Emory University is one of 32 schools that operate in partnership with The Philanthropy Lab program. The organization, based in Ft. Worth, TX, aims to expand student interest and participation in philanthropy. Since 2011, the Philanthropy Lab program has invested nearly $15 million in partner schools to facilitate experiential courses on philanthropy.

The Power of Experiential Learning

Goizueta’s Philanthropy Lab course is designed to be experiential. Students form “mini foundations” that, according to the class syllabus, are “challenged to identify and make grants to Atlanta-based nonprofits, incubated by the Center for Civic Innovation (CCI), that address inequity in innovative ways.”

“Experiential learning is the best way to get at the nuance and complexity of fields like philanthropy or business,” said Brian Goebel, managing director of Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute. “Nonprofits and philanthropic organizations leverage a lot of the same core management skills, structures, and processes to be effective in their work.”

The Philanthropy Lab program typically works with liberal arts departments such as sociology and history. However, Wesley Longhofer, executive academic director for Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute and associate professor of organization and management, wondered if a business school might have sustained demand for this type of class.

In 2019, he approached Goebel with the idea and, not long after, Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute launched its first Philanthropy Lab course. During the recent celebration, Longhofer reminded attendees that the course was created to be “place-based.” That is, it shouldn’t “shy away from the issues and challenges that Atlanta is facing.” (A SmartAsset 2024 Study places Atlanta, GA, among the top five U.S. cities where income inequality is highest.) Since the course’s inception, enrollment has been steady. This year, 27 undergraduate BBA students and five MBA students took the class.

Students Share Experiences

As part of the celebration, one of those students, Agha Haider 25BBA spoke to the course’s impact. “This semester has opened many of our eyes to ways that we can impact the community around Atlanta,” Haider told the audience. He described what he called, “the Emory bubble,” the notion that students who attend Emory University don’t experience the “real” Atlanta. He described the Philanthropy Lab as an opportunity to break out of that bubble, especially when conducting face-to-face interviews with the nonprofits as potential grantees.

We have had the opportunity to meet with all of you. And we have learned more about the ways that you’re shaping your community for the better.

Agha Haider 25BBA

“One of the things this class has taught us is to really take some time to learn more about the community you’re currently in—whether that’s as a post grad in New York City or in rural Alabama,” Haider told the community leaders and grantees in attendance.

Beyond the Metrics

Alan Ferguson 99MBA welcomed attendees to Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s headquarters. The former CEO of Habitat for Humanity now serves as chief housing and real estate officer at Atlanta Housing.

He reminded the students that outcomes go “beyond the metrics.” It is important, he said, to track resources and results. However, “trust-based outcomes,” which are more difficult to measure, are equally as important, Ferguson said. He used Habitat for Humanity as one example.

How many homeowners have been able to use their home as a platform to transform their lives in other ways? Maybe they pursue additional education or entrepreneurial dreams. Or they may really take time to invest in themselves, in their hobbies. They may start doing crafts and gardening, and all those types of things that add to their quality of life in a robust way.

Alan Ferguson 99MBA

In addition to Goizueta Business School and the Center for Civic Innovation, the Emory Philanthropy Lab receives support from The Shapiro Foundation and an anonymous Emory University alum. “Giving money away and doing it thoughtfully to make a positive impact and do no harm is harder than people think,” explained Goebel. “That’s been a neat part of this program. It’s gratifying to see those affiliated with the Emory and broader Atlanta community give back. They are helping this generation learn how to be effective philanthropists and changemakers.” A number of community leaders served as guest lecturers throughout the course.

The 2024 Philanthropy Lab Awards Grants to 13 Recipients

Six student teams—five teams comprised of BBA students and one team of MBA students—awarded grants to recipient organizations. From a field of 23 nonprofits, the students selected 13 community organizations to receive these grants. “I give the students great kudos. It’s hard to make those decisions when you see so many good organizations apply for funding,” explained Goebel.

3D Girls, Inc.

Educating and empowering young women and girls to advocate for themselves and their families. [Grant amount: $5,666]

BestFit, Inc.

Removing barriers to economic mobility while building self-efficacy and reducing cognitive burden—increasing educational outcomes, employment opportunities, and long-term economic growth prospects. [Grant amount: $8,322]

ChopArt

Providing dignity, community, and opportunity to middle and high school-aged youth experiencing homelessness through multidisciplinary arts immersion and mentorship. [Grant amount: $4,583]

Close Ties Leadership Program

Unlocking Black boys’ full potential through early exposure to college and career opportunities, in-school mentorship, and individualized social-emotional support. [Grant amount: $10,000]

College AIM

Creating a more equitable postsecondary system by exposing students to college and financial aid opportunities, counseling young people from ninth grade through college graduation, and dismantling systemic racial and economic barriers. [Grant amount: $10,000]

Freedom University

Educating and empowering undocumented students and fulfilling their human right to education. [Grant amount: $9,583]

Goodie Nation

Eliminating the relationship gap that stands in the way of success for too many promising entrepreneurs, especially those who are people of color, women, or aren’t located in coastal financial centers. [Grant amount: $ 6,500]

Hope for Youth, Inc. (HYPE)

Empowering girls of color with technology skills that prepare them to become future leaders in 21^st century careers, cultivating a pipeline of diverse talent for the tech industry. [Grant amount: $7,083]

