The fifth and final public event in theMedia Lab ORT | UN75series took place on Wednesday, September 9, at the School of Communication and was streamed onthe school’sYouTube channel. Participants included Enrique Topolansky, director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Universidad ORT Uruguay, and Kevin Jakter, CEO of Rotunda, moderated by Fernanda Ariceta, director of Alva, ReAcción, and Empathy.
Being an agent of change means believing in innovation to improve the world and embarking on a venture with the conviction that it is possible to build a successful company capable of contributing to the creation of a more sustainable society.
In that regard, Topolansky stated that it is essential to “educate students to become agents of change in society.” That is one of the CIE’s objectives, for which they developed an “inside-out” methodology, which serves as “the foundation for fostering an entrepreneurial attitude toward life.” Drawing on the Rotunda case and its transition toward a sustainable vision, Jakter acknowledged that he and his partner, Sofía Rodríguez, were undergoing a “personal transformation” that was not reflected in the company. “That was the catalyst for starting to make changes.”
We don’t believe it’s possible today for anyone to start a business without first asking themselves why, what they want, what their dream is, and what their purpose is. People with this mindset are motivated by making an impact, and this takes them to places where traditional entrepreneurs feel out of their element.
Enrique Topolansky
The director of the CIE asserts that social entrepreneurs must be supported in order to succeed. “Generally speaking, a circular venture requires an ecosystem. You can invest in the venture, but if the ecosystem isn’t created, it won’t work. A larger industry is needed to allow them to integrate into its production chain. That’s where action is lacking—it’s very difficult to find that commitment from the traditional sector toward the circular entrepreneur.”
Rotunda has set short-, medium-, and long-term (five-year) goals. “We believe consumers will start to join us on this journey,” said Jakter. For example, they have begun offering sustainable leather shoes (made from pineapple). By 2025, they want “a high percentage” of these products. “I can’t say 100% because we have to see if consumers will go along with us or not, since it has to be economically sustainable.”
In that regard, he acknowledged that some consumers are willing to pay a little more. Topolansky agreed: “There is a niche market willing to pay a premium and choose that brand because it recycles; but we believe that consumers still have a long way to go in terms of maturity.”
I truly believe that when an organization puts its heart into what it does, consumers respond to that. At least that’s been our experience: ever since we started working out of that space, our profitability hasn’t dropped. We call our team TRIBU: people really enjoy seeing others create products and services and add value—not just seeing a garment sitting in a store.
Kevin Jakter
ORT Media Lab | UN75
The series began with a presentation by Mireia Villar—the UN Resident Coordinator in Uruguay—and José Peralta—the UN Communications Advisor in our country—at a conference titled “The Decade of Action.” A week later, Pipe Stein and Juan Ciapessoni discussed, agreed, and exchanged views on howcreativity can serve as “a solution to problems.” Next, Álvaro Moré and Nicolás Jodal outlined answers regardingthe keys to social innovation, the role of the private sector, and what CEOs can do. Finally, Eduardo Mangarelli and Giselle Della Mea discussed how technology can be put to work for sustainability.