Closing the Loop: What I learned from the K-12 Social Enterprise Learning Group

This blog post, by Margaret O’Brien, founder and CEO of Young Change Agents, closes out a series on a peer learning group she set up for social enterprises working across Australian K-12 education. The group began with ambitious goals, like building a shared website and possibly forming a peak body.

O'Brien reflects that the real value turned out to be simpler: a space where founders could speak honestly about shared struggles, such as funding, and gaining access to schools and decision-makers. Members worked across areas like STEM, mental health and First Nations education, but faced remarkably similar tensions between chasing impact and staying financially viable.

She concludes that not every network needs a strategic plan, and that people doing difficult work mainly need peers to compare notes with. It's a useful read for anyone founding or leading a social enterprise, especially those feeling isolated in their work.