Jared’s Heart of Success Inc

Educating and empowering youth through impactful communication, focusing on conflict resolution and mental well-being. [Grant amount: $7,083]

Learning In Color Corporation

Designing inspiring K-12 educational facilities to improve the learning outcomes of low income, Black and brown students so that they gain math and reading proficiency and graduate from high school prepared for college and careers. [Grant amount: $6,166]

Small Bites Adventure Club

Helping children discover and eat more fruits and vegetables by empowering their educators with high quality, equitable, and affordable hands-on cooking resources. [Grant amount: $3,500]

Step Ahead Scholars

Creating educational equity by empowering historically under-resourced students to and through higher education and towards equitable life outcomes, so they can thrive in today’s social and economic climate. [Grant amount: $8,000]

Umi Feeds

Addressing the critical issue of food waste by rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to those in need. [Grant amount: $3,500]

For the third year in a row, Close Ties Leadership Program received a grant, this year collecting $10,000. The organization serves young Black boys in underserved communities. “We are committed to them and to their families and their communities from the time they’re 10 until they graduate high school,” explained Brandon Martin, CEO, Close Ties Leadership Program. Currently, 60 boys are enrolled in the program. With the grant, Martin plans to extend the organization’s team to serve 90 boys next year. The Goizueta students impressed Martin. “You can feel the intense knowledge and experience they’ve learned,” he said.

Like Close Ties, Freedom University has been awarded multiple grants from the Philanthropy Lab. The organization works to empower undocumented students banned from equal access to higher education in Georgia. Freedom University received $9,583 from the program this year. “There is a parallel here. Undocumented students today are experiencing some of what we experienced as Black Americans back in my time,” said Charles A. Black, Freedom University’s Chairman of the Board. Born in Miami, FL, in 1940, Black was unable to attend segregated colleges in Florida. He moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College, where he was a leader in the Atlanta Student Movement.

Freedom University plans to use the grant to fund a virtual study abroad program in Japan. “Undocumented students can’t leave the country if they ever hope to come back,” explained Laura Emiko Soltis, executive director, Freedom University. The four-week program is open to undocumented students at Freedom University, Oglethorpe University, and Emory University.

Building Connections across Degree Programs

Throughout the course, the BBA and MBA students attended class together. Many of the students, along with class partners, made a class-sponsored trek to the Equal Justice Initiative’s (EJI) Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. During the trip, the students learned how nonprofits like the initiative address racial inequality. “I think it created a more dynamic learning environment,” said Goebel. “It was powerful to have connections built across our degree programs.”

Creating a Space of Nuance

Tené Traylor, vice president for nonprofits and philanthropy at the Urban Institute, co-teaches the Philanthropy Lab course along with Goebel. “So many people, when we meet, say they wish they’d had this class when they were in college. They would have been able to understand more about giving. Or they would have been able to challenge their thinking about giving,” says Traylor. “What we try to do is to create space for that, for the rigor of that thinking. We also try to give them a bit of space to hold the emotions related to that. Because the work is very nuanced. It’s not black and white. Hopefully we’re able to create a space of nuance for these young people.”

Over the next 12 and 24 months, students will follow up with the nonprofits to learn how the grants are being implemented.

The Philanthropy Lab has provided guidance and seed funding for Emory’s Philanthropy Lab to take shape. The course has local support from Emory’s network of donors, including The Shapiro Foundation. It is delivered in collaboration with the Center for Civic Innovation.

Read more about how Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute is shaping business for the future.

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Goizueta’s Common Read program provides a forum for self-education and a safe space for honest dialogue for those seeking to be allies. Through books, faculty, staff, alumni, and students explore a range of topics including understanding stereotypes and unconscious bias, becoming effective allies, and developing anti-racism mindsets. The current common read is “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee who will join an Emory-wide virtual community event on November 10, 2021. The Common Read program is managed by Goizueta’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. 

Ash Meenakumari Shankar 23BBA chose Goizueta Business School to prepare himself to create more equity for people of color in business. In his view, business leaders have been too comfortable with the status quo and look for convenient solutions to problems.  

“I fundamentally believe that businesses have the ability to create lasting equity,” Shankar said. “This book brings up the uncomfortable and inconvenient questions that we in business need to confront.” 

Shankar is among the 300 Goizueta students, staff, and faculty who are reading and discussing the bestselling The Sum of Us.   

“This shared reading has only reminded me of why I chose Goizueta,” Shankar said. “I am so glad that McGhee’s message has been received positively here. The classes and resources we have at Goizueta are working to remove these barriers. With greater knowledge and dialogue, we can create permanent equity at Emory and in the Atlanta community.” 

McGhee’s book explores themes that demonstrate the communal, global benefits when people come together across race to build an equitable future. The November 10 event, “The Sum of Us: An Emory Community Conversation with Heather McGhee,” is free and open to all in the Emory community including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners. 

Common Read Program Draws Campus-Wide Participation 

Lead organizer Allison Kays, assistant professor in the practice of accounting, said 100 Goizueta students, professors, and staff are in the small groups, and another 200 are reading the book on their own. Of the 300 readers, 32 are faculty, 61 are staff, and the rest are students. 

