Tamer Institute

Efosa Uwaifo '22 says he chose CBS because it "was undergoing a cultural transformation from being a finance-focused school to one focused on social issues such as climate change and economic and social inequality. I wanted to solve the most important problems in the world, and this was a school that promised to help me do just that."He also says that participating as a Three Cairns Fellow — where he had the opportunity to work with a nonprofit and build a case to help farmers in Kenya access accurate weather date to improve farming activity — helped emphasize to him "that every part of the world is impacted by others, and borders are now just a physical phenomenon."

The center has explored important topics like stakeholder capitalism, social enterprise, and the role of business in society for nearly 40 years, and Bloomberg Businessweek recently noted "Columbia Business School has set an ambitious goal to become the nation’s top generator of leadership in the burgeoning field of social entrepreneurship."

"[W]e’ve seen significant growth and student interest in our courses in entrepreneurship and innovation and the issue of business and society," says Dean Costis Maglaras in a recent interview about the School's curriculum, trends, and goals, which are focused on the center's mission of addressing society's biggest problems using business principles and business models.

Sustainable products company EcoPlum, where Gia Machlin, '91BUS, '87SEAS, is president, joined 85 organizations endorsing a common vision for a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution.

We're thrilled to see Phoebe Boyer '93, president and CEO of Children’s Aid; Alison Overseth '84, CEO of Partnership for After School Education; and Ben Thomases '03, executive director of Queens Community House, part of the top 100 public officials, philanthropic leaders, and nonprofit executives leading the sector in NYC.

"The vision of Equality Now to ensure that all women and girls the world over enjoy equal rights under the law is a vision I know we must achieve. In a world that is shifting away from this vision, our work is even more critical to ensure that women and their communities can thrive. I am deeply humbled to lead an extraordinary team to make legal and lived equality a reality." Center advisory board member S. Mona Sinha '93 was appointed global executive director of Equality Now, which aligns her passion for gender equality with her corporate sector experience.

Professor Bruce Usher discusses the importance of ESG and the rise of climate finance in the October 21 edition of the New York Times's Dealbook.

Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio company Kheyti, co-founded by Kaushik Kappagantulu '17, is a 2022 finalist for the Earthshot Prize, which is "awarded to five winners each year for their contributions to environmentalism." Kheyti is changing the lives of small-hold farmers in India through its "Greenhouse-in-a-Box," which provides shelter from unpredictable elements and pests.

Adjunct professor Georgia Levenson Keohane was named CEO of the Soros Economic Development Fund, the impact investment arm at Open Society Foundations. Georgia, a leader in ESG investing, is the host of our Capital for Good podcast.

Professors Bruce Usher and Todd Jick co-wrote this piece on how business leaders must "understand [societal divides] at the starting point, accept the responsibility to consider the impacts of their decisions on the divides, and seek creative and constructive dialogue" about alternatives.