I want to take this opportunity to welcome the four new members of the Social Enterprise Advisory Board: Shaiza Rizavi '96, Joyce Roché '72, Gregorio Schneider '96 and Diana Taylor '80. They were introduced at the board’s semiannual meeting, which was held just prior to the annual reception of the Social Enterprise Program in February. They join existing board members Bill Lambert '72, the founding member, Alex Casdin '96, Paul Guenther '64 and Frank Lautenberg, BS '49. Advisory Board members with Dean Glenn Hubbard, faculty and staff The Advisory Board was created to help shape development of the School’s Social Enterprise Program.
Speaking on behalf of my faculty and staff colleagues, we are delighted to have their advice and assistance in building the School’s network and in developing our activities. We are engaged in an effort to provide the rapidly growing number of Columbia MBA students interested in social enterprise with the high-quality courses and extracurricular activities they deserve. Bios of the board members can be found on the Social Enterprise Web site. Their current positions span a wide variety of sectors and organizations, from the U.S. Senate and New York State government to investment banks, hedge funds and venture capital firms to educational, cultural and advocacy groups. But their careers also reflect a common experience: Since graduating from Columbia Business School, each has been a successful practitioner of social enterprise. Some began their careers in the private sector and have moved on to careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Others—some of whom began their careers working in government or nonprofit organizations before moving to the private sector—have stayed in the private sector but contribute significant time, expertise and financial resources to nonprofit organizations whose missions they care about.
I think what explains their respective commitments to the Social Enterprise Program is the common belief that every Columbia MBA student should be prepared to play a role in making the world a better place—at some point, if not throughout their careers. I’m confident that our MBAs can contribute significantly to making the world a better place. Helping them become leaders in that effort is what the Social Enterprise Program is all about. —Ray Horton, Frank R. Lautenberg Professor of Ethics and Corporate Governance and Director of the Social Enterprise Program