Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Search for Common Ground

Working in Social Entrepreneurship, Peacebuilding, and International Relations

• John works within Social Entrepreneurship, Peacebuilding, and International Relations
• Why this Path?  John’s passion for Peacebuilding is rooted in his upbringing during the tense context of the 1960s United States, “It was the Cold War, and there was a collective fear of the World blowing up”. After several years working for the State Department, he resigned in protest during the War in Vietnam and went on to become a NY Times bestselling author in the 1970s, reporting on government espionage programmes and societal issues. John’s social entrepreneurship began in 1982 with the founding of Search for Common Ground, a peacebuilding NGO designed to “Understand the differences and act on the commonalities” amongst actors worldwide to foster cooperation and conflict resolution. The organisation’s success outlasted the Cold War, and accounts today for over 1000 employees operating out of 30 countries worldwide.
• What’s in the Sector’s Future?  John’s perspective on the future of Social Entrepreneurship and Peacebuilding is dual. While recognising the significant challenges posed by increased competition and market saturation, along with the recent budget cuts in the peacebuilding sector, he continues to emphasise the role that individual and small-scale social ventures can have. “The days where you could walk into an embassy with a ‘groovie’ idea and get 100.000 dollars in funds are over […] but people in this field don’t always feel comfortable working in organisations with lots of individuals”. Small-scale impact should not be undermined, along with the realisation that social entrepreneurship continues to offer much potential beyond traditional peacebuilding. Observing the current context, profoundly different from that of the 1980s, John also notes the hybrid nature of current actors, along with the difficulties associated with identifying them.

Skills

Want to find out how John built the skill set that shaped his career?

• John emphasises the role that data analysis has had in his career: “As a reporter, I started being able to sit through large amounts of data, which in time taught me the value of separating what is important from what is not.”
• Another important skill for John is cross-sectoral experience. He underlines the role that freedom plays in one’s decision to move from one field to another, despite the risks. “I was fortunate to come from a background that allowed me such an attitude” John says referring to the sense of openness the world gave him growing up, which helped when jumping into the sector of social entrepreneurship.
• Persistence is emphasised too. The capacity to “walk into a room and share your vision with the people there” despite the challenges and the potential failures, remembering to celebrate the success stories that brought you where you are today.

Advice & Tips

• “Start from vision. Have one… What do you see?” John says, reflecting on what drives successful endeavours. Consistency is also key, along with the necessity to “politely push” for what you want to achieve when connecting with others.
• Workarounds are also pivotal. “Do not try to oppose the trends of time. Accept those factors you cannot change, and work on what you can along those lines.” A self-described practitioner of ‘spiritual Aikido’, John believes in the importance of diverting and navigating challenges, rather than trying to absorb the blow.
• Somewhat unconventionally, John also offers a reflection on freedom as his last bit of advice for young talent. Entry-level positions are often competitive and underpaid, but they afford you the chance to experiment and try out things. “You do not need a lot of backing […] you’ve got little responsibilities”, John notes as he recalls starting his organisation after getting divorced in the early 1980s.
• Lastly, the ‘Washington Post’ tip. A method first introduced by John’s wife, Susan, to test the soundness of decisions the two had to take throughout their professional experience. “Would you like to read about it in the paper tomorrow?” She would ask him, inviting a reflection on the long-term implications and consequences of the action.  John accordingly offered this as a simple, yet powerful, way for people to evaluate the decisions sooner or later we all must face growing in the professional world.

• Curriculum Vitae

  Author, “From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship”, 2024

   

  Leiden University, Visiting Scholar in Peacebuilding & Social Entrepreneurship, 2016-present

   

  Search for Common Ground & Common Ground Productions, President, Founder and Senior Advisor, 1985-present

   

  Freelance Author, Award-winning, NY Times best-selling author based in Washington D.C., 1973-1982

   

  Office of US Senator Clifford Case, Executive Assistant for Foreign Policy, 1970-1973

   

  US Department of State, Foreign Service Officer, 1966-1970

Bonus: John’s Insights into his time in the Hague

• Throughout their lives John and his wife Susan have lived and worked in a multitude of countries around the world, including The Netherlands. During their tenure residing in The Hague, John has collaborated with The Hague Humanity Hub on several public events, the latest of which this profile, and contributed valuable work with local enterprises based in the area.
• His engagement with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) brought John closer to many active members of the Peace and Justice ecosystem in the city, and here at the Hub, we look forward to future collaborations.

This career insight was generated after the session of Handshake held on March 6, 2025