Wharton stands for more than just finance, says Professor Adam Grant, highlighting students’ passionate interest in entrepreneurship, social impact, and new technology.
In a response to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, he argues that Wharton’s “image” hasn’t kept up with reality.
“The focus on tech and entrepreneurship isn’t new. Wharton is the world’s oldest collegiate business school, and the founder, Joseph Wharton, was an entrepreneur in mining and manufacturing as well as education… Since then, Wharton alums have founded Paypal and Tesla Motors, CBS, Half.com, QVC, Cisco Systems, H&R Block, CVS/Caremark, Franklin Mint, Seventeen magazine, TV Guide, J.D. Power & Associates, and Vault.com. They also hold senior leadership roles at tech companies ranging from LinkedIn to Google to Oracle.
It turns out that I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for understanding how people and businesses can make a difference. Last month, roughly 40% of the new Wharton MBA class signed up the info session for the Social Impact Initiative, which drew so many students (200+) that it was standing room only. Students who are interested in finance are increasingly seeing it as a vehicle for helping others—through impact investing, social impact bonds, and urban development—and a group of students recently launched a Social Venture Fund.”
Visit LinkedIn to read Professor Grant’s full comments on Wharton’s remarkable students, social impact and more.