Why I Chose to Be a Chicago Booth Neubauer Civic Scholar

Joshua Anderson, Weekend MBA, Senior Fellow, Future Ed at McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University

Jason Coleman, Evening MBA, Executive Director and Co-Founder at SYNCERE

Lynnette Miranda, Evening MBA, Program Director at United States Artists

Jorge Silva, Weekend MBA, Managing Director at The Neo-Futurists, and Global Arts Management Fellow at the University of Maryland

Why Chicago Booth? Why the Civic Scholars Program?

Joshua: I want to learn the core foundations of how to lead and manage a successful organization in a complex, rapidly changing world, and Booth offers an incredible program to do this. Civic Scholars provides the network, community, and scaffolding to fully pull the business school program to me and successfully apply and build on key lessons for the social and public sector.

Jason: As I think about my journey into nonprofit leadership and the progress we’ve made as an organization, I recognize that access to educational opportunities has always played an integral part in my growth. I am excited about attending Booth to gain access to the additional experiential learning opportunities that will allow me to continue to expand my knowledge in new areas of business. The knowledge and business acumen I will gain from the instructors and my peers will help prepare me to scale my organization. Being a part of the Civic Scholars Program will help connect me with other leaders in the nonprofit and government space who have a similar passion for civic duty. There is a unique connection between these two groups as we have chosen a path of leadership in an area that helps create a more just and equitable society.

Lynnette: It is the education at Booth—not just the degree—that excites me. I’m eager to embark on the invaluable, hands-on learning opportunities that will expand my network while challenging me to think beyond silos. The group coursework, active student groups, and range of opportunities available at the on-campus institutions, such as the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, are all integral to the education I seek—one that merges theory and practice. Civic Scholars further deepens my MBA experience by focusing on social impact beyond a traditional perspective and by designing a tailored experience where I can learn from and be challenged by peers and faculty from across the nonprofit, government, and business sectors.

Jorge: Booth’s Civic Scholars Program provides the kind of focused expertise and network needed to fundamentally change the nature of nonprofit arts organizations. By utilizing the social and creative capital abundant in arts communities, combined with the ethically-driven scholarship fostered at Booth, the economics of art can sway to adapt to the needs of the moment. Booth is the only institution that shares my values and embraces my vision for equity in arts, looking beyond what we create to how we create and who we serve.

Which Chicago Booth program format did you choose and why?

Joshua: I chose the Weekend MBA so I can pursue the rigorous Booth program while continuing my work in the education sector.

Jason: I am specifically applying to the Evening MBA Program because I have the responsibility of managing my organization and my family and it provides me with the best opportunity to do that.

Lynette: With support from my organization, completing an MBA in tandem with a full-time position will enhance my education and help me become a smarter leader. The Evening MBA Program offers me the flexibility to take courses with the exact same faculty from the Full-Time Program while having the ability to apply what I’m learning in real-time. Additionally, I look forward to processing and contemplating what I’m learning over a longer timeline.

Jorge: For many years, The Neo-Futurists [theater company] has been more than my place of employment; it has been my community and has come to rely on me as a part of its leadership. I have an immediate responsibility to the community that has supported me, especially now when livelihoods are at stake, to see us through overlapping crises and subsequent recovery. My acceptance to Booth for the Weekend MBA Program will mean furthering a personal mission while supporting my friends and family during a dire time.

Why is an MBA important in the nonprofit and government sector?

Joshua: It's essential for nonprofit and government leaders to have the full suite of executive skills, which include several foundations of the business school program, like knowledge of markets, microeconomics, marketing, accounting, statistics, and strategic decision-making.

Jason: An MBA is important for individuals in the nonprofit sector because many of the tactics and strategies necessary to scale, grow, and sustain the business are the same. An MBA provides individuals with the tools, resources, and knowledge required for success in business. Expertise in the areas of management, finance, operations, and marketing are key for nonprofits to thrive in times where they have to be lean and attract new funders to support their mission-driven goals. 

Lynnette: The changing financial and philanthropic landscape requires data-driven and risk-taking strategies, something I want to learn and develop in real-time at Booth. In pursuing an MBA, I hope to gain a depth of financial knowledge and strategic acumen applicable in my current and future role, giving my organization’s board further confidence in my ability to lead the organization beyond just the departments I oversee.

Jorge: For those of us looking to address inequities, social complexities require an astute understanding of the machinations driving the private and public sectors. An MBA like the one offered at Booth offers not only the opportunity to demystify some of the intricacies, but also to apply what we learn immediately, and discover fields of study previously inaccessible to many of us working in nonprofit organizations and government agencies.  Equally important is the ability to work towards solutions alongside colleagues who can complement  us through their unique experience and insight.  An MBA provides the latitude to enhance your field of expertise and activate your passion for meaningful impact.