“I’m encouraged and excited by the response across the business school, from BBAs to the deans,” said Ama Ampadu-Fofie, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

“We’re having discussions as a family, treating each other as family, and creating spaces to have sensitive conversations together. That’s what I wanted us to walk away with: open gateways to have difficult and uncomfortable experiences with people who look different from each of us. I want you to know about my experience and I want to know about yours.” 

Ama Ampadu-Fofie, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Principled leadership, diversity and equity were priorities when Jesse Conyers 24EvMBA chose her graduate program. Her most meaningful experience with her student cohort has been the book and discussion group.  

“Participating in this common read on racial injustice in America affirms my decision to choose Goizueta,” said Conyers, an Emory physician radiologist. 

“I have gained a deeper understanding of the history of structural racial hierarchy in America, the zero-sum mentality that frames and perpetuates these systems and the impact on contemporary racial inequality. I have learned from the unique and shared experiences of my colleagues and gained an understanding of the systemic impact of racism and discussed potential solutions. We consider how, as McGhee writes, to become strategic partners in the fight for a racially just America.” 

Jesse Conyers 24EvMBA

Discussions Deepen as Perspectives are Shared 

For Goizueta faculty and staff, The Sum of Us follows their fall 2020 reading of Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do. Kays teamed with Brian Goebel, managing director of The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ken Keen, senior lecturer of organization and management and associate dean for leadership, Brian C. Mitchell, associate dean for full-time MBA programs and Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives, and Melissa Rapp, associate dean of MBA admissions, to choose The Sum of Us, and secure sponsorships from Emory Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Emory Global Health Institute, Emory Law, Laney Graduate School, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and Emory School of Medicine.  

The zero-sum paradigm was a key discussion point for Maya Caron 23BBA. “Just because one government program helps a certain population does not mean that it takes away any opportunities from someone else,” she said. “It was insightful hearing from everyone in our diverse group. We all valued and acknowledged our differences.”  

Chris Weakley 22BBA, a former Army explosive ordinance disposal officer, shared his experiences growing up in southern California.  

“Being a little bit older than most of my classmates, I’ve been exposed to a little bit more of history,” he said. “I specifically talked about the 1992 riots after four policemen were acquitted of beating Rodney King. For me, the discussion was an eye-opening juxtaposition between Jim Crow era laws, the Los Angeles riots, recent police brutality headlines, and reading The Sum of Us.” 

The discussions have helped Kegan Baird 22MBA to his goal of personal growth in business school by meeting people from around the world.  

“This initiative shows why Emory is such a great place to grow,” said Baird. “The book and corresponding discussions have taught me that it is important to dig deeper and understand the root causes of societal issues to ensure you aren’t unknowingly perpetuating any issues and are equipped to solve these issues and better society as best you can. It has been great to learn and hear the perspectives of others that have experienced these issues in different ways than I have.”   

Sustainability over Shortcuts? 

For Kays a main takeaway from the book is the powerful business choice of sustainability over shortcuts. She teaches two theories of the firm: shareholder theory and stakeholder theory. The former is the more widely recognized theory and states that the purpose of a firm is to maximize returns to shareholders. The theory relies on a zero-sum mindset and argues that if a corporation focuses on any other stakeholders, it is taking away from shareholders’ returns. Stakeholder theory, however, ties in well to McGhee’s book, which argues that there can be a powerful solidarity dividend for all when returns are maximized to everyone connected to the firm, including the employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities in which the firm operates.  

“When you invest in employees and the communities you serve, that may reduce profits in the short term, but long term it should lead to higher profits because you are building more loyalty and allowing space for development and creativity.” 

Allison Kays, assistant professor in the practice of accounting

“Business has a really important role to play in reducing inequities,” agreed Omar Rodríguez-Vilá, the academic director of education for The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute. “Not just as business leaders in our companies, but how we look at the marketplace and to what extent are we paying attention to the needs of the communities we are serving?” 

His discussion group worked on identifying ways to take action.  

“There is definitely a point in the dialogue where it’s easy to feel that you don’t have power; the issue is so complex and pervasive, what can I do?” he said. “We discussed making that very micro: What can I do in my class? Do I speak up when I see issues? What types of leaders and cases are we learning from? When we left the room, I feel there was a collective sense that there is power in our individual actions.” 

Register today to take part in this important conversation.

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Taught by co-instructors Brian Goebel, managing director of The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute, and Tene Traylor of The Kendeda Fund, the course works in partnership with the Philanthropy Lab. The Lab and its donors have invested more than $11 million to facilitate philanthropy courses at 32 universities across the U.S.

“I truly enjoyed co-instructing with Brian and guiding the students through the experiential practice of grantmaking,” Traylor said. “We delved deep into pertinent issues and approaches such as racial equity, COVID-19 recovery, trust-based philanthropy, and valuing the lived experience of changemakers in our community.”

The course directly impacts and furthers the mission of the Institute by working to transform business to build a more equitable and climate-smart world through research, innovation, and leadership.

“Understanding philanthropy and how it can be leveraged alongside other strategies to address inequality prepares leaders to be effective change makers” Goebel said. “Learning directly from experts like Tene who has led transformative grant making for decades made the learning journey for our students truly powerful.”

Students Partnered with Center for Civic Innovation to Assess Needs

Students in the spring course worked directly with the Center for Civic Innovation, led by Emory alum Rohit Malhotra 08C, to source grant applications for students to review from graduates of CCI’s Civic Fellows program. CCI works with more than 80 civic leaders throughout Atlanta to support the start and growth of nonprofit organizations.

