Social Entrepreneurship

So HAPPY to hear what this post from the Huffington Post has to say: MBA Students & Social Entrepreneurship: A Trend Toward A Degree In Doing Good. Basic Summary:

MSNBC reports that more and more students pursuing business school degrees are basing their courses on an eventual career in the nonprofit sector.

I don’t think this is the right move for everyone, but I appreciate that the non-profit sector is professionalizing and those with interests in both a professional sphere and non-profit work can combine their interests in one potential career. I know that at ‘Nova I’ve see this take place. Many of my friends, in and out of the business school, plan on joining the Peace Corps or other volunteer group for a year after graduation, and I’m sure intend to take their experiences with them to the work force.

For myself, this is what I hoped might be in my future. I’m glad others have paved the way and looking forward to perhaps going back for my MBA for Social Enterprise in a few years if my career starts to head this way.

I have to say, the comments section made me nervous for how others perceive students pursuing the field of social enterprise. Various comments asserted that people volunteer after school because they don’t have any options, and that the nonprofit sector isn’t worthwhile in the long term. I believe that although some people commit to volunteering because they don’t have a job at graduation, I still think many make it a conscious decision to volunteer INSTEAD of going to work. I also understand people responded that students would likely not always remain in the nonprofit sector, but I think this is true of ANY industry.

Mostly, I think we should be optimistic and excited that more people want to be passionate about their work, the nonprofit sector has professional talent coming into it, and that more and more businesspeople are showing they have hearts.

What do you think of this merge into social entrepreneurship? Do you think it will last?