Q: What led you to Simmons and Net Impact?

A: Business of any kind was of no interest to me until 2000, when I went to Tanzania to research the implications of small, ostensibly business-oriented loans (microfinance) for gender dynamics inside and outside of the household.  After this experience I worked with the microenterprise sector in West Africa for several years and grew increasingly curious about the more complex business principles.  Eventually I decided to apply to business schools and chose Simmons because I receive the most value for my investment here.  I like Net Impact and the issues discussed, so I eventually became more involved in the group. 

Q: How has Net Impact shaped your experience at Simmons?

A: Net Impact principally introduced me to great people with great ideas.  It is a terrific way to learn more about a topic with the help of like-minded people.  For example, I’m interested in socially-responsible investing, and so are other students.  Thus, Net Impact is trying to organize a discussion about socially-responsible investing in the spring. 

Q: What has been a takeaway from the program for you so far?

A: In class one day, Stacey Blake-Beard said something similar to “Find out where you should be and get there,” alluding to the concept that we should strive to find the best fit for each of us.  The sentiment resonates with me.  While I don’t yet know exactly where I belong professionally, I know that I made the right choice in going to the SOM.  Net Impact definitely plays a role in making me feel this way. 

Q: What are some of your experiences in communicating your socially responsible ideals?

A: I’ve always worked in “socially-responsible” environments, so I have not had much need to persuade colleagues to take a more responsible approach.  My experiences are therefore much more personal - encouraging my family and friends to travel in order to really experience difference and gain an appreciation of how the world is interconnected; persuading my neighbors to compost; recommending that friends try biking to work; researching alternative energy options for clients working with low-income homeowners.  I guess I believe that behaving in a socially-responsible way requires empathy, and empathy is best obtained through personal connection. 

Q: What do you see in the future for Net Impact at Simmons?

A: One idea is to better integrate NI principles and activities with the SOM’s formal and informal plans.  For example, green business and social enterprise cases could be offered in more classes, not necessarily to focus on the green or social aspects of the company, but to analyze how business principles are applied in these dual or triple-bottom line companies.  Another example is the development of discussion groups that meet perhaps once a month over breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks.  A discussion group could include a professor, staff member, alum, or student talking about a CSR issue (i.e. an example of a human rights friendly operational system, the pros and cons of a green energy mutual fund, or the likely duration of the green marketing fad etc.)  In this way NI would become less of a miscellaneous series of events and more of an ongoing dialogue.  The challenge for NI, or course, is finding the time to organize such activities.