On Friday, October 4th, the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate at the LBJ School of Public Affairs launched. After a competitive application process this summer, 49 applicants were selected to participate in the inaugural executive education program. Participants met at the LBJ School last Friday, excited to connect with each other and begin learning.
The program was developed in collaboration with Suzanne Smith of Social Impact Architects. Smith kicked off the program last week with an overview of organizational culture and social entrepreneurship. Smith is a UT alum and Duke MBA, who crafted this experience specifically for working professionals. Previously, she taught a highly successful version of this program in the Dallas area, funded by Communities Foundation of Texas.
“I feel like I was in a masterclass on social entrepreneurship. I thought I knew what it was, but was surprised by how much I didn’t know,” one participant responded after the first session.
Participants represent a variety of organizations from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Over the course of eight months, they will engage in learning from instructors and each other to transform their approach to social impact from the inside out, providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to think like a social entrepreneur.
"Social entrepreneurship is premised on falling in love with the problem that needs to be solved," said Moira Porter, Interim Director of the RGK Center. "It’s clear from the energy in the room that there are lots of people excited to be at the LBJ School learning the skills to tackle the toughest challenges facing our communities."
Topics in the course will include design thinking, storytelling, legal and finance, corporate social responsibility, social impact marketing, storytelling, and more. While Smith will serve as program director for the inaugural Austin program, select sessions will be taught by other faculty, including:
- Kate Knight - Senior Director, Impact Investing Programs at Phillips Foundation
- Gray Garmon – Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Design and Creative Technologies, UT Austin
- Maddy Kulkarni -- CEO of Citizen Marketing Group
- Suzanne Potts – Chief Wellbeing Officer at Athletes for Hope (AFH) and Assistant Professor of Instruction at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, UT Austin
- Stephen Birch -- COO of Air Caritas Corporation and Managing Director of Flying Crown Land Group and Charter for Charity
"Founded by social entrepreneurs in the Kozmetsky family, the RGK Center is excited to bring this professional learning opportunity to Austin and its thriving community of social innovators," said Porter.
2024-2025 Cohort Participants:
- Alexander Williams, Aura Rainwater
- Amanda Parker, Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries (ACAM)
- Amanda Cantu, Dell Medical School
- Annie Henson, St. David’s Foundation
- Audrey Sherman, Blue Sky Partners
- Bethany Leffingwell, Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas
- Cara Fox, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, Heart Galleries of Texas
- Chaka Mahone, Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action (DAWA)
- Charli Krause, I Live Here I Give Here
- Charmane Hayman Sellers, ALEON Properties, Inc.
- Chelsea Elliott, half Helen
- Christine Gendron, Wheels On The Bus, LLC
- Clarena Tobon, NAMI Central Texas
- Colin Swanson, Mainspring Schools
- David Bishea, Partnerships for Children
- Deshara Goss, DLG Interprises
- Eric Ryniker, Temple Beth-El
- Harold McMillan, East Austin Creative Coalition
- Jess Ferrari, City of Austin
- Kara Hanaoka, Good Work Austin
- Kate Colston, The Pangea Network
- Katherine Sobel, City of Austin, Economic Development Department
- Kayla Brown, The Trail Conservancy
- Kellie Sauls, Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Kennon Kasischke, Central Health dba Travis County Hospital District
- Kirsten Ronald, The University of Texas at Austin
- LaRhesa Moon, The Children’s Shelter
- Lourdes G. Zuniga, Financial Health Pathways
- LX Van Drie, LBJ School of Public Affairs
- Maria Brown-Spence, Hearts2Heal
- Mariam Shahab, Chatterbox Consulting
- Marissa Vogel
- Mary Flanagan, Mobile Loaves & Fishes
- Melinda Lipani, MAYA Consulting
- Missy Strittmatter, Leadership Austin
- Monica Peña, Economic Growth Business Indicator (EGBI)
- Monique Parker, Little Bit of Good
- Nakevia Miller, Dickey Museum & Multipurpose Center
- Nicolette Ardiente, Asian Texans for Justice
- Rachel Koay, Feeding Texas
- Rona Walton, The Collection Plate
- Rondel Youngblood, Austin Area Urban League
- Sarah Murry, Partnerships for Children
- Scott Del Rossi, College Possible
- Sean Hale, Nonprofit CFOs
- Sharyn Malatok, Breast Cancer Resource Center
- Sofia Aranha, Adobe
- Stacey Claessens, 3M
- Veronda Durden, Any Baby Can
The LBJ School’s RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service is underwriting the cost of this executive education certificate, which is based on the highly successful program originally funded and launched by Communities Foundation of Texas.