The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School

News

Social Impact Round Up: Week of March 24

Wharton Social Impact Initiative presents a weekly round-up of events and news related to social impact topics.

Social entrepreneur Joey Hundert visits with students in spring 2013.
Social entrepreneur Joey Hundert visits with students in spring 2013.

Events

WSII presents: Office Hours with Social Entrepreneur Joey Hundert

March 24-28: We invite students to sign up for one-on-one sessions or lunch meetings with visiting entrepreneur Joey Hundert, founder of the world’s first “sustainable carnival” and an advocate for clean energy technology. Back by popular demand, Joey will host “social entrepreneur in-residence” office hours on March 24-28. Sign ups for one-on-one sessions are available online: http://whr.tn/1ihFSCg.

Social Impact Consulting Case Workshop

March 28, 1-2.30 p.m., JMHH G55: Join the Social Impact Consulting club for an interactive workshop to learn valuable consulting skills from a leader in the social impact sphere. Erin Morgan Gore (W’04, C’04) will lead participants through a consulting case and speak about her decade-long work experience in the social sector. Gore launched BCG’s Social Impact Practice Group and was subsequently a manager at the Bridgespan Group.

Lunch will be served. RSVPs are required: http://wharton.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8tTVZo1qH2S5JEp

Wharton Graduate Association presents: Wharton Impact Day

March 28, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Various Locations: The Wharton Graduates Association presents Wharton Impact Day, a day launching Wharton’s firm commitment to dedicate time via community service projects across Philadelphia and knowledge via social impact workshops held at The Wharton School. Community service partners include Rebuilding Together, Fairmount Park Conservancy Cradles to Crayons, and Philabundance. Join 150 other members of the Wharton community, including students, faculty, and staff, as they go on-site to service their community projects.

Interested students can sign up online. Contact wgaimpactday@gmail.com for more information.

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Penn Microfinance Conference

March 29, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., JMHH: The 8th Annual Penn Microfinance Conference is back. This year’s conference, themed Microfinance – Beyond Its Roots, will focus on exploring how the microfinance model has evolved over the years to adapt to the changing economic, social and cultural landscape that businesses are interacting in today. Highlights include keynote speaker Elisabeth Thyne, co-creator of the Smart Campaign, and in augural case competition, speaker panels and coffee chats.

Tickets are free for all University of Pennsylvania students. Registration is available online.

Lunch Panel on Local Education Reform hosted by Wharton Social Impact Club

Apr. 3, 12-1:15 p.m., TBA: As Q4 kicks off, WSIC’s Impactful Thursday lunch series features an esteemed line-up of leaders from the community who will offer diverse perspectives on the past, current and future state of education in Philadelphia. They include: Mike Wang, Managing Director of Philadelphia School Partnership, Mark Manella, CEO of KIPP Philadelphia, and Aaron Tjoa, Co-Founder of School Redevelopment Initiative. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP and share your questions by Friday, March 28.

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Wharton | San Francisco Social Impact Conference

Apr. 10, 7.30 a.m. –  4.30 p.m., Wharton | San Francisco: The second annual Wharton | San Francisco Social Impact Conference promises to bring together a community of socially innovative thinkers who understand what is good for society and also good for business. This student-run conference spotlights many inspiring organizations and companies, with a full day of panel sessions and speakers like K. Robert Turner (W’84), Omaze co-founder Matthew Pohlson (WG’12) and Ben Cain of Revolution Foods.

Tickets are available online. Don’t forget to join the Facebook event page for updates and info leading up to the conference.

Wharton IGEL Book Discussion with Mark Tercek, President & CEO of Nature Conservancy

Apr. 15, 11.30 a.m, JMHH 8th Floor: Wharton Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership is hosting a seminar with Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy, about his latest book. Tercek is the author of the Washington Post and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling book Nature’s Fortune. A 24-year Goldman Sachs veteran, Tercek brings deep business experience to his role leading the Conservancy, where he champions of the idea of natural capital— valuing nature for its own sake as well as for the services it provides for people.

Registration is available online. Further questions can be directed to environment@wharton.upenn.edu. Lunch will be provided as well as a complimentary copy of Nature’s Fortune.

News and Opportunities

Big businesses are leading the way in creating a focus where doing good is at the core, not at the periphery. Knowledge@Wharton recently ran an article featuring an interview with Lucy Parker and John Miller, authors of Everybody’s Business: The Unlikely Story of How big Businesses Can Fix the World. Interviewing with Wharton Management professor Witold Henisz, Parker and Miller explain why a new norm is evolving where big corporations are starting to use their powers for long-term good.

Wharton Magazine’s recent web feature highlights bold anti-poverty predictions from two influential leaders: Bill Gates and Dr. Rajiv Shah, M’02, GRW’05. Bob Natiello, WG’56, also discusses the implications and opportunities of poverty eradication on the Wharton community.

The social impact job board has new summer opportunities and internships posted.

FastFWD accelerator member and local startup D8A Group is featured in a Q&A on Philly.com. For founder Jon Goiser, data intelligence equals better public safety.


By Joanne Gan, W’15, C’15