June 8

The future of successful business leaders will be defined by the ability to create, build, and sustain organizations with and for mission and finance-related returns. In light of changing organizational structures (from C corp. to B corp.), the infusion of private capital for social good, and the increased integration of responsibility and ethics into the corporate workplace, emerging leaders should be prepared to understand the core concepts of investing for impact to retain a competitive advantage as a leader and organization. 

The workshop will engage students in understanding the core principles for investing with impact. This course is a must-have for students interested in pursuing careers in social finance, philanthropy/nonprofit, investment management, or responsible banking. With such little formal text and theory on the topic of socially responsible investing and related sectors, this class will provide a unique overview of the market and offer a reflective and practical application of the industry's core principles. 

The course will provide insight as an “impact investor” and explore the due diligence and deal structuring required for investing in social enterprises. The course will introduce students to an investment continuum and provide related skills and theory on applying various capital layers to emerging and growth enterprises. 

Learning Goals: 

• Understand the core components of impact investing and the related ecosystem

• Ability to develop an investment portfolio for an organization or a fund

• Retain skills in evaluating and analyzing fundamental investment decisions

Readings:

• How Investors Can (and Can’t) Create Value (select at least three articles to read)

• Total Portfolio Activation: A Framework for Creating Social and Environmental Impact Across Asset Classes 

• When Can Impact Investing Create Real Impact? 

• Navigating Impact (GIIN) 

While persuasion and influence skills are important to a leader’s effectiveness, a critical element of a leader’s toolkit is her/his ability to motivate others to get the work done.  In this discussion-based session, we analyze several real situations in which leaders have to implement multiple leadership strategies and discuss the evidence-based research that supports different styles to work effectively with senior management, colleagues, and subordinates.  Participants will analyze their own leadership styles and expand their own toolkit of methods to work with others who may be very different from themselves. 

Reading: Leadership That Gets Results (The case is available in the Harvard Coursepack. You will have to register for a free account.)

This session will focus on establishing a foundational understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles and their impact on the workplace. Session participants will engage in dialogue and breakout activities to explore key DEI concepts connected to the business impact of DEI, the cultural implications of a lacking DEI strategy and the holistic benefits of DEI values for organizations, leaders and individual contributors.

Learning Outcomes:

• Establish foundational understanding and awareness of key DEI principles.

• Build confidence in equitable and inclusive practices for the workplace.

• Develop an understanding of the business impact of DEI.

• Establish an understanding and awareness of the DEI Maturity Model for organizations.

Reading: The Five Stages of DEI Maturity (The case is available in the Harvard Coursepack. You will have to register for a free account.)

Background Video: In her "Workplace Utopia" talk, Dr. Washington walks her audience towards the understanding and imagination of a workplace utopia in the context of the broader DEI journey. By breaking down the concept of workplace utopia, discussing the nuances of history and outlining the elements of an equitable and inclusive workplace, Dr. Washington challenges listeners to face and embrace the journey of DEI with both a personal interest and a globally inclusive lens. Students will learn about the foundational elements of a workplace utopia and how they can start thinking about how to build their own. (Video link; Password: ella)