“As an alum, I was proud to see how Emory is evolving to a new way of thinking and engaging with Atlanta,” Malhotra said. “I felt hopeful by being around the students in the class – they are empathetic and showed acceptance that while things aren’t perfect, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep working on making it better. I loved how much they cared about the humanness of the project.”

Throughout 26 sessions, students reviewed applications, interviewed finalists, analyzed information, and worked together to determine which grantees would be announced at the Giving Ceremony held in April.

Calvin Furbee 22BBA enrolled in the Philanthropy Lab course to learn more about an area not typically covered in a business school setting. His biggest takeaway was how many local nonprofits were founded by members within the communities they serve.

“Students should take this course to learn that philanthropy and donating is not just ‘giving away’ money,” Furbee said. “Investments in our local communities and the addressing of inequities allow for us all to live better and more productive lives. When students are able to realize these larger societal issues and how they connect to them, they will be able to better understand their place within society and how they can work to better it.”

Ten Nonprofits Receive Grants to Increase Equity

The following nonprofits whose work addresses inequality in Atlanta were awarded grants ranging from $2000-$10,000 by students of the 2021 Philanthropy Lab Course.

• BestFit, Inc.: To remove non-academic barriers for the 10m+ college students at risk of dropping out because they cannot afford to meet their basic needs.

• Canopy Atlanta, Inc.:  To train and equip local journalists to tell in-depth stories in collaboration with residents of overlooked communities in metro Atlanta’s five core counties.

• ChopArt: To provide dignity, community, and opportunity to middle and high school aged youth experiencing homelessness through multidisciplinary arts immersion and mentorship.

• College AIM & Step Ahead Scholars: To provide students with college and financial aid exposure, counseling from ninth grade through college graduation, and dismantle systemic racial and economic barriers to postsecondary education, so that Greater Atlanta students are able to achieve their ambitions.

• Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc.: To build, support, and inform a statewide network of thriving organizations, professionals, and individuals advancing equitable housing and community development.

• Hope for Youth, Inc.:To empower girls of color with technology skills and prepare them to become future leaders in tech careers, cultivating a community of diverse talent for the tech industry.

• SAVE Institute Inc.: To save black male youth from cycles of poverty, crime, incarceration, and lack of purpose through engagement in service, agriculture, vocational training, and entrepreneurship.

• Showcase Group: To strengthen justice-involved youth and families through psychological and personal development services so they never face incarceration again.

• The Proper Women’s Union: To create safe and equitable workplaces for exotic dancers in Atlanta through political education and creating a space that has unlimited access to resources.

• Umi Feeds: To provide healthy and nutritious meals from donated surplus foods that have been redistributed to seniors, those experiencing homelessness, and metro Atlantans making less than $25,000.

Learn more about how The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute offers students experiential learning opportunities to engage with community members and global organizations on issues of social and environmental significance.

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The Institute reflects the school’s elevated commitment to social impact and seeks to transform business to solve society’s challenges

On March 4, 2021, The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute celebrated its official launch during a virtual celebration attended by nearly 300 guests. The Institute marks the next phase of the Goizueta Business School’s social impact initiatives.

To celebrate the launch of the Institute, Goizueta Business School Associate Professor and Academic Director Wes Longhofer led a fireside chat on “Reimagining Capitalism” with Harvard Business School professor and author, Dr. Rebecca Henderson. Published in 2020, Dr. Henderson’s book Reimagining Capitalism in A World on Fire articulates a framework for building a profitable, equitable, and sustainable capitalism grounded in new ways of defining the role of business in society.

An Institute Focused on Transforming Business to Solve Society’s Challenges

The Institute’s goal is to transform business to solve society’s challenges through cutting-edge research, innovative programming, and principled leadership. The belief is that business and society can work collectively to address the challenges of inequality and climate change, two of the most pressing challenges facing both business and society today.

“If business and society are to work together to solve some of our biggest challenges, a good place to start is in a business school like Goizueta,” said Longhofer. “We are excited to continue ten years of social impact work at the Goizueta Business School and honor the legacy of Roberto C. Goizueta through this new institute.”

The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute is made possible by an investment from The Goizueta Foundation and follows the success of Social Enterprise @ Goizueta, an academic research center that has been in existence at the school since 2009.

The Institute creates interdisciplinary study that explores the connections between business practices, market structures and social and environmental outcomes.

The call to action is to create stronger communities in Atlanta and globally by focusing on microbusiness development, specialty markets and next generation leadership.

Coursework and hands-on experiences including travel, mentorship, conferences, and consulting projects that will help students accelerate their business knowledge into impactful roles in the business community locally and abroad.

Experiential Programming Designed for Community Engagement

Programs in The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute include:

• Start:ME – Offers an intensive 14-week business accelerator program to the most promising micro-entrepreneurs in marginalized metro Atlanta communities, including business training, mentorship, and early-stage financing to develop their businesses.
• Grounds for Empowerment – Provides female specialty coffee farmers in Latin America the market connections and business knowledge to grow their farms. The program has served 50 female coffee farmers in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
• Social Enterprise Fellows – Provides Goizueta MBA and BBA students with hands-on education, exposure, and experiences to become the next social and environmental impact leaders in their industries.

