If you’re an entrepreneurship wonk who’s always wanted to change the world with your big business idea, consider Shift Series: a new social business initiative sponsored by Compass Partners.

Shift Series is a new national social entrepreneurship conference designed to promote discussion about new business approaches to social problems. The conference will bring together students and professionals for keynotes and workshops, all addressing one question: how can we prepare the world today to address tomorrow’s social problems?

Scheduled speakers include Gallup CEO Jim Clifton, Nextel founder Morgan O’Brien, CakeLove founder Warren Brown and Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallal.

“All of the speakers and other participants, as big as they are, volunteer their time and don’t take any money to be involved with the conference, because they feel like it’s a worthwhile thing to spend their time on,” said Austin Yoder, Compass Team member.

Founded by Georgetown students, Compass Partners is a D.C.- based education non-profit that empowers university students to develop social ventures that have a positive global impact. Its fellowship program places selected students through social entrepreneurship education, preparing them for a social business venture at the end of their sophomore year. Previous Compass Fellows have started ventures in international impact investment, fashion and alternative energy. Compass Fellows comprise a growing community that includes ten AU students (who will be in attendance at Shift Series).

The conference will begin April 1 at the NTSB Conference Center and will conclude the next day at Georgetown University.

Registration is open to the public at a reduced rate of $250 with special Session Tickets available to those who cannot attend the entire conference. Registration ends March 16.

For more information about Shift Series, including how to register, visit shiftseries.com or email [email protected].

Photo by micn.