Social Sector at Tuck

For those interested in a social sector career or just learning more, Tuck has many opportunities to do so.  There are many clubs, fellowships, cases, case competitions, and a great, receptive community.  I came into Tuck with a non-profit background.  I’ve been constantly supported and trusted in all my efforts, from finance to getting more social sector speakers on campus.  Any ideas are supported and fostered.  A friend of mine is in Haiti developing a business plan for commercializing a product that will support hospitals and community centers.

There is a wide variety of clubs on campus to create and provide community for those interested in social sector pursuits.  There’s Net Impact (I’m a board member), Tuck Sustains, Dartmouth Energy Collaborative, the Education Club (also a board member), healthcare club, Everybody Wins! and others.  All of these clubs have events, speakers, and community discussions.  There’s a conference on campus that is student run, the Business and Society Conference, that focuses on responsible business practices.  This year, the conference’s theme is incentives - which ties to many different sectors.  I’m helping with the supply chain session, focused on environmental issues.

Tuck Gives is a fundraiser, again organized and run by students, to help fund non-profit internships for first year students so that the choice to go to a non-profit is hampered by decisions made with monetary concerns in mind.  The First Year Project is also a great opportunity for people to get experience with non-profits or social sectors, as is the Tuck Student Consulting Services, which gathers groups of students to consult for local businesses and non-profits.  There are plenty of opportunities to network and hone your social sector skills. 

Additionally, Tuck adds in lots of social sector cases to the core and electives and other opportunities to explore different issues.  In many of the more traditional venues, issues in the social sector come out for discussion and exploration.  I’m a Center for Global Business and Government fellow, working on a project focused on marketing to the bottom of the pyramid so that it is beneficial to all parties. 

Tuck values issues in this arena and the alumni do as well.  “Tench Coxe ’80 has committed $5 million to create a new professorship focused on bringing the tools of scientific management to nonprofit and non-governmental organizations focused in areas such as health care operations, humanitarian logistics, global development, education, and government operations.”  Read more about that here.

While the on-campus events, cases, speakers, and other planned events are amazing, I’m constantly inspired by my classmates and friends who have plenty of diverse experiences in non-profit work, pro-bono consulting, sustainability issues, you name it.  I think the real value is there. And, they see the value in learning from me, as well.  Investment bankers listen to my opinions and thoughts on finance, consultants listen to my ideas in supply chain, marketers listen to my thoughts on consumer behavior.  At Tuck, everyone is respected and supported; there is no arrogance or difference around for-profit/ non-profit backgrounds.  This is the kind of community that attracted me to Tuck.  And its now the community that I couldn't imagine living without.