Using Business as a Force for Good

New Ideas: A Dialogue Project Competition

We're searching for undergraduate students dedicated to exploring the different ways business can be a force for good in society. Current students in their freshman, sophomore or junior year of a four-year degree program at a U.S. college or university are invited to share their proposal for how a company, set of companies or industry sector can have positive impact on a specific community, population, location, industry or the environment at large.

You are welcome to pick existing companies or industries or present an entrepreneurial idea of your own. We hope your proposal will highlight any ways in which your idea will contribute to improving civil discourse and reducing polarization in society. 

Ten grand prize winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Duke's Fuqua School of Business where they will present their proposals to influential business leaders and  participate in a live case study. Winners who apply to and are admitted to one of Fuqua's one-year master’s programs will also receive partial scholarship funding.

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Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be residential, full-time undergraduate students in their freshman, sophomore or junior year at a college or university located in the United States. Students of any nationality or citizenship and all academic majors are welcome to apply. Applicants must also be 18 years of age by March 1, 2024.

Format

Submissions can be in the form of an essay addressing the topic, a business plan meant to address the topic or combination of the two. Entries do not have a word limit, but are limited to five pages of content. Content submitted should be well structured and clearly highlight the problem/challenge and proposed solutions. Evidence, including data, quotes, reports, charts, graphs, tables, etc. may be included when relevant. If evidence is provided from another source, appropriate citation should be made. Submissions may be part of a class assignment or project as long as they represent the work of a single individual and are formatted to adhere to the five-page limit. 

Meet the Participants

Read more about the nine grand prize winners who have received an all-expenses paid trip to Duke's Fuqua School of Business to pitch their New Ideas proposal. 

Meet the participants

Timeline

We expect the next application for the competition to be available in the  fall of 2023. 

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The Dialogue Project at Duke

Every day successful businesses bring people together with diverse experiences and points-of-view to work toward common goals. The Dialogue Project explores how these skills can be expanded more broadly in our society, and equips business leaders with new tools required to succeed in the emerging stakeholder economy.

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Regional Groups

Durham is home base, but you'll find Fuqua all over the world. Explore the opportunities we provide to build your network in Asia, EMEA, and the Americas.

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Strategy for Success

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From supporting finance projects in Sub-Saharan Africa to pursuing a one-year masters degree, Christian Ezealigo shares how he has developed business acumen by leveraging analytics.
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