Participants in executive MBA programs are taught to think globally, learn, and travel. However, while international residencies take those in the Darden School of Business EMBA program to far-flung locations like China, Estonia, Ghana, and Cuba, one elective course keeps them grounded. This course provides them with a close-up view of social issues in their local Virginia community by working with Piedmont Community College. The executives, who typically work full-time in senior leadership roles while studying, research and develop career pathways for school students, helping them obtain the necessary qualifications for well-paying jobs.
“Our university is the anchor institution for the Charlottesville community, where 14 percent of families struggle to afford the essentials in life,” says Toni Irving, the professor teaching this non-profit management course. “Our EMBA students understand the connection between academic degrees and well-paying jobs, as well as the role that corporations play as anchor institutions.”
This course is an elective in the second year of the 21-month program at Darden, the University of Virginia’s business school. The class decided to focus on job opportunities in dental hygiene, radiologic technology, computer network support, advanced manufacturing, and telecommunications installation and repair. They created and executed a marketing plan to inform young people and parents about these career pathways.
Throughout the course, participants put their knowledge of economics, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, and data analysis into practice, with immediate real-world implications. “What they achieve in just eight weeks is truly remarkable,” says Professor Irving. The project has not only impacted the school students but also some participants who have convinced their employers to rethink their approach to social issues and philanthropy.
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“At Darden, we spend a significant amount of time understanding the larger issues in our economy,” says participant Erin Schneider, CFO for Global Business Services at Wolters Kluwer. “However, if we don’t address social and societal issues properly, our impact won’t be genuine.”
This course has been particularly relevant for participant Liz Brunette, who served in the US military for 10 years and is now the Principal Program Manager for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Amazon. Brunette is also a board member of the Constantino Family Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to young people in San Francisco.
“This course has directly influenced how I support my family foundation,” says Brunette. “Now, I’m better able to evaluate the purpose and impact of offering scholarships to Bay Area students.”
More and more business schools are incorporating social responsibility modules and projects into their EMBA programs, giving participants the opportunity to give back while learning responsible leadership. Research shows that over 70 percent of MBA students expect content on responsible management, ethical leadership, global challenges, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Some schools even make environmental, social, and governance (ESG) courses or projects mandatory. HEC Paris reports that it has doubled ESG content on its EMBA program to 29 percent in the past five years. Students are required to complete projects or papers on social impact, and professors are encouraged to include ESG cases in their classes.
“Our students are eager to create an impact both during their time at HEC Paris and beyond,” says Brad Harris, Associate Dean for MBA programs. “We encourage them to ask themselves, ‘How will I make a difference in this world?’ and then help them take the necessary steps to make it happen.”
In every cohort of the joint EMBA program by Essec and Mannheim, students are assigned a mandatory social project. Past projects have included fundraising for children with cancer, improving job opportunities for veterans, and campaigns to protect Mediterranean seagrass meadows.
At Hult International Business School, EMBA participants in the Business and Global Society class are divided into teams. They choose one of the UN’s sustainable development goals and identify a company where that goal can present a strategic opportunity. Past projects include promoting circular economy practices, developing new energy solutions, improving STEM educational opportunities, and creating affordable nutritional foods.
“Our EMBA participants learn how their decisions impact the environment, society, and finances,” says Professor Joanne Lawrence, who teaches the class. “We view responsibility as a business imperative because serving society is at the core of business success. Today’s students are individuals with purpose who want to live their values through their work. They see that business can both thrive and make a positive impact.”
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