New initiatives addressing strategic focus areas of inequality and climate change will be launched in the future.

Learn more about the Institute at emory.biz/society.

To continue the conversation on reimaging capitalism, the Institute is hosting a series of virtual, small group discussions focused on Climate Change and Economics & Equity throughout March and April. For more information on virtual discussions including schedule, hosts, and registration details, please visit emory.biz/civicdinners.

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Boris Katsnelson 99BBA, CEO of leading kitchenware brand Ultra Cuisine, said, “Community is one of our core values. We believe in the power of bringing people together and giving back to our communities. Human connection fuels our world and our products help consumers create lasting memories around baking and enjoying meals together. This in no way drives why we practice social responsibility, but we have learned that many consumers want to do business with socially conscious companies.”

As coronavirus cases surged and consumer panic buying impacted product availability on store shelves, Kevin Rodgers, founder of Shwaxx Laboratories, LLC, an aspiring B Corporation, shifted gears immediately for production of antibacterial soaps and sanitizers. “We believe the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus at all. However, some business owners have felt backed into a corner financially. Their livelihood is based on their ability to serve the public in confined spaces,” Rodgers said. “To help barbers, hair stylists, and cosmetologists take steps to wash their hands often and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their work environment, we opted to not only educate the community but also distribute our antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer free of charge. These new products were never about making money but were designed to help businesses stay up and running during this pandemic.”

“COVID-19 is impacting lives and livelihoods in unprecedented ways across the world,” said Brian Goebel 09MBA, managing director of Social Enterprise @ Goizueta. “Entrepreneurs and business owners have responded by pivoting their offerings to serve neighbors in need, increasing charitable contributions to support front line nonprofit partners, and collaborating in innovative new ways via public-private partnerships.”

Providing Tools for Essential Workers

Embedded in the fabric of the East Lake Atlanta community, Rodgers worked closely with his Goizueta student consultants and analysts from the Emory Impact Investing Group to evolve Shwaxx Laboratories, LLC. “I kept asking myself, as a laboratory how do we become an essential business in this current climate? How can we affect change in a good way?” As a licensed master barber and product developer, Rodgers specializes in handcrafted cleansing and styling products for the natural hair industry. “Handwashing in the beauty industry has always been paramount, and our environments are supposed to be sanitary and cleansed.”

Producing liquid antibacterial hand soap and hand sanitizer was a natural evolution for his product line. “As a 2018 graduate of the Goizueta Start:ME microbusiness accelerator program, my corporate business plan has always included contributing to my community in a meaningful way,” Rodgers said. “Community business owners were crying out for resources. COVID-19 made the choice for me to return to my roots and create antibacterial soap products. For the first six weeks of the economic shutdown, I studied the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for sanitizing products until I created our proprietary formulas.”

Shwaxx purchased raw materials in bulk and ramped up production. Soon the company was giving away bottled soaps and sanitizers in bulk to hair care professionals as well as creating educational materials to keep business owners apprised of current public health regulations and guidelines.

Rodgers didn’t stop there, however. “We also are pleased to support the efforts of Nicholas House, an Atlanta homeless shelter that keeps families together in times of crisis and enables them to achieve self-sufficiency.” Rodgers said. “The public needs the help that Shwaxx can give. I’m very proud that we are doing our part to fight this pandemic.”

“Crisis situations are daunting; however, they also present new opportunities. Small business owners have transformed what they do to adapt to COVID-19 by meeting their customers online, forming new coalitions to remain resilient, and serving neighbors who need help,” said Goebel. “These actions not only demonstrate their flexibility, but also their deep commitment to customers’ wellbeing.”      

Helping the Homeless Rest Easy

“Because of coronavirus and unemployment, homeless shelters are overburdened,” said McIntosh. “The city of Denver realized that we’d have a huge influx of homeless after job layoffs. When individuals are symptomatic, they can’t mix with general shelter population. We learned that one of the shelter’s greatest needs during this increased capacity was fresh linens for the patrons served.”

Since the onset of the pandemic, Sheets & Giggles has donated $40,000 to the Colorado COVID-19 Relief Fund along with more than $20,000 in new linens to homeless shelters. In addition, the company is coordinating with the Colorado Mask Project to encourage everyone (not just Coloradans) to wear a non-medical mask when they go out.

A company with heart, Sheets & Giggles “is obsessed with Planet Earth,” McIntosh said. “Last year we donated 20% of our revenue between Black Friday and Cyber Monday—totaling over $17,000—to the World Wildlife Fund to help koalas impacted by the bushfires in Australia.”

“As a company, we do everything we can to make a positive impact on the planet,” McIntosh said. To celebrate last year’s sales, Sheets & Giggles planted 20,000 trees (one per order), and last month the company announced it had donated an additional 10,000 trees in one fell swoop to join One Tree Planted’s Million Tree Challenge. 

“We also know that every year, about 10 million tons of textiles end up in landfills. We want to put a stop to that waste, so we reward our customers through the #Give2Sheets program for donating their sheets. What you may not know is that blankets and sheets are the number two most requested item at homeless shelters behind socks,” McIntosh said. “Our company is definitely not done giving back to our community. We plan to continue to donate to pressing causes and effective charities as our company grows.”

