora Mol Roberta Faria, 37, and Rodrigo Pipponzi, 38, won the 14th edition of the Social Entrepreneur Award, in the category chosen by a jury. They also won in the reader's choice category, with 80.1% of 516,395 votes, a record in engagement for the award.
The announcement was made in a ceremony on Monday (12th), in São Paulo. The award is a partnership of Folha with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a sister organization with the World Economic Forum. The foundation will turn 15 in 2019.
"This partnership has helped to consolidate the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Brazil," said Maria Cristina Frias, Folha's Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief, during the ceremony.
While receiving the night's grand prize, Faria and Pipponzi talked about their professional path. "The most important thing I learned with Mol is to transform something that seems impossible," he said.
Mol produces magazines and books, sold in partnership with retail chains, and the revenue is donated to nonprofits.
The other finalists were Pedro Paulo Diniz, 48, from Toca farm, and Luke Dowdney, 46m from Luta pela Paz.
Meet all three finalists:
- Luta Pela Paz: A Knockout Punch Against Violence
- Fazenda da Toca: Formula Sustainable
- Editora Mol: Millions Of Causes
Part of a network
Now, Faria and Pipponzi are part of the Folha Network of Social Entrepreneurs. The award also gives them access to the Schwab Network of Social Entrepreneurship, after being evaluated by the foundation.
The jury was made up of nine specialists from different areas of knowledge. Among them, Hilde Schwab, president of the Schwab Foundation; Maria Cristina Frias, Folha's Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief; Marcos Lisboa, CEO at Insper and Folha columnist, and Silvio Meira, founder of Porto Digital.
They analyzed detailed reports prepared by a team of Folha journalists and consultants who went into the field to collect data and personal accounts about the finalists' body of work.
The Social Entrepreneur Award is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Brazil's National Confederation of Industry and Fundação Banco do Brasil. It also has support from Instituto C&A and Instituto Porto Seguro. ESPM, Fundação Dom Cabral, Insper and UOL are strategic partners.
Translated by NATASHA MADOV