Diversity

Harvard Business School (HBS) is a community comprised of faculty, staff, students, and alumni all committed to welcoming and accepting individuals from diverse global and local communities. Our staff brings varying ethnic backgrounds, skill levels, education levels, and personal experiences to their work.

All of these unique perspectives fit together to create an environment based on the shared values of respect for the rights and dignity of others, honesty, integrity, and accountability for personal behavior.

Affinity Groups

Voluntary, employee-led groups that center and celebrate shared identities, interests, and experiences. Participation in staff affinity groups is open to all and supports our Institutional commitments focused on fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture for all members of the HBS community.

  • African-American

    At Harvard Business School, employees have established the Black Staff Affinity Group. At the University, the Association of Black Faculty, Administrators and Fellows (ABFAF) strives to support and advocate for the University's Black community. We provide a means of communication, interaction and counseling for members through seminars, discussion groups, and social gatherings.

  • Asian & Asian American

    Harvard Business School employees have established the Asian Coalition for Employees. Across the full University, the Association of Harvard Asian and Asian American Faculty and Staff (AHAAAFS) was established to provide opportunities for networking, career development, awareness, and support for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander faculty and staff. It also serves as a resource for the larger Asian and Asian American community at Harvard.

  • LatinX

    At Harvard Business School, staff have established the Latinx Staff Affinity Group. Across the University, the Association of Harvard Latinx Faculty and Staff (AHLFS) was founded in 2009, through grassroots efforts by a number of employees here at Harvard University. AHLFS was established to promote, support and advance the needs and goals of Latinx faculty and staff at Harvard University.

  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

    At Harvard Business School, employees have established Family. Across the University, all Harvard faculty and staff are welcome to join the Harvard Gender and Sexuality Caucus, which is open to students as well. Benefits of membership include access to the online membership database and participation in Harvard’s large LGBT community. There are also several networking and support groups that focus on organizing LGBT faculty and staff and helping them feel comfortable in the workplace. There are many additional LGBT networking groups at Harvard, generally directed at students but often welcoming to staff as well.

  • Native American

    The Harvard University Native American Program’s mission is to bring together Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students and interested individuals from the Harvard community for the purpose of advancing the well-being of indigenous peoples through self-determination, academic achievement, and community service.

  • Volunteering & Community

    The volunteer group Harvard Neighbors helps both newcomers and more established members become acquainted with one another, through a wide variety of activities including knitting and book groups, non-English language discussion groups, and outings to museums and recreational sites.

  • Spouses, Partners & Families

    Spouses and partners of Harvard Business School faculty and staff may join the Harvard Students’ Spouses and Partners Association (HSSPA). Since 1896, HSSPA has provided a way to make friends and enjoy a sense of belonging within the Harvard community. HSSPA sponsors outings, social events, and playgroups. Thinking about day care options? Harvard has a wide variety of child care centers, including one right on the HBS campus.

  • Women

    The Committee on the Concerns of Women at Harvard (CCW) is a University-wide group, open to all faculty and staff. We strive to improve the professional and academic experiences of women at Harvard and provide opportunities to learn and network on campus through an annual calendar of events. We also provide leadership opportunities through service on our Executive Committee.

Career Training at the Allston Brighton Resource Center

Members of our Human Resources department regularly conduct career training sessions with the membership of the local Allston Brighton Resource Center. We provide career support and guidance to help our community members in their job searches.

Harvard University’s Administrative Fellowship Program

This program seeks to attract talented professionals, especially ethnic minorities, to administrative careers in higher education.

The Administrative Fellowship Program offers a twelve-month management experience complemented by a professional development program. In addition, the University encourages applications from individuals from all backgrounds who are committed to addressing the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in academic administration to administrative professional careers in higher education.

Year-Up Partnership

HBS is an active participant in Boston’s Year-Up program. Since 2008 we have hosted close to 9 urban young adults as interns and provided them with the opportunity to develop hands on experience and find their true potential as professionals. As a result of these internships, we have hired 2 interns as full time, permanent staff members.

Internship Program for Local High School Students

Since 1997, Harvard Business School has partnered with Boston and Brighton high schools to host an internship program for students.
The high school students gain valuable work experience while giving our staff the opportunity to coach and develop terrific future leaders. Since the start of the program, close to 95 students have worked in a variety of roles around the HBS campus. Many of the students stay and work for the duration of high school. The majority of intern graduates go to college, and many return to HBS throughout their college career to work vacations and summer jobs.

Pen Pal Program with Local Elementary Schools

Since 2001, HBS has participated in a pen pal program with the Gardner School, located just up the road in Allston. Third and fourth grade students at the Gardner School are matched randomly with volunteer staff and faculty at HBS. Pen pals exchange letters once a month, and twice a year the students and HBS employees get together in person. The students have the opportunity to visit our campus and learn about the excitement of being part of a University setting.