Dela Programme
A collaboration between Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
Ashoka & IKEA Social Entrepreneurship have co-created a global accelerator, Dela, to support leading social entrepreneurs develop their impact and scaling strategies. In this second edition of the programme, twelve social entrepreneurs will participate and embark on a journey to accelerate their ideas, supported by IKEA co-workers, business leaders, and the social entrepreneurs themselves.
Together, we share knowledge, perspectives and networks to support social entrepreneurs, and to engage IKEA co-workers.
Åsa Skogström Feldt
Head of IKEA Social Entrepreneurship at Inter IKEA Group
“Social entrepreneurs are often pioneers and pathfinders who address social challenges and work to create better opportunities using an entrepreneurial approach and, in many cases, tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality in the process. In a world with big challenges, collaboration and mutual learning is key.”
Fernando Assad
Ashoka Fellow & Dela Accelerator Participant
“For me, the Dela Accelerator programme is a one way trip.
Once you are invited to structure and implement a system change
strategy in order to reach much more impact, the way you used to
think and see your work changes completely.
It is a radical revolution.”
Accelerator Programme
The accelerator programme supports leading social entrepreneurs whose solutions redefine the underlying root cause of social problems.
The second edition of the Dela programme features an Accelerator for 12 selected social entrepreneurs.
The Accelerator will focus on enhancing the system change strategies of the social entrepreneurs and identifying the organisational milestones required to attain them.
Co-Worker Engagement
The Dela Programme directly involves IKEA co-workers as advisors to support the social entrepreneurs with their strategic and implementational challenges. By adding new advice to their efforts, the accelerator aims to further increase the impact of the social entrepreneurs’ work.
At the same time, it offers the IKEA advisors an opportunity to learn from the social entrepreneurs. With the support of Ashoka, IKEA co-workers and Thought Partners will present their new strategies to a group of hand-picked top-level executives who will challenge their assumptions and refine their strategies.
Adding Social Entrepreneurs
Through this partnership, we also source and select the latest, most innovative and leading social entrepreneurs who are working on the topic of livelihood and circularity. Circularity means looking beyond the current take-make-dispose model and focus on positive society-wide benefits. The social entrepreneurs inspire IKEA to work in new, smarter and sustainable ways.
The social entrepreneurs also get the option to join a Scoping and Experimentation phase. This will see them paired with ‘Experimenting Partners’ & experts to further test the feasibility, viability and desirability of their systems change ideas.
Meet the current Social Entrepreneurs and their respective IKEA Advisors
Sofia Appelgren
Ashoka Fellow | Mitt Liv
Mitt Liv’s vision is an inclusive society and a labor market that values diversity. To achieve this vision, Sofia and Mitt Liv's team work to disrupt the barriers for inclusion that exist in the Swedish labor market today.
Peter List
IKEA Advisor | Global head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, IKEA (INGKA)
With his 30 years of working for IKEA in 3 continents, in business and people roles, Peter hopes to share his learnings and experience during the programme.
Bettina Castillo
IKEA Advisor | Global Supply Operations Manager at IKEA Supply AG
Betinna's vision is a world where all people have the same opportunities no matter which pre-condition they are facing.
Arbind Singh
Ashoka Fellow | NIDAN
Arbind strongly focuses on grassroots change through his work at NIDAN. NIDAN's vision is to change the ways unorganized workers are treated in India and elsewhere.
Jessica Andren
IKEA Advisor | Country Retail Manager & CSO IKEA Switzerland
With her 30 years of experience, Jessica believes that we perform, transform and grow with purpose, we have the ammunition to make a difference.
Frédéric Bardeau
Ashoka Fellow | SIMPLON.CO
Reconciling the sectors of technology and social economy, Simplon.co is developing new mechanisms of social inclusion by providing opportunities for individuals to develop digital skills needed to succeed in the 21st century economy.
Paolo Cinelli
IKEA Advisor | Chief Digital & Information Officer at IKEA Saudi Arabia & Bahrain
Paolo considers it a privilege to support social entrepreneurs with his experience of leading major changes, coaching and digital transformation across geographies and cultures.
Jina Krause-Vilmar
Social Entrepreneur | Upwardly Global
Jina and Upwardly Global support work-authorized, college-educated immigrant professionals, including refugees and asylum seekers, in rebuilding careers and accessing skills in high-demand industries.
Ramune Danileviciute
IKEA Advisor | HR Manager - HR Department / Division Boards
Ramune is really interested in supporting a social entrepreneur working in her area of expertise and sharing IKEA People experience.
