# Social Enterprise ![four people sitting at a glass table looking at a fifth person who is explaining something from a laptop](/sites/default/files/styles/866w/public/assets/images/enterpriselearning_comp.jpg?h=d8102449&itok=4twGIe3v) Business with Purpose ## Social Enterprise Fostering positive social change with financially sustainable business. --- ## Curriculum ### **A Curriculum Customized to Your Goals** You are here to make a difference. We are here to help you make it happen with a curriculum that is relevant to your career goals. Choose up to three areas of focus from more than 25. From there, you can dial in your experience by selecting from a pool of over 200 electives in areas such as social entrepreneurship, venture philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility. ### Related Specializations: [Entrepreneurship and Innovation](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/specializations/entrepreneurship-and-innovation) Prepares entrepreneurially-minded students with a valuable understanding of what it is like to work in venture capital, private equity, social entrepreneurship, and small businesses [Global Business](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/specializations/global-business) Prepares students for a career in multinational firms, financial institutions, international organizations, and government. [Leadership and Change Management](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/specializations/leadership-and-change-management) Helps students develop their leadership potential and their understanding of the challenges, techniques, and burdens associated with initiating and implementing major change in an organization. [Management](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/specializations/management) Provides students with the knowledge necessary to be a senior manager of a business unit or firm. [Sustainable Business and Innovation](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/specializations/sustainable-business-and-innovation-0) Equips students with an understanding of key sustainability challenges and opportunities for business today as well as current and emerging business practice. [Strategy](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/specializations/strategy) Management and consulting require resourcefulness, a faculty for learning, and advanced strategic thinking. Provides a necessary foundation for tomorrow’s business leaders. ### Related Coursework: - Social Entrepreneurship - International Social Impact Strategies - Globalization: A Cross-Functional Perspective - Managing Change - Examining the Nonprofit Capital Market - Social Venture Capital [Visit our course index to read course descriptions](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/academics/course-index) ## Career ### **Creating Sustainable Impact** Learn from mission-focused leaders while gaining real-world industry experience during and after the program. Benefit from our close relationships with for and not-for-profit organizations in NYC and beyond. Explore your career options and define your goals with the help of our academic centers of research and student-led clubs. The Careers Team will help you create a roadmap to launch a meaningful career - with maximum impact. ### Select Employers of NYU Stern MBAs in Social Enterprise: - Acumen Fund - Fiscal Management Associates, LLC - Global Brigades, Inc. - GreenWave - International Finance Corporation (IFC) - NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business - Rockefeller Foundation - Theater Development Fund [Learn more about Social Enterprise careers](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/career) ## Faculty Spotlight ![Tensie whelan headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/2025-04/twhelan_headshot_2018.jpg?h=73c04c57&itok=gpmA_RKz) ### Tensie Whelan Tensie Whelan (NYU ‘80), Clinical Professor for Business and Society, is the Director of NYU Stern School of Business’s Center for Sustainable Business. She brings 25 years of experience working on local, national and international environmental and sustainability issues to engage businesses in proactive and innovative mainstreaming of sustainability. [Learn More About Our Faculty](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/faculty-research) --- ## Alumni Voice ![Danielle Hoang](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/2024-05/danielle_hoang_headshot.jpg?h=a171f87b&itok=gs8DNQCM) ### Danielle Hoang, MBA 2025 "I did a Stern Signature Project (SSP) in India! The objective of this project was to explore how artisans in India can establish market linkages and provide recommendations for how a community can promote entrepreneurship and new businesses. This was a really exciting experience to get exposure to social entrepreneurship and also travel to India!" [Meet Danielle](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/student-voices/student-profiles/danielle-hoang) --- ## Student Blog ![jairam_dookoo headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/2025-09/jairam_dookoo.png?h=17295808&itok=8EGxECh6) ### Jairam