As 2020 comes to an end, we’re looking back at some of our top Impact Insights blog posts of the year…
HBS Summer Fellows Focus on Racial Equity and Justice
The HBS Social Enterprise Initiative aims to educate, support, and inspire leaders to tackle society’s toughest challenges and make a difference in the world. We are committed to the fight for racial justice and to promoting diversity and equity across all sectors, and we are proud to support many students engaging in this critical work. This summer, HBS is supporting a record 161 Social Enterprise Summer Fellows, with many organizations and projects focused on racial equity and justice. The Social Enterprise Initiative connected with some of the fellows to hear more about their work this summer and going forward.
HBS Appoints Rob Zeaske (MBA 2002) Director of its Social Enterprise Initiative
Harvard Business School (HBS) has named Rob Zeaske (MBA 2002) the new director of its Social Enterprise Initiative (SEI), succeeding Matt Segneri (MBA 2010), who was recently named the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Executive Director of the Harvard Innovation Labs (i-lab). Established in 1993 with the help of a generous gift from John C. Whitehead (MBA 1947), SEI pioneered the concept of “social enterprise.” SEI has adopted a problem-focused approach toward understanding the management and leadership challenges facing organizations involved in creating social value regardless of their structure (profit, nonprofit, or hybrid) or the source of their funding (from grants to commercial transactions).
Vital Lessons in Leadership
Lina Sergie Attar is founder and CEO of Karam Foundation, dedicated to helping young Syrian refugees on pathways to leadership. An architect and writer from Aleppo, Lina founded Karam Foundation in 2007, and sought to expand her nonprofit CEO toolbox by attending the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) Executive Education program at Harvard Business School. In the post below, she discusses her experience in the program.
HBS Summer Fellows Respond to COVID-19
The HBS Summer Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for students to develop skills and knowledge while having significant responsibility and high impact. This summer, HBS is supporting a record 161 Social Enterprise Summer Fellows, with many organizations and projects focused on COVID-19 response. The Social Enterprise Initiative connected with some of the fellows to hear more about their work this summer and going forward. Read more about HBS students’ response to the pandemic: MBA Students Lead the Fight Against COVID-19.
HBS New Venture Competition: Entrepreneurs Innovate in a Time of Crisis
Earlier this month, video screens around the world were glowing as the winners of the 23rd annual HBS New Venture Competition (NVC) were announced. This year’s finale, which was all virtual in this COVID-19 era, featured 20 student and alumni finalist teams vying for $300,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. The top prize in the student business, student social enterprise, and alumni tracks was $75,000 each.