Feeding the Hungry and Enabling Restaurant Workers

Hunger in America has become an unfortunate reality for many families as joblessness impacts every aspect of daily life. In Denver, Colorado, the vegetarian and vegan-friendly So ALL May Eat Café (SAME) has seen a surge in need for meals. As a nonprofit, “For nearly 14 years, SAME has been serving healthy meals with dignity to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. During COVID-19, SAME responded to the emergency need by quadrupling the number of meals served,” said Brad Reubendale, SAME Café’s executive director. With the help of donations from companies like Ultra Cuisine, “SAME will continue to expand service and replicate the SAME model with SAME Cafés in new communities, So ALL May Eat.”

“We found SAME to have exceptional mission alignment with Ultra Cuisine,” said Katsnelson. “We are very impressed with their work, especially to feed so many in need during the COVID-19 time.”

Ultra Cuisine aligned with SAME to support feeding our community’s hunger. For each registered product purchased on the company website or through Amazon, the company donates one healthy meal to the SAME Café in Denver,” Katsnelson said. “We have outfitted the SAME Café kitchen with Ultra Cuisine products. In addition, our company provides essential tools to graduates of Cook to Work, SAME Café’s flexible restaurant industry job training program where students obtain skills that translate into employment in the food service industry.”

“We are thrilled to support their cause, and if consumers choose Ultra Cuisine products to support SAME Cafe, it is a win-win all around,” he said. “We live in the era of great need on so many levels. It is deeply gratifying to step up and make personal and professional contributions to our nation’s shared success.”

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Undergraduate students of EIIG investing in small businesses with big impact

Through loan forbearance, digital transformation consulting, strategic analysis, and general support, Emory Impact Investing Group (EIIG) has energized microbusinesses during unprecedented economic turbulence. As Emory’s only undergraduate impact investing organization, “the EIIG mission is to close the microbusiness gap by providing short-term debt investments to entrepreneurs in the Atlanta community,” said Christopher Kusumonegoro 22BBA, the group’s CEO. “The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the small business community and our organization supports our entrepreneurs to mitigate the impact of this crisis.”

With 35 student executive board members and analysts on the global team, “EIIG supports a current loan portfolio of six exceptional entrepreneurs who run socially impactful businesses and exist in low-income neighborhoods in Atlanta,” Kusumonegoro explained. A diverse board of advisors and credit committee also join forces with a strong Goizueta alumni community to propel EIIG’s mission.

The economic slowdown in Georgia strained entrepreneurs as they restructured operations to accommodate new restrictions. Working with Doris Mukangu at Johari Africa, Kevin Rodgers at SHWAXX Laboratories, LLC, Johari Soward at My eSteam Kits, Tangie Wilson at Simply Doyenne Organic Juices, Terri Nichelle-Bradley at Brown Toy Box, and Carla Bailey at Carla’s Boutik, “EIIG created a forbearance program until the end of 2020, creating a flexible repayment program that has no additional interest charges or accruals.”

The Emory Impact Essentials Series uses student research to educate the community on important topics surrounding microbusinesses and impact investing.

The cumulative impact of EIIG’s efforts is substantial. The group shares its results in the Spring 2020 Impact Report.

MBA students respond to needs of small businesses by forming pro bono consultancy

Ponce & Friends is an Atlanta-based management consulting group founded by Danni El Tayeb 21MBA with the help of Shirley Gao 20MBA/MPH, Monica Rivas 21MBA, Gillian Mattheson 21MBA and Talia Carlson 21BBA, to offer pro bono services to small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19. As El Tayeb noted in an interview for The Consortium, “It’s a pro bono organization, so all of the people staffed across projects are students, and from a social impact perspective, it serves two purposes: On one end, we’re serving some of those small businesses in our community that have been affected by the virus, but on the other end, we’re also staffing those projects with students who have either lost internships or had their job offers deferred to 2021. We’re looking to have a double-edged impact.”

“We use our combined expertise to help our community survive and thrive throughout these tumultuous times,” said El Tayeb. “Between now and August, Ponce & Friends will take on pro bono cases with entrepreneurs and small businesses across all industries to work through creative strategies across product and marketing, digital transformation, and supply chain.”

In partnership with EIIG members and Goizueta’s Start:ME Accelerator Program, Ponce & Friends volunteer consultants support Clarkston-based businesses Sweet Sweet Syria and Chow Club.

EvMBA class of 2020 dedicates class gift to small business support

An Emory Momentum campaign was launched to provide small business resilience support to Start:ME alumni ventures now and over the next year as they enact COVID-19 continuity plans.

With a successful finish, the Momentum campaign raised a grand total of $16,395 with more than half of the funds coming from the generous gifts of the EvMBA Class of 2020.

Led by Adriana Douglas 20 EvMBA, her graduating class donated a gift to the Start:ME Covid-19 Resilience Fund. Funds will be leveraged by Start:ME to support emergency grants and other COVID-19 support efforts for 250+ Start:ME alumni.

Brian Goebel, director of Start:ME shared, “We are off and running on our COVID-19 support which has already included a series of events including virtual founders circle along with the purchase and deployment of loaned Chromebooks,” he said. “With your support, we will continue to push forward in helping the small businesses remain resilient through emergency continuity grants, traditional business transition to online sales support, special learning and expert advisory sessions, and more.”