Adriana Marina
Ashoka Fellow | Hecho X Nosotros (HXN) & Animana
Adriana and HXN are fostering a sustainable fashion movement by establishing global mechanisms to enable rural Andean producers full and consistent access to global markets, while also shifting mindsets in the fashion industry.
Carmen Spinola
IKEA Advisor | Vaps Market Manager IKEA Valencia, Spain
Carmen deeply believes that the main role of a leader is to develop the people around them, sharing knowledge and experiences.
Vincent Lagacé
Ashoka Fellow | Nuup
Vincent and Nuup improve the
livelihoods of smallholder producers by
involvingthem, the organizations that
serve them, and the corporations that
buy their produce in a common effort
to design better, fairer value chains.
Elena Alemanno
IKEA Advisor | Business steering manager at Inter IKEA Systems B.V
Elena is contributing to the Dela programme by leveraging her knowledge and passion for the topic to benefit the participating social entrepreneurs.
Salamatu Garba
Ashoka Fellow | Women Farmers Advancement Network- WOFAN
Salamatu concentrates on farming activities through WOFAN as a means to bridge the gender divide, train,
advocate and design solutions with community members to empower women and youth.
Cristiana Serbanescu
Project Leader New Business & Innovation in PLASEEP
Cristiana is supporting social entrepreneurs in reaching their goals of both economic and social development towards a fairer world.
Alice Freitas
Ashoka Fellow | Instituto Realice
Instituto Realice's vision is to contribute to the reduction of Brazilian social inequality through the empowerment of women artisans, conducting training, forming networks and access to increase their income.
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Fredrika Inger
IKEA Advisor | Global Business Area Manager Livingroom
Fredrika hopes to contribute with her knowledge and experience of developing business and people in line with a good purpose.
Andreas Eke
Ashoka Fellow | Futuro Forestal / The Generation Forest
The Generation Forest is a cooperative which is dedicated to fostering a healthy global climate – by planting as many forests as possible, as sustainably as possible, all while working hand in hand with local people.
Doris Martetschläger
IKEA Advisor | Global RST Manager, IKEA Supply AG.
Doris considers it a privilege to support social entrepreneurs who create value beyond economic purpose. She wishes that her competence and experience in building and implementing strategies will support social entrepreneurship.
Chid Liberty
Ashoka Fellow |
Impact Transformation Fund (ITF)
Chid is changing the paradigm in the African manufacturing industry, by pioneering ethical manufacturing in Africa earning the continent’s first Fair Trade Certification by Fair Trade USA.
Lars Svensson
IKEA Advisor | Sustainability and Communication Director - IKEA Southeast Asia
Lars hopes to contribute with dialogue, experience, network and perspective to help contribute in making a positive, concrete and sustainable difference.
Albert Mollah
Ashoka Fellow | Access Bangladesh Foundation
Albert is opening opportunities for people with functional diversity to achieve their full potential, become
self-sufficient and active contributors
to society.
Neetu Kapasi
IKEA Advisor | Country Public Affairs Leader at IKEA India
Neetu hopes to add her experience, passion, knowledge, openness and strategic advice to enable good ideas to flourish into impactful actions.
Stacey Epperson
Ashoka Fellow | Next Step
Next Step's vision is to make
manufactured housing a practical,
sustainable solution to the housing
affordability crisis across the U.S.
Rob Olson
IKEA Advisor | Real Estate Manager, Group Real Estate
Rob finds it valuable to give back and support social entrepreneurs. He commits to give and take responsibility, renew and improve, lead by example, and care for people and the planet.
Meet the previous Dela Social Entrepreneurs and their respective IKEA Advisors
Liisa Smits
Ashoka Fellow | Ignitia
Liisa is sending small farmers in Ghana climate data sets that allow them to increase their yield and efficiency by timing planting, cultivating, and harvesting.
Helena Nilsson
IKEA Advisor | Inter IKEA
Helena wishes to learn, to contribute and develop mutual insights alongside the social entrepreneurs, but also to bring a connection back to IKEA.
Andrew Johnson
IKEA Advisor | INGKA Services
Andrew is interested in developing people & products that create a better life for the many & have positive impact on the planet.
Arnaud Crapie
IKEA Advisor
He started his career at IKEA in 1995 in a store in Lyon. Here he learnt about customer satisfaction and the importance of good quality products.
Daniel Kerber
Ashoka Fellow | More Than Shelters
Daniel prototypes and disseminates holistic concepts by bridging three crucial stages of a refugee's journey: arrival centers, transit zones and refugee camps.
