How Make The Change Built a Social Innovation Business: Lessons for Aspiring Changemakers

Make The Change
Jun 12
2 min read

Updated: Jun 13

Three people smiling beside a flowchart titled "Social Innovation Journey" with steps: "Start by Listening," "Start Small," "Stay Flexible," "Collaboration," "Think Long-Term." — **Sharing Our Journey: How Make The Change Started and What We’ve Learned**

Recently our co-founder Pedro Aguirre had the chance to speak with a group of students from Anglo Chinese School about something very close to our heart — the story of Make The Change and our experiences in social innovation. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, and hopefully inspire the next wave of changemakers.

How It All Began

When we first started Make The Change, the idea was simple: use our skills to help create positive change in the world. We didn’t have a big master plan, but we knew we wanted to make a difference. Along the way, we discovered that real impact happens when passion meets purpose — and when you’re willing to take that first small step.

What We’ve Learned Along the Way

Every project, partnership, and challenge has taught us something valuable. Some of the key takeaways we shared with the students were:

Start by listening. The best solutions come from understanding the real needs of the people you’re trying to help.
You can’t do it alone. Collaboration has been one of the biggest drivers of our growth — working together with partners, communities, and supporters.
Small steps add up. Don’t be afraid to start small. Those early projects lay the foundation for bigger impact down the road.
Stay flexible. Not everything goes as planned. Learning to adapt and grow from setbacks is part of the journey.
Think about the long-term. Sustainable solutions are key to creating lasting change.

The Next Generation of Changemakers

What excites us most is seeing the creativity, energy, and passion in young people. We encouraged the students to look around their own communities and start asking questions. What needs fixing? What could be better? How can I contribute? Big or small, every idea matters.

The Journey Continues

As we continue growing Make The Change, one thing remains the same — our mission to empower and transform communities through design and education to create positive impact. Sharing our story with these students was a great reminder that the future of social innovation is bright, and it’s already in good hands.