About Emory Impact Investing Group:

EIIG was inspired by Goizueta Professor of Organization & Management Peter Roberts’ study of microbusiness gaps in low-income neighborhoods. Roberts’ research became the guiding principles of EIIG. In December 2014, EIIG closed its first fundraising round to impact Atlanta-area microbusinesses. Aligning with the Start:ME and other Atlanta-based accelerators, the group has since disbursed loans to nine entrepreneurs, engaged with hundreds of Emory students, and raised over $100,000 for the purpose of closing the microbusiness gap in Atlanta.

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“First we will do the rosemary,” Abboud said, looking into the camera. “My Art Time” is one part of Teresa Afternoon, Abboud’s small business that includes illustrating, painting and “Coffee Time,” Abboud’s original, coffee-themed artwork. Originally from Lebanon and now living in Atlanta, Abboud says coffee reminds her of her homeland, where family and friends would gather to chat and enjoy coffee. “Coffee is nostalgic to me,” said Abboud.

Abboud was one of 50 micro-entrepreneurs chosen from a pool of nearly 300 applicants to participate in Goizueta Business School’s 2020 Start:Micro-Enterprise Accelerator Program (Start:ME), a free, intensive 14-session business training program for small business owners in the Clarkston, East Lake and Southside communities of Atlanta. Last month, Abboud and the other entrepreneurs joined Start:ME’s program leaders, mentors, sponsors, and Erika H. James, John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta Business School, for the program’s graduation ceremony. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the celebration was held via Zoom. Attendees received a musical welcome provided by DJ Kant Stop (Ronnie Thomas), a Start:ME alum (in addition to his DJ business, Thomas operates education venture, Fun Weird Science).

“Entrepreneurship is a team sport and it takes a lot of folks rallying around the entrepreneurs,” said Brian Goebel, managing director, Social Enterprise @ Goizueta. “I was really proud of this group and all of our mentors really rallying together—not cancelling Start:ME—but pivoting and changing like any good entrepreneur would do.”

For instance, one entrepreneur transitioned from sewing dresses to making facemasks; another, from making hair products to producing hand sanitizer.

James congratulated the entrepreneurs for “going beyond” to make things happen in light of the pandemic. “Your journey as an entrepreneur has been anything but business as usual,” James said. “You have all stayed the course, demonstrating commitment and resilience and it is heartening and heartwarming to see all of the ways in which you all have continued to thrive, despite the challenges you’ve confronted.”

James, whose research as a faculty member focused on crisis leadership, offered the entrepreneurs three words of advice: “Bet on yourself,” she said. “Together with the many volunteer business mentors and partners and supporters joining us tonight, we are fully committed to your success and all of the positive impact that your businesses will make.”

Kareem Hall, founder & owner, K Hall Consulting and the program lead for the East Lake and Southside Atlanta cohorts, took a moment to thank the 65 mentors who helped the 2020 Start:ME entrepreneurs develop business plans, create compelling pitches, and secure access to capital. “They provided intense coaching outside of each session,” he said. “Putting in all the extra time that was needed to help our entrepreneurs get to the finish line.”

Asata Reid, Life Chef LLC and founder of Feed the People and one of the East Lake entrepreneurs, was grateful for her mentors’ advice. In January, when the program started, Reid was working on three areas of her business: corporate wellness, healthy food delivery and drawing up plans to open a restaurant in East Lake. Her mentors advised her to focus on the line of business that had the biggest upside—corporate wellness. Reid wasn’t convinced. So her mentors researched available real estate in East Lake and gave Reid data about restaurants. “I got clear on the numbers and the success/death rate [of restaurants],” she said. Her decision to move toward corporate wellness solidified when she met fellow entrepreneur, Muhammad Jihad, owner of Springreens @ Community Café, a business dedicated to creating healthy soul food with a Mediterranean twist—what Reid hoped to do with her delivery business.

“I ate his food and brought my kids and started telling everybody,” said Reid. “I became Muhammad’s biggest fan. Why reinvent the wheel if he’s already doing it?”

Reid followed her mentors’ advice and “put my intention and attention back into my core business.” She was readying her business pitch and proposal when COVID-19 changed everything. “I’m checking emails. I’m watching thousands of dollars cancel,” she said. “I was in shock.”

To keep her head above water, Reid hit pause and changed course. “I didn’t pivot, I panicked,” she said. A contact at Drew Charter School asked Reid to teach a cooking class online. Reid taught a class to third grade students, then sixth graders. She’s now doing a cooking club with high school kids, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she whips up dishes like zucchini bread pancakes and Dijon chicken tenders with kids of all ages. Classes are donation-based, and the money she’s made has been enough to give her breathing room. Once the fog of COVID-19 lifts, she plans to keep her focus on corporate wellness, but, said Reid, “I see potential here.”

Reid is grateful for having been a part of the Start:ME program. “It helped me get a really good understanding of my numbers,” she said. “I was intimidated by the financial side of my business, but I was doing better than I thought I was. This will help me moving forward with a growth mindset.”

During the online celebration, each entrepreneur was recognized and a photo of them filled the screen. Several graduates shared stories of what their Start:ME experience meant to them. Jocelyn Johnson, co-founder of WorshApp (along with Andric Copeland, Sr.), an app that helps users find nearby faith-based events, knew from day one that the Start:ME program would be intense.

“It didn’t take long for me—and I’m sure for my fellow entrepreneurs—to realize that Start:ME leadership expected every one of us to put in work and level up,” Johnson told her virtual audience. If COVID-19 impacted that expectation, it was only to strengthen it.”

