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Fuqua Changemakers Go To Washington

by Tom Mitchell '07
(01/24/06)

Building on the growing interest in social sector careers at Fuqua, the Social Impact Club conducted its first-ever Week-in-Cities trip to Washington, D.C., from January 9 -13. Students met with social entrepreneurs and international development organizations as they explored opportunities for MBAs to generate a social return on investment. While the group gained valuable exposure to leaders, decision makers and area alumni, they also helped establish Fuqua with organizations that have traditionally recruited MBAs from other programs. The trip also offers a model of success for future excursions to other cities.

Because the concept of “social sector” covers a broad range of causes, the trip was designed to meet students’ specific interests. Highlights from the early part of the week include visits to entrepreneurial non-profits Ashoka (whose founder, Bill Drayton, was recently named one of America’s Best Leaders by Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership and U.S. News & World Report), KaBOOM!, Global Giving and College Summit. These meetings were all characterized by mutually beneficial conversations where students both learned more about the innovative visions of each organization and offered valuable questions and suggestions.

The latter part of the week included meetings with The World Bank, USAID and the Inter-American Development Bank. Along with learning about core functions in the institutions, students interacted with people who developed post-Soviet economies in Eastern Europe, reconstituted the Central Bank of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, and created capital markets across Latin America. While the scope and impact of this work was inspiring, it is clear that the opportunity for MBAs to impact emerging economies is great and necessary.

Complementary to the work of the large donor organizations, is that of a group of specialized consultancies like Chemonics, Development Alternatives International and Booz, Allen and Hamilton, who often implement the programs of the large banks. Students enjoyed a two-hour discussion with experts from six different firms, including Maury Wray Bridges ’05, that yielded several helpful suggestions for job searches and career considerations.

Students also enjoyed their time in the capital region by meeting with alumni at the historic Old Tabard Inn and watching Duke dismantle Maryland in basketball at various locales in D.C. The work of students in the Social Impact Club, Matt Nash of the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) and Mary Beck White-Sutton in the Career Management Center all combined to make the inaugural trip a great success.

Looking ahead to next year, we would like to hear from alums willing to talk with students and/or share contacts that will help facilitate similar social sector excursions in other cities. You can contact us through Matt Nash at CASE (mnash@duke.edu) or directly to Tom Mitchell (tom.mitchell@fuqua.duke.edu).

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