Yasushi Kusume
IKEA Advisor | New Business Innovation
Yasushi believes that people-focused design and design competence can contribute not only to the creation of business success, but also to making the world a better place in which to live.
Inga Urbonaviciute
IKEA Advisor | IKEA Industry
Inga feels lucky that she has met a lot of outstanding people in her life, from whom she learnt a lot. Now she wants to share this knowledge with others, and has a desire to support people.
Parinaz Pakmehr
IKEA Advisor
To achieve sustainable change she believes that people need to be empowered by providing them with better living conditions, knowledge and equip them with the right tools.
Nani Zulminarni
Ashoka Fellow | PEKKA
Nani is reversing the pattern of discrimination against women by educating and enabling them to generate resources to provide for their families.
Yuhaeti
IKEA Advisor
Yuhaeti is keen to share her learnings from many years at IKEA and at the same time embrace the opportunity to broaden her perspective.
Nirmala Singh
IKEA Advisor
Nirmala strongly believes in supporting smaller businesses with innovative perspective as well as self-help. Empowerment is hugely needed and important.
Neelkanth Mishra
Ashoka Fellow | Jaljeevika
Neelkanth is building the inland fisheries industry in India, run and owned by landless farmers who can become forces that will spur growth in their communities.
Orféo Croese
IKEA Advisor
Strengthens brands through Digital Ethics. He believes that moral values are key drivers for responsible and sustainable innovation.
Vaishali Misra
IKEA Advisor | Next Generation, IOS
Vaishali sees this as an opportunity to share her learnings with other budding social entrepreneurs and increase their impact and business reach.
Scott Stiles
Fellow | Fair Employment Agency
Scott shifts traditional domestic worker agency models to one that eradicates fees to workers and re-aligns incentives at each link along the recruitment chain.
Petra Carlberg
IKEA Advisor | Purchasing & Logistics
Petra sees the advancement of social entrepreneurs as the perfect combination of developing business and doing good for society.
Allison Silva
Fellow | Fundacion Empreender Futuro
Allison improves the social mobility of vulnerable people by democratizing access to business information and services.
Ann-Sofie Gunnarsson
IKEA Advisor
Ann-Sofie sees an opportunity to contribute with tactics and tools for scale and market reach, in order to increase the social and business impact.
Ricardo Pinhero
IKEA Advisor | IKANO, Mexico
Ricardo has a personal desire to support the local communities and entrepreneurs, so they can have bigger, positive impact.
John John
Fellow | Grassroot Tea Corporation
John is creating a new model for small tea growers to organize themselves, manufacture and sell tea to markets directly while influencing policy.
Adina Pasula
IKEA Advisor
Adina sees this as an opportunity to contribute to a project that develops business while making a difference in people’s lives, and as a great learning experience for herself.
Christina Enocson
IKEA Advisor | IKEA Food
Christina is driven by results and by making a difference and also, by the IKEA vision - a better everyday life. She believes that social initiatives can contribute to a better IKEA.
Suraiya Haque
Ashoka Fellow | Phulki
Suraiya addresses the issue of work place based day care convinced that economic emancipation for a woman is possible if her child remains safe while she is at work.
Becky Potter
IKEA Advisor
Becky is an award-winning social entrepreneur and communicator. She now run an ethical jewellery business and works with some of the most known brands globally.
Susanne Waidzunas
IKEA Advisor | Purchasing & Logistics
Susanne truly believes that we have a great opportunity and responsibility to make sure that our footprint becomes smaller and that we support the development of people and society.
Fernando Assad
Ashoka Fellow | Programa Vivenda
Fernando creates affordable kits which include all of the components necessary for a successful home renovation to cope with the alarming housing situation in Brazil.
Cecilia Bengtsson
IKEA Advisor | Purchasing & Logistics
Cecilia is interested in sharing her knowledge and experience with the social entrepreneur, and be true to IKEA’s vision to “create a better everyday life for the many people”.
Alexander Carlesson
IKEA Advisor
Alexander loves renovating in his free time and he always has some project going. He fells very proud and happy for being part of this journey.
Wietse van der Werf
Ashoka Fellow | Sea Ranger Service
Wietse combines empowerment of unemployed youths and reintegration of navy veterans to provide a solution to the monitoring of marine protected areas.
Kim Tabell
IKEA Advisor | Ingka Group
Based on his experiences from various business fields and academics, Kim has learned to see the big picture without losing focus on the details. He also possess a genuine curiosity.
Klas Ekman
IKEA Advisor
Klas has strong strategic skills, but also special skills in purchasing and logistics. Klas would now like to share this with others, to support those who need it and "pay it back" in the best way.
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