About Us
History
The Social Enterprise Initiative was formed in 1993 by former Dean John H. McArthur and interested faculty and staff with the initial support of John C. Whitehead (MBA '47), whose career has spanned leadership positions in the private, for–profit, and nonprofit sectors. Subsequent support from numerous alumni has enabled the Social Enterprise Initiative to flourish at the School.
Since the Initiative's founding, its approach to social enterprise has encompassed the contributions any individual or organization can make toward social improvement, regardless of its legal form (nonprofit, private, or public sector).
Over the years, research forums and conferences sponsored by the Social Enterprise Initiative have examined a wide range of topics, including Nonprofit Strategy, Business Leadership in the Social Sector, Consumer-Driven Health Care, Global Poverty, Public Education, and The Future of Social Enterprise. Research generated from these forums and conferences has been published in special editions of leading academic journals, books, and other publications.
The impact of the Social Enterprise Initiative has manifested itself in a number of areas. At HBS, these range from the participation of more than 95 faculty members in social enterprise research and teaching, to the creation of over 400 social enterprise cases and teaching notes by HBS faculty. Social enterprise perspectives are integrated into a broad range of classes and case discussions, reflecting a real-world blending of business and social issues, and courses focusing on social enterprise are incorporated into the curriculum. The Initiative has developed a portfolio of executive education programs and offers a number of career development and community engagement programs designed to support student and alumni involvement.
