Net Impact, the umbrella organization for social enterprise clubs at business schools around the world, has chosen Columbia Business School to host its 12th annual conference in November 2004.
“We were impressed with the energy, drive and commitment of the Social Enterprise Club students,” said Ben Klasky, Net Impact’s executive director. “Their creativity will produce an exceptional event.” “We look forward to the involvement of alumni and professionals in providing suggestions, planning events and attending the conference.” —Jennifer Parks ’05 and Carolyn Hack ’05, Net Impact Conference Cochairs. Orin Smith, CEO of Starbucks, will give a keynote speech at the conference, which will take place on November 11–14.
The conference is an international event for business school students, alumni and professionals interested in social enterprise. In the past it has attracted over 900 attendees, but in New York, Net Impact expects a crowd of approximately 1,200. Past conferences have featured keynote speakers from both the business and nonprofit sectors, including Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Jeffrey Swartz, president and CEO of Timberland, and Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund. The conference theme this year will be Business Leaders Building a Better World.
Panels will highlight Columbia’s strengths in the international, finance and entrepreneurship arenas. Proposed conference tracks include nonprofit and community development, finance and funding, globalization and emerging markets, social entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability and energy, and corporate social responsibility.
The Social Enterprise Club at Columbia Business School has formed a Conference Design Team to lead the planning of panels, workshops, a business expo, on-site visits with organizations, networking and social events, marketing and communications, sponsorship and logistics. The team expects alumni to play a significant role as speakers, attendees and planners.
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