HBS Social Enterprise Initiative

Through her work this summer with Calvert Impact , Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Summer Fellow Emily Tekamp (MBA 2025) is focusing on impact investing projects. Read about how she hopes to deepen her expertise in this area while applying an MBA skillset to addressing complex social issues. https://lnkd.in/euADyrYP

Congratulations to the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference (SECON) on 25 years of impact! Since 2000, students from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School have collaborated to hold SECON, convening top leaders, practitioners, and students to engage in conversations, workshops, and connections to further social impact. Hear from the first conference leaders about their original vision and how that has evolved for the student organizers of the most recent conference. https://lnkd.in/eBbTFVvN

With Be A Leader, Gary Trujillo (MBA 1990) and Michael Trejo (MBA 2013) are transforming lives in their hometown. Since 2002, Be A Leader Foundation has impacted thousands of underserved youth in Arizona, and currently serves more than 14,000 middle, high school and college students annually. https://lnkd.in/eyjs8VPD

Are you a leader of a growing social enterprise in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, or Houston?  We’d love to learn more about your organization! We are pleased to share that the Upswell Forum will be continuing for a second year of programming.  Upswell is a new workshop at Harvard Business School to accelerate the impact of social entrepreneurs (both nonprofit and for profit), with a focus on organizations serving communities of color. Upswell will provide training, classroom discussion, and peer support explicitly grounded in the diverse identities of the participants. The Forum will consist of 3 in-person days on the HBS campus from November 18 –21 followed by a series of virtual sessions with HBS faculty. Upswell’s primary geographic focus areas for this year are Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, and Houston.  The Upswell Forum is free of charge to participate. Learn more and access the interest form here. https://lnkd.in/e5shWSQD

SEI on the road! As part of the Social Enterprise Initiative’s trip to NYC this week, we connected with some Harvard Business School students at their summer internship sites. First, a visit to The Rockefeller Foundation, to hear about Sakina, Hima, and Megan's internships focused on climate, health, and global development. Then on to New York City Economic Development Corporation to meet up with Anna, working on transportation and infrastructure to lead to economic development, along with HBS alum Hayoung Kim. Thanks for the great visits – we enjoyed learning about your work, learning, and the incredible impact you are having! Margot Dushin Betsy Edwards

In our latest piece in a blog series highlighting the work of 2024 Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Summer Fellows, Kartik Sahni (MBA/MPP 2025) discusses his internship with IFC - International Finance Corporation, where he is focusing on building a South-South investment pipeline, particularly from India to Africa. Read more about his goals and how he is applying his MBA skillset to this exciting opportunity. https://lnkd.in/e6tEWff8

"I have always had a deep interest in education as a catalyst for social change and I am passionate about addressing the systemic inequities in education that perpetuate poverty and income inequality." This summer, Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Summer Fellow Amal Tariq (MBA 2025) is interning at City Fund in Washington D.C. through the Education Pioneers fellowship. Read more about how she hopes to contribute to meaningful advancements in public education across the United States. https://lnkd.in/gaKPQDfH

Congratulations to Rehydrate on being selected for the MassChallenge U.S. Early-Stage Accelerator in the Climate Tech track! Rehydrate was formed during Dr. George Serafeim's Harvard Business School class, which focuses on the risks and opportunities of investing in climate change solutions. The company is dedicated to helping large organizations recycle water, significantly reducing their reliance on local water supplies. By developing advanced water reuse technologies, Rehydrate aims to support sustainable water management practices across various sectors. Their mission is to provide innovative solutions that enable organizations to meet their water needs while protecting natural resources for future generations. https://lnkd.in/en6K5uBY

As we continue to highlight the work of our Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Summer Fellows this year, Simona Stancov (MBA 2025) is interning with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc., where she is working on Regional Malaria Strategy and Finance. Read more about how she hopes to pursue her goal of advancing health equity through this opportunity. https://lnkd.in/esuh8dHz

As CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Mary Wooldridge (MBA 1994) is helping Australia address gender equality, and ensure that her organization is not only a resource for business but also an advocate for societal change. #socialimpact #genderequality https://lnkd.in/egUSrsVP