Dookoo, MBA 2025 "As a former small business owner, I’ve always been passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow. So when I had the chance to apply for the Stern Signature Project, I went all in. My team and I partnered with a premium olive oil brand based in Palombara Sabina, Italy, working directly with the CEO and COO to craft a go-to-market strategy focused on expanding into the U.S., particularly the NYC market." [Read More](https://wp.nyu.edu/stern_full_time_mba/2025/05/07/real-world-lessons-global-classrooms-the-electives-that-made-my-stern-mba-unforgettable/) --- ## Community and Clubs ![ Social Impact & Sustainability Association](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/2023-02/%20Social%20Impact%20%26%20Sustainability%20Association%20%28SISA%29.png?h=4ecf8430&itok=RyTvtXR3) ### Social Impact & Sustainability Association Dedicated to using the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. [Learn More](https://nyustern.campusgroups.com/sisa/home/) --- ![Center for Business and Human Rights](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/assets/images/Center%20for%20Business%20and%20Human%20Rights.jpg?h=67eabc4d&itok=5pZ4CxTX) ### Center for Business and Human Rights The Center focuses on how companies address human rights challenges in their core business operations. [Learn More](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers-of-research/business-and-human-rights) --- ![CSB](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/assets/images/0resize.jpg?h=b0b513fd&itok=a2srq7bn) ### Center for Sustainable Business The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business was founded on the principle that sustainable business is good business; delivering better financial results while protecting the planet and its people. [Learn More](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers-of-research/center-sustainable-business) --- ![nyc sunrise](/sites/default/files/styles/480w_x_543h/public/assets/images/nyc%20sunrise.png?h=93429cde&itok=H65Udg-o) ### Marron Institute of Urban Management The Marron Institute conducts innovative applied research, working with cities to take on critical challenges of urban living. [Learn More](https://marroninstitute.nyu.edu/programs/urban-expansion) --- ## Experiential Learning Developing Solutions, Driving Impact [ ![mba admissions outside](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/assets/images/PT-Community_0.jpg?h=c1f3c7f4&itok=EgooCXCA) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/stern-signature-projects) [## Stern Signature Projects ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/stern-signature-projects)Students work with faculty and research centers on complex strategic challenges such as urbanization in emerging markets, independent film distribution and branding solutions for multinational organizations. [Learn More](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/stern-signature-projects) [ ![academics](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/assets/images/PT-Academics1.jpg?h=74fe3ac3&itok=1_RoH6Kw) ](https://www.niifonline.com/) [## NYU Impact Investing Fund (NIIF) ](https://www.niifonline.com/)NIIF is a student-run impact investment fund that invests in innovative, sustainable social businesses in the New York City area. [Learn More](https://www.niifonline.com/) [ ![A student listens in a classroom in NYU Stern](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/assets/images/UC-Image-Responsive-1122x1062-WomanInClassBusiness-BS_v2.jpg?h=4ecf8430&itok=dX_Gm7JE) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/board-fellows-program) [## The NYU Stern Board Fellows Program ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/board-fellows-program)Second-year MBA students are given the opportunity to act as non-voting members on boards of NYC-based nonprofit organizations. [Learn More](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/board-fellows-program) [ ![Students give a presentation in a classroom](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/assets/images/UC-Image-Responsive-1122x1062-AssetsLiabilitiesStudentPresentation-BSMS.jpg?h=4ecf8430&itok=Z76jwf5h) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/cprl-education-practicum) [## CPRL Education Practicum ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/cprl-education-practicum)Students have the opportunity to work with a consortium of business, policy, education and law students from top tier upper-level graduate programs. [Learn More](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/student-engagement/experiential-education/experiential-education-opportunities/cprl-education-practicum) [Apply ](https://admissions.stern.nyu.edu/apply/?sr=e7600c7b-ae10-41d5-80c2-cb4b44884799) [Request Info](https://admissions.stern.nyu.edu/register/mba_rfi?utm_source=stern-home&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=ftmba-all-prospects&utm_content=general-website-rfi) [Meet NYU Stern](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/meet-with-us)