Thu 6/18
With the belief that business can be a force for good of society, Ursuline College is launching a
brand new socially conscious Master of Business Administration (MBA) program this fall.
Ursuline’s MBA will prepare students for the new emerging economy that challenges the
“business as usual” paradigm.
“Our MBA program prepares students to be socially-conscious managers and collaborative
leaders,” said Nurete Brenner, director of the new MBA program. “We believe that business
must address the needs of traditional stakeholders such as shareholders, but also the needs of
family, community, the environment and future generations, all of whom are not generally
considered stakeholders in the traditional business environment.”
Brenner goes on to say that Cleveland is the perfect place to launch such a program for several
reasons. Cleveland has a long history of social activism, philanthropy and giving back to the
community as supported by organizations such as the Cleveland Foundation. This tradition of
working towards the greater good of citizens is at the core of Ursuline’s socially-conscious MBA.
With the commitment to sustainability by the Mayor and the recently established Office of
Sustainability, Cleveland also has the organizational network and infrastructure to support
socially-conscious businesses and help them thrive. Moving away from manufacturing, which
has been the long-established mainstay of businesses for the city, Cleveland companies are
now developing green products, the city is encouraging local purchasing, promoting local
food production and researching advanced energy, including wind and solar power.
“Cleveland is on track to be a story of green economic transformation and social responsibility
and Ursuline’s MBA program will reflect these trends and contribute to the creation of the new
story,” Brenner said.
Initiatives to promote social responsibility in business in Cleveland are not just emanating top-
down from the mayor’s office, they are also being propelled by the ideals of the Millennial
generation. The Millennials are said to be more values-driven than previous generations and
Cleveland can provide amenities that are vital to them such as distinctive neighborhoods,
abundant cultural and educational resources, superior health-care, and access to a great lake,
rivers, hiking trails, parks and nature reserves.
Cleveland has become a place that attracts diversity, supports individuality while celebrating community. Brenner said that a Millennial friend told her recently, “New York has become Starbucks-Central; Cleveland is unique; it’s the place to be.”
Why is this the right time for a socially-conscious MBA? Brenner explains: “The global economy is
reaching a decisive moment. In the past, we were taught to expect an economy that consisted
of endless growth, with businesses solely focused on profit, company growth and shareholder
value. This is the paradigm that emerged from the industrial age and most business programs
still teach to this paradigm.
But in order to achieve success in the paradigm of endless growth, we learned to leave off our
balance sheets the costs of destruction to nature and we were never taught to calculate the
subsidies provided by people, communities and society. We are finally being forced to confront
the realization that we live on a finite planet and endless growth is simply biophysically
impossible— What this means is that the conventional economic tools that worked in the industrial age
economy are no longer serving us.
Ursuline’s A-socially-conscious MBA will teaches students three separate but
interrelated lessons. The first is to recognize that the shifts are in fact taking place which causes
us to question the constructs that we have all taken for granted, next is the need to face up to
the negative impact that we have all collectively caused the planet and to take responsibility for
our actions, and finally, we must learn to respond to and courageously embrace the new
opportunities for life and livelihood that are opening up as a result of these shifts.
When asked how do we prepare for the major paradigm shift from the industrial-age capitalism of
the former century to a sustainable economics? Brenner said, “Quite literally, the future of our
species and the planet will be defined by the entirely unpredictable way people everywhere
might respond to the reality of change, whether through resistance, disbelief, apathy,
engagement, adaption, or action. We hope our students will play a major role in this response
since one of the essential players in this time of transition is business. And business schools are
ground zero for preparing for the future.”
Like what you’re hearing? You may be a perfect candidate for Ursuline’s new Socially Conscious MBA program. Check out the program, and learn more about Ursuline by following the link: here. Or email them directly at bjaces@ursuline.edu.