Becoming an Agnostic

Question from an application I recently completed: "[fantastic mentoring organization] attracts leaders from a wide range of fields: traditional non-profit, social entrepreneurship, traditional for-profit, public service, and academia. What sector do you most closely associate yourself with?" This question comes up a lot--in my opinion, more than it should.

I have started describing myself as "sector agnostic," a term I first heard in a presentation by David Bornstein. It's not merely a matter of semantics, either. For years, we've talked about and worked to move past the "silo-ing" that wastes resources, squelches collaboration, and limits the impact of all kinds of organizations--businesses, non-profits, agencies, and departments alike.

Perhaps one of the greatest strengths any social entrepreneur (or intrapreneur) can offer is an ability and commitment to "associate closely" with ALL these sectors; to take lessons, adapt best practices, seek inspiration and integrate principles from each of these traditionally segregated arenas to get beyond the semantics and the status quo and focus on solutions.

So what does that look like? How do you recognize a sector agnostic?

I think there are some subtle cues: Their circle of friends and mentors is wide and varied...so is the magazine selection on their coffee table. The examples and stories they bring up in conversation come from everywhere and nowhere, yet they always end up relevant. You might even find yourself stumbling as you describe their work; "well, technically..." But they never seem to.  In fact, you seldom hear them using neat conceptual handles at all. Labels just don't stick with them. All they seem to think and talk about is what works.

The world looks pretty different as a  sector agnostic. And I like it.