A highlight of the Start:ME graduation is the grant award announcements. Introduced by representatives of the various Start:ME sponsors and community partners, which include the Regions Foundation, The Goizueta Foundation, PNC Bank, SunTrust Foundation, the East Lake Foundation, Friends of Refugees, Focused Community Strategies (FCS), and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, the grants are based solely on peer and mentor ratings. Courtney Smith, senior vice president, Community Development Market Manager, PNC, helped introduce the 2020 Peer of the Year Award Grants.

“Entrepreneurship is all about building a community around you. When that happens, communities become successful rather than just individuals,” Smith said. “Start:ME entrepreneurs learn a lot from program sessions and their mentors; however, they’ll work alongside one another with the commitment to helping each other to both learn and tackle new challenges. This is what makes the cohort experience truly powerful.”

Community Impact and Peer-of-the-Year Awards of $500

• Jocelyn Johnson + Andric Copeland of WorshApp (East Lake)
• Katecia Wilson of MamaWanderlust (East Lake)
• Sonia Tyler of STyler Visuals (Clarkston)
• Sonya King of Beyond the Skys Catering (Southside Atlanta)
• Thomas Cotton of Next Level Freedom (Southside Atlanta)
• Yohana Solomon + Amanda Plumb of Chow Club Atlanta (Clarkston)

Start:ME team members, Erin Igleheart, program manager, Start:ME and Alina Bills, program associate for Start:ME announced the Seed Start Grants—grants of $500 to $1,500 that will help businesses launch pilots and invest in early stage growth.

Start:ME Start Grants of up to $1,500

• Joshua Westover of Bake-N-Jam (Southside Atlanta)
• Lanii Dennis of Othello Communications (Clarkston)
• Lorraine McCall of Breathe Balance Energize (Southside Atlanta)
• Madison Copeland of Rogue Digital (East Lake)
• Tamara Lucas + Amanda Farahany of My Panda (East Lake)
• Teresa Abboud of Teresa Afternoon (Clarkston)

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Abboud plans to use her seed grant funds to expand her online offerings. “That’s the future—for now,” she said.

The 2020 Grow Grants, in amounts of $1,500 to $4,500 were announced by Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation, and Kyle Patterson, community relations officer of Regions Bank, Atlanta. Earlier this year, the Regions Foundation provided a $200,000 grant to support Start:ME over the next two years. “We know that an investment in a small business is not just an investment in a business, it’s an investment in an entire community,” Self said.

Start:ME Growth Grants of up to $4,500

• Brandon Williams + Ebony Blanding of Puncho’s Fry Trap (Eas Lake)
• DeAndrea Byrd of Tutu Maniac (Southside Atlanta)
• Jan O’Shaughnessy of The Neighborhood Sprouts (East Lake)
• Maria Campos + Anthony Frazier of SECPRO (Clarkston)
• Teasha Chestnut of Sugarholic Desserts (Clarkston)
• Veronica Woodruff of Travelsist (Southside Atlanta)

The Goizueta Business School Evening MBA Class of 2020 along with social enterprise fellows at the school chose Start:ME as its class gift beneficiary, donating over $8,500 to the Start:ME COVID-19 Small Business Resilience Fund. Gifts from Start:ME mentors, team members and supporters brought the fund’s total to more than $16,000.

COVID-19 may have knocked many of these businesses sideways, but the entrepreneurs vow to keep moving. Tufah Ahmed, owner, T & H Fashion Store, had been in business for five years before the pandemic forced her to close her Clarkston store. She reopened recently, but to a trickle of customers. “It’s hard to pay all my bills,” she said. But Ahmed remains hopeful. She believes the skills and information she learned as part of Start:ME will “make T & H a better, more resilient company” once the pandemic ends.

During the virtual graduation ceremony, Goebel reminded the entrepreneurs that a business plan is “a living document.” “And in this environment that document is changing more than we ever imagined,” he said. “We might be grieving some of our best-laid plans, but we’re leaning in and really excited about keeping at it. We’re here to continue on that journey with you all.”

Since 2013, Start:ME has supported more than 250 businesses with a combined revenue of nearly $9 million in 2019. Collectively, Start:ME businesses employ over 450 people.

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This year’s Keough Award recipients are Brian Goebel, Managing Director of Social Enterprise and Ram Chellappa, Associate Dean & Academic Director of Master of Science in Business Analytics and Goizueta Foundation Term Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management.

Chellappa is being recognized in part for his leadership in a wide range of areas from organizing a research seminar series to developing and executive the MSBA program, which is the only such program in the country with multiple company-based project. He is also recognized for his prolific research and leadership to professional organizations in his field, including his service as the President of the INFORMS Information Systems Society.

Goebel, who is also an 09MBA, is being recognized in part for his ongoing advocacy for small businesses in the Atlanta area. That work encompasses running the Social Enterprise fellowship program, speaking with the media about such programs as Start:ME and its importance and impact to generate more support for local businesses. He also is a skilled networker, serving on the school’s Program Leadership Team to ensure all units move in the same direction. 

The 2020 Keough Award for Service Selection Committee members were Anand Swaminathan, Chip Frame, Libby Livingston, Cynetta Freeman, 20MBA Jason Waidzulis, and 20BBA Michael Battat. 

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