EWB's Values & Beliefs

Our Bottom Line

We put Dorothy First.
We strive to do what she would advise us to.
We help bring her voice into the rooms where she needs to be heard.
We stay independent to be able to stay true to her interests.

Our Values

Address root causes for impact: We start by clearly defining the impact that we want to help bring about, and then think through the complexity of social change so that our actions target root causes.

Strive for Humility: We learn by being open - open to new ideas from anywhere and anyone, and open about our mistakes.

Invest in people: We know that true change will require a movement of socially-minded leaders. We support and invest in each other to help build this movement together.

Courageously Commit: All change begins within ourselves. We commit to personal growth through regular self-assessment and have the courage to ask for feedback.

Ask tough questions: We only improve when we ask tough questions about our past, present, and future work to determine if we are having the maximum impact for Dorothy.

Dream Big & Work Hard: We strive to make the impossible possible, through a combination imagination, hard work, innovation, passion and a willingness to take risks.

Our Beliefs

Injustice must be confronted, and dignity promoted: We believe that change happens when ordinary people stand up to the injustices they see in the world, and fight for the dignity of human beings who they may have never met before, because they are human beings.

“What begins with the failure to uphold the dignity of one life all too often ends with calamity for all.” - Kofi Annan

Exceptional people, working together, catalyzing systemic change: We believe that by enabling leaders in multiple countries, organizations and roles, we will be able to amplify the impact of any individual.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

Human development is messy, simple solutions are rare: We believe that the complexity of human development pushes us to work through ambiguity, balancing multiple tensions simultaneously and knowing that attribution will be difficult, if not impossible. This level of complexity requires more thought, energy, and commitment.

“A wide range of factors come together to make the whole more than the sum of its parts, enhancing the ability of local institutions to manage internal dilemmas and respond to shifts in the external environment, both of which are changing continuously.” – Michael Edwards

Socially minded engineers bring great value: We believe in an engineering profession that is better aware of its potential for positive impact on the world, and is better equipped to bring about that change.

“In today’s interconnected and most complicated world, we need to confirm the raison d’etre of the engineering profession, which is to adapt science to the benefit of all Humankind.” - Kamel Ayadi