What’s the business of business?
In a fast-changing world, business and civic leaders play an increasingly important role in addressing systemic inequities and helping to solve some of our most intractable social and environmental problems.
In a fast-changing world, business and civic leaders play an increasingly important role in addressing systemic inequities and helping to solve some of our most intractable social and environmental problems.
The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation is the destination for students and civic and corporate leaders looking for research-backed insights and industry experts in corporate social responsibility; environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG); civic leadership; and more.
Through our research, events, supported courses, and programs, we help companies, nonprofits, and others examine the social and financial consequences of their decisions to achieve meaningful change.
We connect corporations and nonprofits with Booth students and alumni to tackle complex social and environmental challenges.
Social Impact Consulting ProjectsSocial impact courses at Booth prepare future leaders to develop effective, sustainable solutions to complex problems.
Social Impact CoursesParticipating in a social impact competition is an unparalleled opportunity to grow your network and explore careers in the social sector.
Social Impact CompetitionsThe Rustandy Center hosts social impact events around the world, offering insights into how the sector operates and helping community members prepare to solve complex problems. Beyond the Innovating for Social Equity Series, here’s a sampling of the center’s events on this topic:
Get insights into the most challenging issues facing our planet and learn how you can use your business skills to tackle them.
Perspectives in SustainabilityEmbark on a journey of design, ideation, and inspiration to consider your path to impact. Join a cohort of MBA students who desire greater intentionality and meaning in their work and life and who want to expand their horizons and commit to seeking positive change wherever their career takes them.
Design Your Impact JourneyOur executives in residence mentor Booth students who are interested in the field and offer an industry perspective on careers and opportunities. They also share lessons learned in the field during our events.
Sara Chamberlain, is co-founder & managing director at Earth Foundry, an early-stage venture capital firm which has backed some of the most transformative energy and cleantech companies. Sara is the driving force of the firm, leading investment activity and actively building the fund’s portfolio companies, including Advanced Diamond Technologies (acquired by SMIN), Azumo, e-Zinc, Intellihot, NanoGraf, Network Perception, Polystyvert, Tank Utility (acquired by Generac), and Volexion. Prior to Earth Foundry, Sara built a government advisory practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and helped climate tech startups raise $300M in non-dilutive funding. She also held roles with GE Energy and environmental consulting firm, GaiaTech.
Todd Connor, '07, is the founder of Bunker Labs, a national entrepreneurship organization dedicated to helping the military-connected community start and grow businesses in over 40 chapters across the United States. He is the founder of The Collective Academy, a leadership development consulting firm, as well as Emerson House, a luxe retreat venue in La Porte, Indiana. He is currently CEO of Veterans for Political Innovation, an organization he co-founded to fight political polarization and advocate for more political competition and choice for voters. Todd also serves as the lead facilitator for the President George W. Bush Veteran Leadership Program in Dallas, Texas.
Todd Connor, ’07, Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Board ServiceDavid Ellis is Founder and co-CEO of Hatch Africa. Hatch works across six countries in sub-Saharan Africa supplying resilient, high-yielding chickens to rural smallholder farmers, thereby improving their income and nutrition. In 2023, Hatch supplied over 40 million chickens to more than 4 million smallholder farmers throughout Africa and employed 2,000 full-time personnel.
Sonny Garg spent 25 years as a senior executive in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He led the energy division at Uptake Technologies, was a member of the executive committee at Exelon Corporation, and worked in the administrations of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and US president Bill Clinton. Garg serves on the boards of the Invisible Institute and the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
Sonny Garg, AB ’89, MBA ’00, Civic ImpactBrittany Henry, '17, is on the investments team at Impact America Fund, a venture capital firm investing in tech-driven businesses that provide economic opportunities to communities of color in the US. Brittany focuses on investing in fintech solutions such as personal finance tools as well as technology to support the growth of small to medium businesses. Prior to joining IAF, she worked as a management consultant in the strategy practice at KPMG, focusing on mergers and acquisitions for large corporate clients, and on financial process improvement for clients at Accenture.
Brittany Henry, ’17, Impact InvestingDorri McWhorter is president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Most recently, McWhorter was CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, leading the 140-year-old social service agency's expansion of digital services and helped develop an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for women’s empowerment. A winner of innovation awards and a 20-year veteran in large-scale change management consulting, McWhorter was a partner at Crowe Horwath LLP and a senior leader at Snap-on Incorporated and Booz Allen Hamilton.
Dorri McWhorter, Nonprofit EngagementLiz Michaels is co-head of Aperio (part of BlackRock), where she also led Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. Before that, Michaels led the $11 billion defined contribution managed accounts business at Ibbotson Associates, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer of Morningstar, president of Jellyvision, Inc., an interactive firm known for its game You Don't Know Jack™, and associate dean/director of the Career Advising and Planning Services office at the University of Chicago.
Liz Michaels, AB ’88, MBA ’06 (XP-75), ESGPriya Parrish is adjunct assistant professor of strategy at Chicago Booth and partner and chief investment officer at Impact Engine, a venture capital and private equity firm investing in companies driving impact in economic empowerment, education, environmental sustainability, and health. She advises investment firms and asset owners developing and managing impact investment strategies and previously was chief investment officer at Schwartz Capital Group and a senior investor at Aurora Investment Management.
Priya Parrish, ’09, Impact InvestingJulia Stasch is the immediate past president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, one of the nation’s largest philanthropies. She is board chair of Lever for Change, a distinguished nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, a founder of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities philanthropic collaborative, and a board member of P33, which aims to drive inclusive, global tech and innovation leadership in Chicagoland.
Julia Stasch, PhilanthropyIn 1970, Milton Friedman wrote a landmark op-ed about business and society. This event series examines his ideas, fifty years later.
Corporate Social Responsibility RevisitedDiscover an e-book collection of articles on the shareholder-stakeholder debate. The 28-piece series first appeared on ProMarket.
Milton Friedman 50 Years Later, a Reevaluation