Career Compass: Mapping Educational Routes to Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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20 Sep 2025

7 Min Read

Taylor's Team (Editor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Lost at what to study? Discover your direction with our Career Compass! Explore opportunities in the social innovation and entrepreneurship field to map your educational path.

Social innovation and entrepreneurship are about creating solutions that bring positive changes to society, the environment, and the economy. Unlike traditional businesses that focus mainly on profit, this field balances financial sustainability with meaningful outcomes such as reducing poverty, improving access to education, empowering youth, or protecting the environment.

 

In Malaysia, this field is gaining traction through initiatives such as the Social Entrepreneurship Blueprint 2030 (SEMy2030) and Budget 2025, which aim to support changemakers and strengthen the ecosystem for social enterprises.

What is Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship?

But what exactly is social innovation and entrepreneurship, and why should you, as a high school graduate, consider a career in this field?

 

It is the practice of using creative and sustainable approaches to solve real-world challenges in areas such as education, healthcare, sustainability, and community development. This field encourages you to think beyond profit and explore how innovative business models, strong partnerships, and systems-based solutions can drive meaningful and lasting change.

What are the careers in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship?

If you are passionate about making a difference while building a sustainable career, this field offers diverse opportunities, bringing together leadership, problem-solving, and impact creation. You could work with social enterprises, NGOs (non-governmental organisation), accelerators, corporate foundations, or even start your own venture.

 

Let’s explore five of these roles and study pathways that can help you get there.

1. Social Enterprise Founder

Lady looking at plant with kids
What does this career do?

A Social Enterprise Founder builds and leads a purpose-driven venture that tackles real-world issues such as access to education, youth unemployment, environmental sustainability, or food security. This role designs business models that reinvest resources into social or environmental impact, balancing purpose with sustainability.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • PurpoSE: A Malaysian platform offering advisory services, fellowship programmes, and a retail learning hub to support social entrepreneurs and their collaboration.
  • AirAsia Foundation: The philanthropic arm of AirAsia Group providing grants, mentorship, and business connections to social enterprises across ASEAN.
  • CSED (Chamber of Social Entrepreneur Development): A Malaysian non-profit that supports social enterprises with networking, mentorship, and community outreach events.
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is a strong fit for those who want to solve pressing issues while creating sustainable ventures. If you are entrepreneurial, motivated by social change, and excited about leading projects that directly impact communities, becoming a social enterprise founder can be a fulfilling pathway.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Business, Economics, and Mathematics.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation or a diploma in Arts or Business. Cambridge A Level and AUSMAT  are excellent options too. 
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship or Business.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certification in impact investing and social finance or climate entrepreneurship can be beneficial. 

2. Community Project Manager

Boy pointing at laptop which an older woman is looking at
What does this career do?

 

A Community Project Manager plans and delivers programmes that support local communities. This can include running skills workshops, organising awareness campaigns, or coordinating outreach activities in collaboration with NGOs, local councils, or grassroots organisations. The role involves both project management and people engagement, ensuring initiatives bring real benefits to the communities they serve.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • PichaEats: A catering social enterprise that helps refugees in Malaysia earn a livelihood through food entrepreneurship.
  • Think City: A Malaysian social purpose organisation leading community-based urban regeneration and placemaking projects.
  • UNDP Malaysia Accelerator Lab: Tests and scales community-driven innovations for sustainable development.
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is a good fit for those who enjoy working directly with people and want to see the impact of their projects on the ground. If you are organised, empathetic, and motivated by bringing communities together for positive change, this path can be both impactful and rewarding. 

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Business, Economics, History, and Geography.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation or a diploma in Arts or BusinessCambridge A Level and AUSMAT  are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication or Business.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications in resilience and disaster risk reduction or behavioural insights for development can enhance your expertise.

3. Partnerships & Impact Manager

2 men shaking hands
What does this career do?

 

A Partnerships & Impact Manager builds and maintains relationships with donors, corporate partners, NGOs, and government agencies to expand the reach of impact-driven projects. They identify opportunities for collaboration, secure funding, and ensure that partnerships are aligned with the organisation’s mission.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • CIMB Foundation: Supports education, community development, and sports initiatives through funding and partnerships.
  • Hong Leong Foundation: Provides scholarships and funds community welfare projects in Malaysia.
  • AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network): A Singapore-based platform that connects funders, corporates, and social enterprises across Asia to collaborate on social and environmental impact.
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is ideal for those who are strong communicators, strategic thinkers, and relationship-builders. If you enjoy connecting with people, negotiating win-win outcomes, and ensuring projects create measurable results, this role offers a chance to combine business skills with social purpose.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Business, Economics, and Mathematics.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation or a diploma in Arts or BusinessCambridge A Level and AUSMAT  are excellent options too. 
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business or Entrepreneurship.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications in impact measurement standards or policy innovation and public-private partnerships can be beneficial.

Not sure if this path is right for you? Talk with a counsellor to explore how your interests can fit into the world of social innovation and entrepreneurship — and find out which programmes can help you get there. They’re here to help you map it out.

 

TALK TO US

4. Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist

Woman talking to a group of people
What does this career do?

 

A Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist designs and applies tools to measure the effectiveness of social and community initiatives. They collect and analyse data, assess whether projects meet their objectives, and translate findings into reports for funders, stakeholders, or internal teams. Their work helps organisations understand what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve future initiatives.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • Wild Asia: A Malaysian social enterprise conducting sustainability advisory and impact assessments.
  • British Council Malaysia: Conducts research and evaluation on the state of social enterprises and education programmes.
  • Yayasan Hasanah: Conducts monitoring and evaluation for funded projects in education, arts, environment, and social development.
 
Who is this career for? 

This career is ideal for individuals who enjoy research, data, and critical thinking, but also want their work to have real-world impact. If you are detail-oriented, analytical, and motivated to help organisations improve their strategies, this role provides a rewarding balance between technical skills and social purpose.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Mathematics, Economics, and Science.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation in Science or Arts, or a diploma in BusinessCambridge A Level and AUSMAT are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business or Psychology.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications in sustainability reporting and assurance or development impact bonds and results-based financing can be beneficial.

5. Human-Centred Design Specialist

Woman looking at sticky notes
What does this career do?

 

A Human-Centred Design Specialist applies design thinking to create solutions that meet the real needs of people and communities. They carry out research, gather insights, and prototype ideas ensuring that products, services, or programmes are practical, inclusive, and effective. 

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • Shell LiveWIRE (Malaysia): Supports entrepreneurs to design sustainable and inclusive solutions.
  • PurpoSE: A Malaysian platform offering advisory services, fellowship programmes, and a retail learning hub to support social entrepreneurs and their collaboration.
  • Think City: A Malaysian social purpose organisation leading community-based urban regeneration and placemaking projects.
 
Who is this career for? 

This career is a great fit for those who are curious, empathetic, and creative problem-solvers. If you enjoy research, prototyping, and testing ideas with real users and want to see how design can drive social change, this path offers a hands-on way to combine creativity with impact.

 

What to study for this career?

Conclusion

Embarking on a career in social innovation and entrepreneurship is a rewarding journey where you can turn ideas into solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives. Whether it’s launching your own social enterprise, managing impactful community projects, or designing inclusive services, this field opens pathways to create change while building a sustainable career.

 

By focusing on the right subjects in high school and developing skills in areas such as business, social science, or design, you can transform your passion for helping others into practical solutions that empower communities and shape a better future.

 

Remember, the future of social innovation depends on changemakers who are ready to think differently, build partnerships, and act and that could start with you.

Inspired by the career options in this article? Book a session with our education counsellor and take the first step towards your future.

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