Social Innovation Conferences and Events
The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation holds social impact events globally, offering insights into how the sector operates and helping our community members prepare to solve complex problems.
Featured speakers have included Nobel laureates, elected officials, corporate and nonprofit leaders, and social entrepreneurs.
Our social innovation conferences and events are designed for anyone who is committed to making the world more equitable and sustainable, including nonprofit and business leaders, social entrepreneurs, board members, impact investors, and Booth students, faculty, and alumni.
Due to COVID-19 and in accordance with Booth’s events policy, all events will be hosted virtually until further notice. Visit UChicago’s website for more information, or email the Rustandy Center.
If you’re a student interested in a virtual meeting with a Rustandy Center executive in residence, contact us. We hope that these resources will support you in your work to create meaningful impact here in Chicago and around the world.
Signature Events
Economics of Social Sector Organizations Conference
This annual event brings together faculty from across disciplines to explore the broad range of organizations addressing social issues.
Economics of Social Sector Organizations Conference
Perspectives in Impact Investing
This event series provides an overview of career paths in impact investing, public and private markets, and the future of the field.
Perspectives in Impact Investing
Making the Switch
We offer events and resources to help Booth alumni leverage their MBA for a career in the social impact sector.
Making the Switch
Perspectives in Sustainability
Get insights into the most challenging issues facing our planet and learn how you can use your business skills to tackle them.
Perspectives in Sustainability
Perspectives in Philanthropy
Join the Rustandy Center for an event series that explores the role of philanthropy in American society.
Perspectives in PhilanthropyUpcoming Events
10/20/2021
Gleacher Center, Room 100: Wednesday, October 20, 5-7 p.m. CST
Interested in diving into an impact investing competition or the Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund? Led by Priya Parrish, '09, impact investor in residence at the Rustandy Center, these sessions will provide students with a crash course in impact investing by offering definitions and outlining key skills and trends in the industry. Students should plan to attend both sessions 1 and 2.
10/22/2021
Harper Center, Room C-25: Friday, October 22, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. CST
Do you want to do good at Booth? The Social Impact and Sustainability Fair is your chance to connect with student group and Rustandy Center representatives that can speak to opportunities for students to drive impact in Chicago and the broader global community. You'll have the chance to connect with representatives from: Net Impact, Giving Something Back, the Business and Sustainability Club, and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation.
10/25/2021
Gleacher Center, Room 203: Monday, October 25, 5-6 p.m. CST
Interested in nonprofit engagement? Join Dorri McWhorter, nonprofit engagement executive in residence at the Rustandy Center, for her AMA. This interactive and informal session is designed to be driven by students, so bring your questions about nonprofit management, board service, community engagement, nonprofit careers, impact investing modeling, and more.
10/27/2021
Virtual via Zoom: Wednesday, October 27, 7-8 a.m. CST
With the rise in environmental regulations and policies around the world, more organizations are implementing measurable sustainability activities. How are these efforts affecting the economies of the EMEA region and the world? Join leading economists to discuss the impact of climate change on the economy and other topics related to environmental, social, and corporate governance. Nobel laureate Lars Peter Hansen will present his research on the uncertainty in climate models and the implications for policymakers. Following his presentation, Hansen will discuss his research with Sir Ronald Cohen, a venture capitalist, private equity investor, and social innovator who is widely recognized as the father of impact investment.
10/26/2021
Gleacher Center, Room 100: Tuesday, October 26, 5-7 p.m. CST
Interested in diving into an impact investing competition or the Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund? Led by Priya Parrish, '09, impact investor in residence at the Rustandy Center, these sessions will provide students with a crash course in impact investing by offering definitions and outlining key skills and trends in the industry. Students should plan to attend both sessions 1 and 2.
10/27/2021
Harper Center, Room C-25: Wednesday, October 27, 5-7 p.m. CST
Cohosted with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
If you're considering participating in the 26th annual Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge or the 12th annual John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge, join the Polsky Center and the Rustandy Center for this information session and kickoff event. Information on applications, best practices, and team formation will be covered.
10/29/2021
Virtual via Zoom: Friday, October 29, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CST
Stasch, immediate past president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is available to speak with students about venture philanthropy, personal and institutional giving, careers in philanthropy, and more.
10/30/2021
Virtual via Zoom: Saturday, October 30, 12:15-1:15 p.m. CST
Cohosted with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
If you're considering participating in the 26th annual Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge or the 12th annual John Edwardson, '72, Social New Venture Challenge, join the Polsky Center and the Rustandy Center for this virtual information session and kickoff event. Information on applications, best practices, and team formation will be covered.
10/31/2021
Application Deadline: Rolling
campusCATALYST is an independent 501(c)(3) that partners with universities to engage college and graduate school students in high-impact pro-bono consulting for nonprofits. Each quarter, campusCATALYST recruits 25 undergraduates in the college and five Chicago Booth/Harris mentors to conduct a 10-week consulting project with 5 local nonprofits. Please email your resume and a paragraph detailing your experience in mentorship and/or your experience working in consulting or nonprofits to uchicagocampuscatalyst@gmail.com.
11/02/2021
Virtual via Zoom: Every Tuesday in November, 8-9 a.m. CST; 9-10 p.m. HKT
Leadership is a critical skill for NGO practitioners, whether you are the head of an organization or a staff member at any level. Honing your personal leadership style not only allows you to develop greater self-understanding, but it plays a vital role in helping you to advance meaningful change within the communities that you serve. This November, join the Harry L. Davis Center for Leadership at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for Choosing Leadership, a live-online mini-course focused on helping you develop your own perspective as a leader.
11/04/2021
Virtual via Zoom: Thursday, November 4, 8-9 p.m. HKT
This first Social Impact Leadership Series event of the year will provide research-based evidence that celebrating - rather than diminishing - diversity of language can help foster greater social inclusion and understanding. University of Chicago Professor Katherine Kinzler will speak to the topic of linguistic prejudice by highlighting key themes from her book, How You Say It. Dr. Jan Gube, assistant professor at The Education University of Hong Kong, will speak to this topic from a local lens, honing in on how linguistic inclusion can support multi-cultural education.
11/09/2021
Harper Center, Room C-01: Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 12-1 p.m. CST
Are you interested in leveraging your Booth MBA for a career in sustainability or food and agriculture? Join Daphne Mazarakis, '99, sustainable food and entrepreneurship executive in residence at the Rustandy Center, for an inside look at navigating a career in sustainability. At the event, Mazarakis will speak to the array of career avenues that exist within the sustainability space, drawing particularly from her career driving sustainability within small- to large-sized food and agriculture companies.
