Rob Gertner
Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Strategy and Finance; John Edwardson Faculty Director, Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation
Rob Gertner
Rustandy Center Year in Review 2023鈥�24 Social Impact at Chicago Booth
Dear friends,
In 2023–24, the Rustandy Center brought students, alumni, and faculty together in some tried and true ways, along with many new ones.
We thanked Marianne Bertrand, the Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, for her 12 years of service as faculty co-director of the Rustandy Center. She completed her term and has joined the center’s faculty advisory committee, along with Christian Leuz and Abigail Sussman. Please join us in thanking Marianne for her leadership and continued service to the center as an advisor.
In the highlights that follow, you’ll see that the center hosted the inaugural Golub Capital Social Impact Lab annual lecture with John Rogers, LAB ’76, which attracted more community members than any other event to date. The University of Chicago commemorated the five-year anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex | The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong and convened social impact leaders in person for the first time in several years. Your partnership supported a range of activities across the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, social impact research, new student initiatives, and more.
We look forward to celebrating the 15th John Edwardson, ’72 Social New Venture Challenge throughout 2025.
We couldn’t do it without you.
Warm regards,
Caroline Grossman, 鈥�03
Executive Director, Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation; Adjunct Associate Professor of Strategy
Caroline Grossman, 鈥�032023–24 Highlights
Piece of the Pie
鈥淓ntrepreneurs in an underinvested social impact space are trying to solve thorny problems with little investment. It takes a few tries. We are lucky to have organizations that can see that and support the effort.鈥�
鈥揅helsea Sprayregen, 鈥�17, founder of Pie for Providers, on the Rustandy Center and her experience as a Tarrson Fellow
The 2017 Edwardson SNVC winner, which offers innovative software to minimize the paperwork and maximize revenue for childcare providers, was acquired by Toronto-based Lillio this year.
5 Promising Ventures
led by UChicago faculty participated in the Rustandy Center鈥檚 new Impact Studio program. Students from across the university received training and then formed interdisciplinary teams to create road maps to commercialize these ventures.
20 Alumni
from across the United States joined the third cohort of the Nonprofit Leadership Circle, specifically for board members who serve in executive roles.
200+ Attendees
heard John W. Rogers Jr., LAB 鈥�76, speak at the inaugural Golub Capital Social Impact Lab Annual Lecture on 鈥淓levating the Black Community in Chicago.鈥� Rogers, in conversation with Karen Freeman-Wilson of the Chicago Urban League, key program partner, discussed strategies to enhance economic opportunities for Chicago鈥檚 Black community and emphasized the importance of financial literacy and economic networks.
3 Sustainability Events
explored perspectives in impact investing, sustainability within corporations, and the impact of plastic pollution on the oceans.
鈥淚t brought to my attention the pressing need to decrease plastic waste. I am minimizing my use of plastic bottles and ensuring that my laundry contains fewer microplastics.鈥�
鈥揃ooth MBA student Dapo Faworaja on The Blue Paradox event
Propelling Growth
鈥淲hat is the right shape of capital that is required, that can be patient and flexible, and can also deliver returns in the medium to long term?鈥�
鈥揔ate Kuper, Bateleur Partners director, on the need for creative investment approaches at 鈥淧ropelling Growth and Impact in Africa,鈥� an event cosponsored by the Rustandy Center at the Robert Rothman, 鈥�77, London Campus.
Emissions Disclosures
“The only way I think we can tackle climate change is to have one set of uniform standards. Uniformity comes with sunk costs, but the cost of climate change is just too high.”
–Haresh Sapra, the Charles T. Horngren Professor of Accounting at Chicago Booth and the inaugural Raymond Hung Faculty in Residence in Hong Kong, at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation’s Social Impact Leadership Series event, “The Economic Trade-Offs of Mandating Emissions Disclosures.”
9 Countries
were represented across the 60 alumni from across the globe who participated in a pilot of the popular Perspectives on Capitalism course, supported by the A.T. Kearney 鈥淏ack to Booth鈥� gift. Peer-led cohorts explored the complex relationships among corporations, the state, the individual, and values through the same reading list and faculty lectures as the popular MBA course.
鈥淭he course did more to strengthen my bond to UChicago than any other alumni activity.鈥�
鈥揚erspectives on Capitalism alumni participant
1st Place
A team of Chicago Booth and Harris School students won the Henrietta Lacks Health Equity Case Competition at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, focused on improving access to quality mental health care in diverse and resource-limited communities. The winning recommendation featured human-centered and technology-centered solutions.
12 Miles
covered during the Side South bike tour led by Professor George Wu and Ghian Foreman, 鈥�01. The program focused on the rich economic and social history of the area and was part of the Rustandy Center鈥檚 Civic Chicago, which offers place-based learning opportunities for Booth students to better understand social challenges and have a positive impact on Chicago and beyond.
500 Data Points
are included in the MSCI ESG Climate Change Metrics, which provides firm-level data on carbon emissions, power generation, fossil fuel, risk exposure, and more. This is the newest acquisition of the 15 impact and ESG datasets in the Data Hub.
are included in the MSCI ESG Climate Change Metrics, which provides firm-level data on carbon emissions, power generation, fossil fuel, risk exposure, and more. This is the newest acquisition of the 15 impact and ESG datasets in the Data Hub.
7 Finalists
in the 14th annual John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) had either a female founder or cofounder, including the winning venture Dev Difference, which is opening doors for diverse talent in tech.
in the 14th annual John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) had either a female founder or cofounder, including the winning venture Dev Difference, which is opening doors for diverse talent in tech.
