In the final episode of the season, hosts Ray Horton and Sandi Wright lead listeners into an engaging live discussion with eight distinguished Columbia Business School alumni, whose careers in social enterprise span industries from climate adaptation to financial inclusion, education equity, and impact investing.
Together, they explore critical themes emerging from this season’s conversations:
- The evolving role of business schools in social enterprise: From experiential learning to incubating nonprofits, alumni share how Columbia Business School shaped their journeys.
- Mentorship as a cornerstone of success: Guests reflect on how mentors have guided their careers and the importance of building meaningful relationships beyond networking.
- Leadership in illiberal times: Facing challenges like reduced federal funding and political polarization, nonprofit leaders discuss strategies for resilience, advocacy, and coalition-building.
This episode is a testament to the power of social enterprise as a force for positive change amidst uncertainty. The alumni share personal stories of impact — from transforming corporate mindsets to empowering vulnerable communities — and offer advice for aspiring leaders navigating complex societal challenges.
Featured guests:
- Meyer Feldberg
Dean Emeritus and Professor at Columbia Business School - Russell L. Carson ’67
Chairman of The Carson Family Charitable Trust - R. Glenn Hubbard
Dean Emeritus and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School - Costis Maglaras
Dean and David and Lyn Silfen Professor of Business at Columbia Business School - Rohit Aggarwala ’00
Chief Climate Officer and Commissioner of Environmental Protection at the City of New York - Phoebe Boyer ’93
President and CEO of Children's Aid - Ron Gonen ’04
Founder and CEO of Closed Loop Partners - Kaushik Kappagantulu ’17
Co-founder and CEO of Kheyti - Lindsay Kruse ’06
CEO of All Means All - Mary Jane McQuillen ’07
Head of ESG and Portfolio Manager at Clearbridge - Daniel Nissenbaum ’88
CEO of Low Income Investment Fund - Justine Zinkin ’02
CEO of Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners
Key Takeaways:
- Business schools can be powerful incubators for social enterprise ideas — guests share how they leveraged courses, competitions, and networks to launch impactful ventures.
- Mentorship goes beyond networking; it involves long-term relationships that challenge and inspire growth at pivotal career moments.
- Resilience is vital in illiberal times — leaders must adapt through stakeholder management, storytelling, coalition-building, and creative problem-solving.
Memorable Quotes:
- “Lone wolves don’t get very far in social enterprise.” – Ray Horton on the importance of mentorship and collaboration.
- “We are in the opportunity business.” – Phoebe Boyer on creating pathways for vulnerable children through Children’s Aid programs.
- “Great reputations are built in times of crisis.” – Ron Gonen on seeing challenges as opportunities for leadership and innovation.
Special Thanks:
This episode would not have been possible without support from the Tamer Institute team: Diana Rambau, Hannah Slow, and Sandra Navalli ’03. And a special thanks to first-year MBA students, Sofia Martins '26 and Dominica Wambold '26 for all their help throughout the season.
Stay tuned for season three as we continue exploring the forces shaping modern political economy with insights from across the Columbia campus!
