Poets and Quants

Social Entrepreneurship: The Best Schools & Programs

by John A. Byrne

8) University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Statue of Ben Franklin on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

For MBAs who pursue careers in the public and non-profit sectors, Wharton has a loan forgiveness program that will provide up to $20,000 per year to help grads pay down their loans. It’s not a given, of course, because the program is competitive, but if you go the social sector route, you can keep applying for the program for the first five years following graduation.

So what does Wharton have to offer in social entrepreneurship? The Non-Profit Board Leadership Program (“NPBLP”) at the Wharton School was launched in the spring of 2005 with the goal of creating an experiential learning environment for students that would also support local non-profits. More specifically, the NPBLP seeks to provide second year MBAs with a greater sense of how their leadership skills can be used to make a significant contribution within the non-profit sector. The program is rooted in a commitment to serving the long-term needs of non-profit organizations in the Philadelphia area. Together, it is envisioned that both Wharton and local non-profits can help each other succeed and achieve a rich understanding of the growing intersection between business and non-profit activities.

A Social Enterprise Fellows program consists of two concurrent courses in the spring and fall semesters. In the first course the Social Enterprise Fellows focus on partnerships possible between for-profit, non-profit, and governmental sectors through study of social movements and creation of purpose-driven organizations. It is an interdisciplinary experience where the Fellows join graduate students from the Masters Program in Non-Profit/NGO Leadership, and Penn Law School students. In the second course, the Fellows take on one of three projects — pair with an existing nonprofit, private or government organization, create or expand a purpose-driven, 4th sector entity devoted to social change and sustainability, or conduct research in a related area. They aim to complete projects to meet the program mission of “developing the capacity for transformative acts of leadership that create sustainable economic and social value through cross-sector partnerships.”

9) Columbia University’s School of Business.

10) New York University’s Stern School of Business.

11) Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Business.



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  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/jbyrne/ John A. Byrne

    Jeff,

    Thanks for your comment. This will all come in time. I’m working on this piece and thought I would just put up what I have at the moment. Probably should have waited. Hope to have this complete by Monday.

  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/jbyrne/ John A. Byrne

    Jeff, we now have the links you suggested, though the story is still a work in progress.
    Best,
    John

  • http://www.bluestarsadmissionsconsulting.com Amy Morgenstern

    Mr. Byrne,
    I’ve already blogged on this post even though it is still in progress, as I found the content so interesting and enjoyed the writing very much. What I appreciate about the writing on your site is the way you employ an informative and insightful style on a platform (the Web) unsuited for sustained attention. I’ll be visiting frequently! Perhaps you would like to see my post: http://www.bluestarsadmissionsconsulting.com/2010/08/new-business-school-website-offers-in-depth-information-on-mba-programs/. I hope it does justice……Regards, Amy Morgenstern

  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/jbyrne/ John A. Byrne

    Thanks Amy! It’s all a work in progress.

  • http://www.bluestarsadmissionsconsulting.com Amy Morgenstern

    It is. The best way to be (unless there is a deadline involved). Take care.

  • http://www.quantnet.com Andy Nguyen

    Amy,
    “B school insider and gadfly David A. Byrne has just launched”. I believe his first name is John, not David.

  • http://www.bluestarsadmissionsconsulting.com Amy Morgenstern

    Thanks, Andy. My bad and fixed.

  • http://www.sse.org.uk Nick Temple

    Hiya – good list, though it is worth pointing out that social entrepreneurship has always been very much a global movement, not just a US-centred one.

    Also worth considering those who provide learning for social entrepreneurs outside the traditional educational system, to reach a broader audience and provide appropriate learning and support for entrepreneurial individuals.

    See http://www.sse.org.uk for more

    Cheers

  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/andrewk/ Andrew Krutz

    Very useful, thanks!

  • Matthew Lambert

    I appreciate that the classic generalist top ten schools are listed, but Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, has long standing been the global leader in entrepreneurship, and should be considered in talks of social innovation in connection with its Lewis Institute. Babson MBAs are taught with values of entrepreneurial thought and action and look to both public and private sectors to fill market gaps and create new ventures. I like the general article idea and would just suggest that it may be worthwhile to consider schools under a wider lens.

  • http://www.trustedsports.org John Ballantine

    John,
    This is a great and informative piece. I am building a true social enterprise (For Profit and Non Profit) and expect both organization to be cash flow positive in 2012. The focus is around providing more access for kids in the world to play sports. I’ve started and exited successful startups in the past and believe having an MBA or two with a social entrepreneur background to ultimately run the enterprise is the way to go. Wondering if you have any suggestions of the best route to discover an appropriate candidate from one of the top 10 programs?
    Thank you!

  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/jbyrne/ John A. Byrne

    John,

    That’s a wonderful idea. I would contact the career services offices of several of the top schools and simply post the job with them. This will immediately get you the eyeballs of all the graduating students and also those looking for internships next summer. Frankly, I would make sure there’s enough work for you to employ two summer interns and then make a job offer to the best of the two when they graduate. Good luck.

  • Rachel

    Hi John,

    What a great article! I’m an undergraduate studying Social Entrepreneurship through a self-created program and it’s so exciting to see that some of the best schools in the country are formalizing social entrepreneurship programs.

    I see from the comments below that it’s still a work in progress so if you are interested in further expanding your article (or writing more on SE) I thought I’d share a couple of important resources.

    While NYU Stern is a great MBA program you should also look into the NYU Reynolds Program, hosted in the Wager School for Public Service (http://www.nyu.edu/reynolds/social/index.flash.html). While not a specific program of study, it is considered to be one of the most developed programs for SE in the country and it’s especially interesting because it really focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to social entrepreneurship.

    It also might be worth noting that Wagner and Stern are ahead of their time, providing NYU undergraduate students the opportunity to study social entrepreneurship as well with the Social Entrepreneurship Minor (http://wagner.nyu.edu/undergrad/minors.php#socialentreprenuership). As far as I know NYU is one of the only schools providing these courses for early higher education.

    Thought you and your readers might find this stuff interesting. Hope it helps.

    Best,

    Rachel

  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/jbyrne/ John A. Byrne

    Rachel,

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge here.we’ll be writing a lot more about this topic in the near future.

    Best,
    John

  • Karen

    Any update or revision to this list since posting?

  • http://poetsandquants.com/members/jbyrne/ John A. Byrne

    Karen,

    We’ll update shortly. A new list from U.S. News comes out this month.

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