Social Responsibility at Smith

MBAs and Net Impact

Net Impact, an international organization that aims to create a community of socially responsible business leaders, has over 10,000 members worldwide. Although Smith’s chapter numbers less than that, its members are doing more to address corporate social responsibility and how it relates to individual MBA students.

Emily Chan, a full-time MBA student and 2008-2009 Net Impact co-president, says Net Impact is a unique club that brings students from different functional areas together and objectively educates them on the importance of corporate social responsibility.

“Net Impact events have been extremely popular among students and this will increase as socially responsible business becomes standard in our society,” says Chan.

Some of the events Net Impact sponsors include: the Board Fellows program, which places students as non-voting board members at local non-profit organizations; Career Panels and Career Treks, which provide students an opportunity to explore careers in fields like renewable energy and socially responsible investing; and Cases ‘N Beer, which brings students and faculty together to discuss timely issues about corporate social responsibility.

Before Chan enrolled in Smith’s full-time MBA program, she worked at a non-profit organization dedicated to the environment. She says Net Impact has given her the opportunity to work with like-minded students and business professionals.

In the spring 2008 semester, Net Impact hosted Seth Goldman, co-founder and CEO of Honest Tea. Goldman discussed some of his company’s growth challenges, sustainability practices, and core values with MBA students. In the past, Net Impact interns have worked at Honest Tea’s Bethesda, Md., headquarters.

“It’s extremely motivating for me to work with others who have a passion for improving social outcomes and our ecological condition,” she says. “Through the club I’ve met people (other students and employers) who will be contacts for possible internships and full time jobs after I graduate.”