Who We Are

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School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) India was launched in February 2016 www.the-sseindia.org and delivers customized learning programmes for improving well-being of every individual in the society so they can reach their full potential. We invest in people.

We work to promote social entrepreneurship by offering fellowship programmes, trainings on social leadership development, capacity building of small & medium NGOs and social enterprises and work with the government to enhance livelihoods, entrepreneurship development and localising SDGs.

At SSE India, we mobilise the experience of people who have identified an unmet social need and support them to use entrepreneurial approaches to create a sustainable solution to addresses the issues. We look for great ideas from people with first-hand experience of social issues because we believe personal experience builds a strong foundation of practical knowledge.

Our Philosophy

Focus on the individual. For us, human interaction leading to individual transformation is at the core of the SSE India programme.

Our Vision

We want to live in a world where social inequality no longer exists. Where every individual is born with the power and the means to change the world.

Our Objective

Support initiatives of social entrepreneurs who want to bring about social innovation in its truest sense.

WHAT MAKES SSE UNIQUE?

Alternative methodology honed over 25+ years, proven effective through independent evaluations
Focus on “un-learning” limiting beliefs and behaviours
High-trust classrooms and hands-on learning
Exceptionally diverse community, a rich environment for break-through thinking, and social solidarity
Connection to a network of social innovators in India, UK, Canada and Australia

Global Network

Empowering Changemakers to Tackle Society's Biggest Challenges

The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) empowers individuals to tackle society's biggest challenges through inspiring, action-based learning. With a global network of social entrepreneurs, SSE is transforming communities and improving lives.

SSE's innovative approach to learning is not confined to traditional classrooms; it is inspiring, action-based, and accessible, empowering social entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality.

SSE's impact extends beyond its direct beneficiaries. By supporting social entrepreneurs, the organization helps create a ripple effect of positive change, transforming communities and improving the lives of millions.

With a global network of over 5,000 alumni, SSE is a driving force in shaping a more just and equitable world.

SSE's commitment to social entrepreneurship extends beyond training and education. The organization provides a range of support services, including funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities, helping social entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of starting and running their ventures.

SSE's work is a testament to the power of individual action and the transformative potential of social entrepreneurship. By empowering individuals to become catalysts for change, SSE is making a lasting impact on the world, one social entrepreneur at a time.

Meet the Directors

Discover the Faces Behind Our Success

Indraneel Roy Choudhury

Chairperson

Indraneel Roy Choudhury (Indraneel) emerges from a distinguished career marked by nearly 35 years of commitment as a “lifer” partner at PwC India, retiring on March 31, 2023. His extensive background in financial governance, risk management, and, critically, fostering entrepreneurial growth, sets a powerful foundation for his current role as the Chairman, SSE India Board.

Indraneel’s journey at PwC was characterized by his expertise as a practice builder. After starting his career in Calcutta, he pioneered the establishment of the tax practice in Bangalore, South India, after moving there in 1998, eventually becoming the founding partner of the Bangalore Tax practice in 2001. He successfully led the South India Tax Practice from 2007 to 2016 and was appointed as a member of the India Tax Leadership Team. His technical specialization lay in International Tax and Transfer Pricing, a domain where he guided significant regional growth, leading 15 Tax Partners and over 300 staff members. He provided counsel to both domestic and multinational clients on tax structuring, regulatory issues, and complex transactions like mergers & acquisitions, APAs, and MAPs. His work frequently involved assisting US and European multinationals with their outsourcing ventures to India, taking his experience across jurisdictions including the US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Bhutan.

Beyond technical mastery, Indraneel’s profile is defined by substantial leadership and governance roles. He served as a member of PwC’s internal governance board from 2011 to 2019 and held the influential position of Chairman of the Oversight Committee from 2016 to 2019. Furthermore, he contributed to firm-wide standards as the Tax Risk & Quality Leader from 2016 until 2021, where he built and led a 45-professional strong Risk & Quality function, and chaired the Tax Policy Panel (TPP).

Perhaps most pertinent to his association with the School for Social Entrepreneurs India is his explicit focus on fostering emerging businesses. Indraneel led the Private & Entrepreneurial Business (EPB) for the firm between 2012 and 2015. In this capacity, he actively assisted in developing and establishing a strong national team dedicated to boosting entrepreneurial and private business clients. This experience is complemented by his proven commitment to nurturing the next generation of leadership, having served as a guest speaker at PwC’s Leadership development programs at “Genesis Park” and having mentored numerous young leaders who are now successful partners in the practice.

Indraneel's commitment extends deep into the public sphere through his long-standing association with key professional and trade bodies. He is recognized as the longest serving ExeCom Member of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Karnataka, serving as Chairman in 2009 and later chairing the All India Tax, Tariff & Regulatory Committee in 2015. He was also engaged with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as a member of the Karnataka CEO Forum and State Council, and served as Chairman of the Economic Affairs Panel in 2011. His dedication to professional development is further evidenced by his role as Founder & Board Member of the International Tax Research & Analysis Foundation (ITRAF) and his prior service as Chairman of the ICAI, Eastern Region, in 1998. Additionally, he is an active Rotarian, having served on the Board of the Rotary Club of Bangalore and being recognized as a “Paul Harris Fellow”. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and holds a First-Class graduate degree in Commerce from St. Xaviers’ College, Calcutta.

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INDRANEEL ROY CHOUDHURY

(CHAIRPERSON)

Our Board

Indraneel Roy Choudhury - Chairperson

Parvathi Menon - Director

Ness Wadia - Director

Gurprriet Singh - Director

Glossary

What exactly is a social enterprise? And what is a social entrepreneur?

Our glossary will help explain the key terms used in the social enterprise sector.

What is a social entrepreneur?

In its simplest definition, a social entrepreneur is someone who applies entrepreneurial traits and abilities for social benefit.

It is a new term for something that has existed throughout the ages rather than a new phenomenon itself.

A social entrepreneur identifies and implements practical solutions to social problems through innovation, resourcefulness, persistence and pragmatism. They have a clear understanding of their overall goal and the primacy of their social mission, and combine hardheadedness with idealism, choosing whichever models, governance and revenue streams best help them achieve their vision.

What is a social enterprise?

A social enterprise is a business that trades for a social and/or environmental purpose. It will have a clear sense of its ‘social mission’: which means it will know what difference it is trying to make, who it aims to help, and how it plans to do it. It will bring in most or all of its income through selling goods or services. And it will also have clear rules about what it does with its profits, reinvesting these to further the ‘social mission’

Social enterprises come in many shapes and sizes from large national and international businesses to small community based enterprises. But they all:

Are businesses that aim to generate their income by selling goods and services, rather than through grants and donations
Are set up to specifically make a difference
Reinvest the profits they make in their social mission

Examples of social enterprises include: Mirakle Couriers, Metta Spa, Goonj, Safe Hands 24×7, Janta Meals, Sakha Cabs, Green Cobbler, Super 30, Desi Crew.

What is social impact measurement?

Social impact measurement is calculating how much of a difference your organisation is making. Measurement of your impact will enable your organisation to improve by identifying areas of strength or weakness. Read this blog post: ‘5 key lessons from our Measuring Social Impact course’

What is social franchising?

Social franchising is the process of using franchising to scale social impact. Social enterprises can be franchises just like a commercial business, however instead of scaling to increase profits they use a franchise model to achieve greater social impact.

What is corporate social responsibility?

Corporate Social Responsibility – commonly referred to as CSR- is the social activities a corporate organisation chooses to engage in. CSR encompasses financial donations, staff volunteering and pro-bono support. Read more about how social enterprises can work with corporates.