Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship

Course Description

Social entrepreneurship is an exciting and rapidly growing field, which utilizes an entrepreneurial approach to address social challenges and create positive change. Companies such as Patagonia, Warby Parker, and Stonyfield Farms epitomize strong and sustainable organizations, which are creating both social and financial value. This course will provide students with an overview of this evolving field and help students understand the ways in which social entrepreneurs are driving innovation and transformation in industries such as health, education, and the environment. Students will examine the opportunities and challenges associated with a variety of social enterprise business models and structures ranging from nonprofits to for profit social purpose businesses. The course is based on a “learning by doing” approach and students will have opportunities to meet and learn from leading social entrepreneurs, and take field trips to a number of nationally renowned social enterprises. The course will include group projects, debates, and presentation components leading to developing and pitching your own Action Plan idea for a non-profit or for-profit social enterprise. Finally, we will explore the various types of careers available in “do well do good” fields and the education and skills needed to excel in the field. This course will particularly benefit students who enjoy hands-on practical learning, are interested in entrepreneurship, and are eager to apply business models to make the world a better place.

This course content is particularly relevant for students who are interested in pursuing academic study in social entrepreneurship, design thinking, organizational management, economics, sociology, development studies, and does not require prior experience or knowledge.

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This course is part of the Leadership Institute, a two-week academic program that helps students cultivate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with effective and socially responsible leadership. This unique program consists of three integrated elements: academic content, leadership development, and the Action Plan. Our students are thoughtful and compassionate youth who are interested in social issues and creating positive change. Enrollment in this program requires several hours of online engagement prior to campus arrival. This online participation can be completed at any time where internet access is available. Once on campus, participants can look forward to full days in a community of engaged and curious learners.

Additional programmatic information may be found here.

Prerequisites: None required.

Kelly Ramirez is the CEO of Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG). She teaches/has taught Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, RISD, Salve Regina, and Providence College. Previously, she directed the Social Enterprise Initiative at the William Davidson Institute (WDI). She has consulting and project management experience with organizations including Aid to Artisans, the Ford Foundation, the European Commission, USAID, the State Department, and Roche. Kelly also worked as a political analyst for the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service, an election monitor for the OSCE, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Slovakia. Kelly believes in learning by doing. Kelly received MA Degrees in Public Policy and Urban Planning and a BA in political science from the University of Michigan, completed a leadership certificate program at the Ross School of Business, and received a scholarship to attend the Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management. Kelly is the proud mother of three, runs, likes to cook, garden and play the piano. She loves design and is an avid collector of mid-century chairs.