The Hoffman Family Business Lecture series at Grossman School of Business provides opportunities for UVM students to learn about innovative business policies and practices from leading scholars and practitioners through special guest lectures every spring. 

The latest event took place on April 20, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m. featuring Jordan Kassalow ‘83, founder of VisionSpring, the co-founder of EYElliance, and a Partner at Drs. Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick, & Associates. Jordan is also an eye doctor, social entrepreneur, and author.  

This year's theme focused on “Journey of Scaling a Social Enterprise." Jordan shared with UVM students his journey of scaling a social enterprise—from a moment of inspiration atop the Alaskan mountains, to providing eyeglasses to locations around the world— and how his organization has adopted new strategies and business models to reach impact at scale. 

VisionSpring is a social enterprise founded on a very basic principle that "if you can't see, you can't work." His organization has evolved to correct the vision of 10 million people at the Base of the Pyramid with eyeglasses. VisionSpring sells low-cost eyeglasses to individuals in developing nations to increase their functioning, productivity, and income earning potential to create a path out of poverty. By selling new eyeglasses rather than donating recycled ones, VisionSpring awakens market demand and serves four times as many people per dollar input.  

Jordan also founded the Global Health Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. He was named one of Forbes Impact 30 and has received numerous awards including ones from the World Bank, the Aspen Institute, and the Clinton Global Initiative. He is also the author of Dare to Matter: Your Path to Making a Difference Now. 

Thank you, Jordan, for your time!