Beyond the Social Lens: Retention Challenges at Social Visão do Bem

Ana Lúcia, co-founder of Social Visão do Bem (SVB), a social impact business structured to provide access to vision care in low-income communities in Rio de Janeiro, faces a challenge related to human resource management. SVB operates through a network of women from the communities themselves, known as vision agents, as part of a strategy aimed at income generation and women’s empowerment in contexts of social vulnerability. These agents are trained to conduct basic visual acuity tests, provide guidance on eye health, and facilitate access to ophthalmological appointments and affordable eyeglasses. Although this model has generated positive results in terms of inclusion and social impact, the co-founder began to face problems related to engagement and high turnover among the agents. With limited resources and expansion goals, Ana Lúcia started to question whether the model adopted to compose her team was strengthening the sustainability of the business or, paradoxically, limiting its growth potential. Thus, the case study explores the tensions between social mission, challenges associated with businesses operating in peripheral communities, and employee selection criteria. It is recommended for undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration, especially those focused on organizational behavior, human resource management, and social entrepreneurship, enabling discussions about the alignment between institutional purpose and professional profiles in contexts of social vulnerability.