The goal of a social enterprise should not be sustainability but rather to render itself obsolete by having solved the problem at hand until it no longer exists. – Etienne Salborn

Etienne Salborn is a changemaker-maker and social entrepreneur. He founded SINA (Social Innovation Academy), empowering marginalized youth and African refugee communities to become social entrepreneurs through a cost-effective and innovative approach of “freesponsible” empowerment. By creating their own solutions to the challenges they face, participants transform from passive aid recipients to active drivers of their own futures. As SINA’s model continues to scale across different African countries through a replication approach, its impact continues to grow. It has reached twelve communities in five African countries and has given birth to 72 social enterprises.

Etienne’s dedication to social entrepreneurship and mentorship has led him to serve as a lecturer for social entrepreneurship at the Management Center Innsbruck, the ESCP Business School and as a resource person for the Asian Productivity Organization, and facilitator for the ChangemakerXchange. His expertise and leadership have earned him recognition as an “AACSB Influential Leader 2021” or “Innovation Ecosystem Builder” by MIT D-lab.

SINA’s impact has been widely recognized through numerous awards as well, including the Tony Hsieh Award, the UNHCR Innovation Award and the 2023 Ockenden Prize.


Contact Etienne and his team of the Social Innovation Academy (SINA) for Consultancy, Training, and Speaking Services on:

  • Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation
  • Teal and Self-organization on the African Continent
  • Curriculum Development: Customized educational modules that empower teams to become pioneers in social entrepreneurship and innovation
  • From Idea to Impact: A comprehensive workshop covering creative ideation, problem identification, and crafting business models that work
  • Captivating Keynotes: Engaging and insightful keynote speeches on social innovation, social entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and regenerative development
  • Topic-Specific Facilitation: Customized facilitation services that drive home the importance of social innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Tailored One-on-One Mentorship: Receive personalized guidance from industry experts to navigate the complexities of social entrepreneurship and social innovation
  • Business Coaching: targeted coaching sessions transforming challenges into opportunities