When industry professionals want to take the next step in their career and focus on a bigger picture, the Conference for Value Creation can help. Maryland Smith’s Nima Farshchi, who chaired the first day of the three-day conference this year, says the event offers a robust discussion of the definition of value creation in business, showcases various cultures and perspectives, and explores how to utilize research to create positive change in industries.

Lee-Ellen Myles believes businesses are ideally positioned to leverage their influence to make impactful change. It’s a belief that has been validated in her coursework at UMD and Maryland Smith, and during her 2021 summer internship with Council Fire, a consulting firm that works to help purpose-driven organizations thrive by creating lasting economic, social and environmental value.

The Center for Social Value Creation (CSVC) in the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business invites UMD students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater College Park community to participate as multidisciplinary teams in a three-day design thinking challenge toward a more equitable and sustainable transportation system.

The Center for Social Value Creation’s Impact Consulting Fellowship (ICF) program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business provides for students (both Smith and non-Smith at UMD) at the undergrad, masters and doctoral levels to work in cross-functional teams to provide pro-bono consulting services to impact-driven organizations across the country, as well as internationally.

It’s difficult to figure out where to start when it comes to addressing the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But these Maryland Smith students have an idea. On March 6, Maryland Smith MBA students – Ashlee Albertson, Daylin Russo, Morgan Daly and Sara Bartczak – placed fourth out of 80 teams internationally in the 3rd annual Net Impact Case Competition on Social Responsibility at the University of Colorado, Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.

When it comes to determining the sustainability of an investment, these four Maryland Smith students are tough to beat.The team of undergraduate seniors – Ajay Shankar (finance and information systems), Faben Henok (OM/BA and SCM with a minor in technology entrepreneurship), Josh Chen (economics and minor in business analytics), and Alex Leipold (marketing and OM/BA) – recently won first place honors in the Milgard Invitation Case Competition on Social Responsibility, garnering the coveted first place title and a $1,000 cash prize per student.

Maryland Smith’s Center for Social Value Creation recently concluded its second Impact Consulting Fellowship, a program that puts students to work in cross-functional teams to provide pro bono consulting services to impact-driven organizations. And as with every ICF term, this one ended with an ICF Huddle, and a chance to present their final deliverables and compete for awards.