Social Enterprise | Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School » Social Enterprise

Social Enterprise Initiative

We educate, support, and inspire leaders across all sectors to tackle society's toughest challenges and make a difference in the world.

Supporting a Dynamic Community

MBA Experience

Learn more about involvement as an HBS student, including academics, career, community, and paths for social entrepreneurship.

Executive Education

Discover immersive learning programs for social sector leaders building sustainable, high-impact mission-driven organizations.

Alumni Engagement

Connect to a powerful global network of social impact leaders through events, interest groups, and local alumni clubs.

Faculty & Research

Engage with faculty creating groundbreaking research that links theory and practice to shape the future of social enterprise.

Asian Community Development Corporation: Building Housing and Community

February 2024 By: Michael Chu and Alexis Lefort Based in Boston’s Chinatown, the Asian Community Development Corporation’s mission was to build affordable homes, empower families, and strengthen communities. The case examines whether ACDC should continue pursuing all three goals or focus on affordable housing.

Accounting Outages at Plug Power? (C)

November 2023 By: Jonas Heese, Joseph Pacelli and James Barnett Set in June 2023, the C case explores Plug Power’s recovery from its financial restatements, how it benefited from government subsidies, and new strategic alliances.

'Care in Every Drop': Ayala Corporation and Manila Water (B)

November 2023 By: Debora L. Spar, Paul Healy, Tricia Peralta and Julia Comeau Since 1834, eight generations of the Ayala family have used their conglomerate to fund nation-building projects in the Philippines, including investments in tramcars, telecommunications, hospitals, and schools. In 1997, Ayala’s subsidiary, Manila Water, took control of the failing water distribution system in Metro Manila’s east zone, vowing to rebuild the infrastructure and bring cleaner, safe...

for organizations

Build your organization’s social impact by connecting with HBS through executive education, research, student and alumni projects, and recruiting.

Blog

Check out Impact Insights, shining a spotlight on the people, ideas, and happenings in the SEI community.

The Path from Public Service to HBS – A less unlikely road than I once thought

Kate Swain-Smith 15 Apr 2024 Two years ago, I would not have anticipated or even believed that I’d be seeking an MBA today. As someone who served in local and federal government prior to HBS,...

Lessons from the Field of Systems Change

Courtney Han 03 Apr 2024 In recent years, the term “systems change” has taken the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors by storm. While many agree with its central tenets—addressing root causes rather than surface-level symptoms, engaging...

Meet the 2024 New Venture Competition Social Enterprise Track Finalists

21 Mar 2024 In February 2024, the HBS New Venture Competition received 31 entries to the Social Enterprise Track, from student teams across Harvard University. Sixteen semifinalists presented in early March to expert judges from...

Influencing Practice. Advancing the Field.

Events

2024

Jul

28 Jul-03 Aug

Executive Education: Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management

This week-long on-campus program for nonprofit leaders explores how to create social sector organizations that can thrive in the midst of change.