Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission of making a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders. The organization’s membership consists of over 10,000 MBAs, graduate students and professionals worldwide.
Kurt Flor, a 2010 Baylor MBA candidate, recognized the need for a student-led organization at Hankamer that would work toward a greater cause through partnerships and collaborations. A Net Impact campus chapter proved to be a perfect fit.
“Net Impact is a way for business students to collaborate with other entities on campus, such as the School of Social Work and the Global Poverty Center; with local organizations, like the Waco Chamber of Commerce; and with the general community,” Flor said. “We all have the same goal of wanting to help others and promoting sustainability and social change. We can all unite with Net Impact as the umbrella organization.”
Net Impact focuses on several initiatives: campus greening, nonprofit capacity building, work impact and curriculum change. The organization is also starting a new program specifically geared toward undergraduate students-Net Impact Undergrad. Flor said he hopes the campus chapter, consisting of MBA students, will grow to also include the undergraduate program.
“Business is changing, and we have to adapt,” Flor said. “Universities need to look at curriculum, understand how CSR and environmental initiatives relate to business strategy, and then implement courses that cover those topics. A mentality of sustainability needs to be instilled within professors and students who will become socially responsible business and community leaders.”
Flor serves as president of Net Impact: Baylor University. The campus chapter is one of few university chapters in the state of Texas. Flor said the group meets once per week and offers environmentally friendly ice cream at all meetings.
“What better way is there to help share our message than by promoting companies that offer environmentally friendly products like Ben & Jerry’s or Horizon?” he said. “Plus, it’s a nice incentive- most people like ice cream.”
For more information about Net Impact, visit www.netimpact.org
Baylor Business Review, Spring 2009