MBA

Profiles

Catherine Neale, MBA 2010

Catherine Neale comes from a family with a long tradition of public service. Her grandmother, for example, led a branch of the Red Cross in England for over a decade. It was no surprise to anyone when, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Catherine spent the winter break of her senior year in New Orleans, "helping people gut houses and reopen schools."

But unlike many volunteers inspired by the intensity of the moment, Catherine returned to the Crescent City. "There were many groups down there," Catherine says, "but I wanted to join a group that was actually working, not just talking." That led her to Habitat for Humanity, first as an AmeriCorps volunteer for ten months, then as a full-time staffer for another one-and-a-half years.

"I started by building houses, coordinating teams of fifteen to forty volunteers," she explains. "Then I moved into construction management, dealing with subcontractors, inspectors, materials and utilities." In her final year with the organization, Catherine served as liaison for the executive director, managing government and international relations and, among other responsibilities, organizing the 25th Annual Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project. The former president, Catherine says, "could swing a hammer better than most of the staff."

Insights from the private sector

While at the University of Virginia, Catherine served as the student liaison to the Board of Visitors where she noticed that "businesspeople can add a lot of insight and sound judgment to nonprofit or public institutions." That impression was confirmed through her involvement with Habitat for Humanity. "At every level, good business experience can improve the efficiency of nonprofits," says Catherine.

Intrigued by HBS' reputation, Catherine's interest in the school was reinforced by its diversity. "At least thirty of my ninety sectionmates come from other countries," Catherine says. "And there's a higher percentage of women here than at many other business schools."

Most important, however, is the school's commitment to social enterprise. "It's not just the broad selection of available classes — in environmental issues, managing nonprofits, managing education ventures. HBS encourages social enterprise for everyone at the school," be it through nonprofit board positions or awareness of the social impact of business decisions.

The learning is reciprocal. "Listening to other classmates makes me want to get some private sector experience," Catherine says. "And there's no better place in the world to find a private sector job that would help me get skills useful in the public sector."

Looking ahead

This summer, Catherine will work with the Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco. Once she fulfills her MBA, "I want to go into the private sector for a few years and learn more about management and best business practices. My long-term goal is to manage a large, international nonprofit organization."