{"id":735,"date":"2017-07-06T16:07:17","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T20:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/semba\/?p=735"},"modified":"2017-07-06T16:10:50","modified_gmt":"2017-07-06T20:10:50","slug":"career-management-system-aims-to-launch-semba-students-into-dream-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/si-mba\/2017\/07\/06\/career-management-system-aims-to-launch-semba-students-into-dream-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Career Management System Aims to Launch SEMBA Students Into Dream Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students gain access to career counseling and network of employers in sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship<\/h2>\n

This post was written by Jon Reidel, Communications Officer at the University of Vermont, and first appeared<\/a> on UVM’s website<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
SEMBA is made up of impact students like Karen Barnett (left) and Margaret Arzon, who talk with farmers in Bhubaneswar, India, as part of their SEMBA practicum with eKutir, a social enterprise group based in India that uses a human digital platform model to build self-sustaining ecosystems that address various challenges of smallholder farmer poverty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new breed of business student \u2013 one more concerned with solving the world\u2019s sustainability issues than just turning a profit \u2013 is showing up at MBA programs across the country. These so-called \u201cimpact students\u201d have college career counselors reeling when it comes to finding them jobs that don\u2019t fit within the traditional corporate mold.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not the case for the University of Vermont\u2019s one-year Sustainable Entrepreneurship program (SEMBA) in the Grossman School of Business, which is composed of nothing but impact students. Matching graduates with opportunities focused on sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship has been SEMBA’s sole focus since its inception in 2014.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditional MBA programs dedicate maybe one of 10 counselors to deal with these pesky impact students,\u201d says SEMBA Co-Director Stuart Hart, who previously served on the faculties at the University of Michigan, University of North Carolina and Cornell. \u201cThis is all we do. We\u2019ve developed a customized system and built the largest, most robust network in this space globally because we\u2019re totally committed to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hart, a world-renowned expert on how poverty and the environment affect business strategy, and SEMBA Co-Director David Jones plan to launch a new career management system designed to propel students into careers within SEMBA\u2019s condensed 12-month format in renewable energy, clean tech, affordable health care, inclusive business, entrepreneurship within larger companies, start-ups, and other innovative ventures.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bolstered by a $145,000 gift from\u00a0Vermont Works<\/a>, an independent investment firm supporting Vermont\u2019s job and economic development,\u00a0the new four-phase system called \u201cLaunch\u201d will be implemented in time for the SEMBA class of 2017-2018.<\/p>\n

Four-phase system designed for SEMBA’s condensed 12-month format<\/h2>\n

The initial Discovery phase has students draft a professional vision and identify one of five career pathways: mission-based companies; larger corporations in a sustainability or corporate innovation role; joining or launching a start-up or other venture; impact investing (venture capital or private equity); consulting; or working in a \u201c4th sector\u201d at a non-profit focused on leveraging the private sector in sustainable innovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a systematic approach to help students identify career paths through assessment tools and career counseling starting on day one,\u201d says Jones, a leading scholar on the positive effects of community involvement by employees and sustainable business practices. \u201cStudents receive career coaching and attend more than 60 panels and networking events where they are exposed to business leaders and entrepreneurs within this space.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the Focus phase, students receive career coaching; mentoring from professionals within the identified pathway; skill development; and begin to hone potential employment opportunities. This includes access to the SEMBA Changemaker Network\u00a0\u2013 an ecosystem of more than 125 companies and individuals focused on sustainable business \u2013 and support from SEMBA\u2019s Advisory Board of business leaders and alumni.<\/p>\n

The Customize phase has students work with employment experts on tailored job pitches, resumes, personal branding, and a further narrowing of potential employers. Students begin interviewing in the Launch phase often with mission-based or\u00a0B-Corp<\/a>\u00a0certified entities. Some interview with companies they partnered with like Ben & Jerry\u2019s, Seventh Generation and Facebook to complete their SEMBA practicums \u2013 a capstone experiential project to address issues such as poverty, climate change, and the environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve created a system whereby individuals can customize their way into a network that increases the possibility that they find something that helps them realize their personal and professional dreams,\u201d says Hart.<\/p>\n

SEMBA’s increase in rankings, class size warranted new program\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The need for Launch has increased along with SEMBA\u2019s reputation as one of the nation\u2019s top sustainable entrepreneurship business programs, resulting in an increase in applications. SEMBA was ranked No. 2 on The\u00a0Princeton Review\u2019s\u00a0\u201cBest Green MBA\u201d list; made CEO Magazine\u2019s\u00a0list of top MBA programs in North America; and was ranked the 10th best \u201cBetter World\u201d MBA program globally by Corporate Knights.\u00a0Approximately 35 students are expected to enroll in the SEMBA class of 2017-18, an increase of more than 30 percent over last year\u2019s cohort.<\/p>\n

Although Launch won\u2019t be in place until the fall of 2017, some students have benefitted from elements of the program that were already in place. Vinca Krajewski, a 2016 SEMBA graduate and member of SEMBA\u2019s Advisory Board, landed a job at Seventh Generation as an Associate Brand Manager on the Personal Care Team after conducting her practicum with the Burlington-based company.<\/p>\n

Caitlin Goss \u201817 enrolled in SEMBA after working at Harvard\u2019s Kennedy School of Government and Bain & Company in hopes of landing a job at a company where she could positively impact the lives of its employees. She was recently hired at Rhino Foods, where she will get that\u00a0opportunity as Director of Human Resources with a focus on talent and culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of SEMBA\u2019s greatest strengths are the countless opportunities students have to engage directly with businesses and leaders in this network,\u201d says Goss, who learned about her job opening while on a SEMBA tour of Rhino, owned by UVM alumnus Ted Castle \u201974. \u201cThe Launch program will give students who are engaged in an intense 12-month program more structure and opportunities to seek out jobs. It will institutionalize the job search process so students have those touch points like I did with Rhino and can follow-up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Students gain access to career counseling and network of employers in sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship This post was written by Jon Reidel, Communications Officer at the University of Vermont, and first appeared on UVM’s website A new breed of business student \u2013 one more concerned with solving the world\u2019s sustainability issues than just turning a … <\/p>\n

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