Announcing the 2025-2026 LBJ School Social Entrepreneurship Certificate presented by the RGK Center

Over the course of eight months, 44 incoming Social Entrepreneurship Certificate cohort members will work with experts, practitioners, and peers to develop social marketing skills, storytelling techniques, and strategies to drive social impact.

“At the LBJ School, we are deeply committed to equipping leaders with the tools to create meaningful social change,” LBJ School Director of Executive Education and Assistant Dean Trent Thurman shared. We’re thrilled to launch the second year of the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate and continue growing a network of changemakers who reflect the LBJ School’s spirit of innovation and public service.”

The certificate is being offered in partnership with the RGK Center and will engage leaders from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in the Austin area, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston. Topics covered in courses included design thinking, storytelling, legal and finance, corporate social responsibility, social impact marketing, and more.

Veronica Sandoval is a Financial Success Program Specialist at University Federal Credit Union Plaza and a participant in the 2025-2026 cohort. “I chose to apply to this program to deepen my understanding of the barriers facing our local communities and to gain the tools needed to advocate effectively for meaningful change,” Sandoval wrote in an email. “Growing up in East Austin, I’ve witnessed firsthand how rapid development has reshaped our city, often at the expense of its most vulnerable residents. This experience has fueled my commitment to ensuring that growth is equitable and that every voice is heard.”

The LBJ School developed this program in collaboration with Suzanne Smith, the founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects. The social change agency has advised several federal agencies on their efforts in social entrepreneurship and system change. Smith graduated from UT Austin and holds an MBA from Duke University.

“Social entrepreneurship offers a pathway to reimagine strategies in my work as a researcher and policy advocate for consumer protection in Texas,” said Ann Baddour, Director of the Fair Financial Services Project at Texas Appleseed and an LBJ alumnus.  “I am excited about the class and look forward to learning with a great group of people!”

See below for the full list of participants and their organizations.