It seems as though the paths to saving the world and making money do not cross, but not according to Josh Tetrick ’04, a social entrepreneur who led a United Nations business initiative in Kenya. In a series of speeches this week, Tetrick provided ways in which people can get the best of both worlds.

Tetrick, who has worked in Africa promoting educational reform as a Fulbright Scholar and now runs a company that helps corporations to make clean energy investments, based his speeches on the idea of thriving economically while promoting social good.

“This is not a story about charity,” Tetrick said. “It’s about finding abundant financial security, while solving what the world needs the most.”

In his speech at Kaufman Auditorium yesterday, which was attended by about 15 students, Tetrick provided some shocking facts and statistics to illustrate the magnitude of the world’s problems.

“1.3 million people die because of sanitary reasons,” Tetrick said. “There are people dying everyday because they are not able to drink clean water.”

According to Tetrick, there is a way for people to pursue their interests while bringing about change in the world. Nonprofit organizations and many others are inventing new products, such as laptops designed for children in developing countries and straws that filter unsanitary water, to provide a healthier lifestyle to those in need. He urged students to help and support these people who are “making bank” while solving many of the world’s issues.

“We find these people voicing their concerns on web sites, newspapers and magazines such as Worldchanging.com, the Green Ink section in the New York Times and Reason Magazine,” Tetrick said. “We need to help uncover the blanket that they are hidden under.”

Tetrick said the one thing that he finds difficult to understand is how people just stand on the sidelines and wait while the world is in need.

“I cannot stand students who tell themselves that they will work for three or four years and then help the world when they are making money,” Tetrick said. “There are ways to do both now.”

Starting on the journey to saving the world may be difficult and many may feel discouraged along the way, but Tetrick encouraged students to persist.

“If you can get three responses out of 40 e-mails, I would clap for you,” Tetrick said. “Believe it or not, that ratio is a pretty good one and if you just keep trying I can guarantee you will get the job you want.”

At the end of his lecture, Tetrick informed students of the two biggest mistakes that they can make.

“One, is not getting the paradox of this generation. ... Selflessness is profitable,” Tetrick said. “Two, is not going far enough. There are people out there who need your help.”