New York City nightclub promoter turned non-profit maven and NYU alumnus Scott Harrison (CAS '98) will be one of three keynote speakers for the 2017 NYU Entrepreneurs Festival. Scott is the founder and CEO of charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. His innovative approaches in promoting sustainability, transparency, and long term project planning are earmarks to charity: water’s success. The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute is thrilled to host him for its hallmark celebration of NYU startups, entrepreneurs, and their stories on March 3rd-4th!
Scott’s journey to social impact entrepreneurship developed almost a decade after he graduated from NYU. After working as a nightclub promoter for almost eight years, he left New York to volunteer off the coast of Liberia in West Africa. As a photojournalist, he witnessed firsthand the spread of preventable diseases because of a lack of access to clean water.
After returning to New York in 2006, Scott founded charity: water and turned his full attention to the global water crisis. To keep his mission relevant and accountable, Scott and the charity: water team developed the company’s website to include monetary tracking features, partnerships with local communities, local projects to keep healthy water flowing for years to come and a two-tier donation system. The company has proven to be one of the most transparent and accountable non-profit organizations, openly allowing access to its financial records and spendings.
Scott’s efforts over the past decade have led to the raising of over $225 million and funding of 21,000 water projects in 24 countries. As these projects near completion, they will provide over 6.4 million people with clean drinking water. Scott has also been featured in Forbes Magazine Impact 30 list, Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 list and is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. His addition to the 6th Annual NYU Entrepreneurs Festival list of esteemed keynotes is momentous as he continues to initiate sustainable water projects and inspire the next generation of social impact leaders and entrepreneurs.
The NYU Entrepreneurs Festival features a series of intimate conversations and learning experiences from NYU’s impressive group of entrepreneurs, both in and out of school. Over the course of the two days, the Cestival will feature three keynote discussions, panels, workshops, roundtables, and an after-party, among other events. The student-run event hosts over 1,000 attendees each year and this year’s Festival core team is focused on demonstrating a clear intersection between social impact and entrepreneurship.
“Organizing the festival with the team this year and having our amazing keynotes proved a consistent theme,” said Festival co-chairs Sanjna Verma and William DeLay (CAS '17). "We’re trying to provide the catalyst for other students and professionals to do what they are passionate about. It’s all about getting to #OwnyourPath.”
