What do you want to fix?

Jessica Jackley urges women to look for problems and opportunities and believe they can do something to make the world a better place.

I heard Jackley speak recently at an annual luncheon sponsored by the San Antonio Women Foundation. She is the co-founder of Kiva, the world’s first peer-to-peer microlending website. Kiva, which lets internet users lend as little as $25 to individual entrepreneurs, has been one of the fastest growing social benefit websites in history. Since it was founded in 2005, it has facilitated more than $400 million in loans among individuals in 216 countries.

The first step in accomplishing your goal is to know your mission, Jackley says. “What makes you special? What do you want to fix?”

You also need to collaborate, and you need to listen. Empathy is essential.

And, finally, you need to “iterate,” Jackley emphasizes. “What worked?  What didn’t? You can start over again and again.”

–Joy