Social impact entrepreneurship
in Armenia
An interview with Sashka Avanyan
This month, we interviewed Sashka Avanyan, an Armenia-based filmmaker, and who serves on Stardust's Advisory Board about what it’s like to be a social impact entrepreneur. Sashka’s path shows how we can shape our careers to reflect our
values.
Getting into film
Sashka is a filmmaker and entrepreneur living in Vanadzor, Armenia, where she is the co-founder of Creopia Productions, a social impact video editing company. Having lived all over the world, Sashka has the well-rounded perspective to match. Her social impact journey to some
extent began when she came to Armenia as a volunteer with the program Birthright Armenia. She decided to stay, and lives there today, because of the community, with both its support and challenges, that she felt strongly connected
to.
"I felt the dreams I wanted to realize would be more doable in Armenia than anywhere else ...There are a plethora of challenges here [including] lack of infrastructure, a predominantly conservative mindset, and an extremely disorganized way of working.
However, in my experience in the face of all of these challenges I can always find someone to help me because there is such a strong sense of community and social support here which is something I feel much much less in North America."
Sashka's work reflects on social
issues and people who help their communities. One of her videos, shown below, shines a spotlight on Anahit Grigoryan, a mine risk educator.
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Learn about Sashka's work and film production company, Creopia Productions on her website here.
It also happens to be one of the latest funded projects by Stardust in Spring 2019. Read more on our website here.
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America's most famous Armenian
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Sashka mentioned a conservative mindset in Armenia, which made me think about how Kim Kardashian, one of the most famous people in the U.S. with Armenian Heritage, is perceived in Armenia.
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How Do Armenians Feel About Kim Kardashian?
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Film work & exploring cross-cultural dynamics
Sashka has had her films screened at multiple small festivals in Montreal and works for McGill University as a videographer and editor, in addition to her work at Creopia in Armenia [LINK HERE].
Sashka was drawn to film as “most fascinating medium for me because I find it to be the one art form closest to a real life experience”. The idea that we sometimes need to find our passions in real life, rather than through academic or digital settings, is reflected
in her work. One of her videos below shows the way to connects cross-cultural concepts through film.
What does it mean to be a "social impact entrepreneur"?
The term “social entrepreneurship” can
be vague, but this 1998 article by economist Greg Dees helped define it clearly. Dees starts by defining an entrepreneur not as merely a business starter, but someone who “undertakes” a significant endeavor. Dees sees entrepreneurs as people who undertake causes that have been inadequately served by government.
Read Greg Dees' full essay on "What
it means to be a Social Entrepreneur" here.
Social entrepreneurs become change agents in the social sector by:
- "Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value),
- Recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission,
- Engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning,
- Acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand, and
- Exhibiting heightened accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created."
Face-to-Face Conversation in a Digital Age
While Sashka mostly works via outsourcing, and through digital means, she still makes time for in-person interaction. "Face to face interactions will always be my preference so I try to make that happen as much as possible. Although face-to-face interactions are always preferable, digital communication has absolutely facilitated working
with a global audience as a social impact entrepreneur. The ease of communication through the internet is of extreme value to me since all of my work revolves around access to that communication and I think that when digital commutation is used with intention the negative side effects fall away almost immediately."
While Sashka and I did conduct this conversation over email, since we are separated by continents, in person interviews and conversations still hold great weight, especially in a digital age. The Creopia Productions video below is about the communication techniques of Armenian brides, as well as gender issues, and is far
more powerful because of the personal nature of the interviews.
Diverge from a given path and seek meaning in your work
While Sashka studied philosophy at McGill University, she has looked outside of school for inspiration and to find meaning in her work. The same way Sashka sought a new country in which to do her work, she also was able to imagine a life outside of the traditional bachelor's degree path.
"Higher education is a very valuable experience and I greatly enjoyed my time at McGill however I know that my energies at the moment are best used for pursuing my goals in Armenia. "
And it's good to know that traditional paths are not closed to you if you decide to explore other interests.
"It was never my original intention to leave university before finishing my degree but more a matter of life telling me where I need to be. It is also a lovely feeling that even if everything doesn't go to plan, I can always return and get that Philosophy
Bachelors."
A university education is valuable and can provide great meaning. But it is experiences outside of the classroom. that can give us dreams to pursue.
Stardust is coming to New York to host a meetup for emerging entrepreneurs and potential corporate partners in the fields of learning, sustainability, and health! Join us in Battery Park City on June 9th, 2019. See our Facebook event for more
information!
Thanks for reading!
Thalia Bloom
Constellation Writer
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