Education
Unleashing ideas and leaders for sustainable social impact.
This structure sees participants attending three blocks of two-day residential (classroom) learning, followed by four weeks of a work-application and reflection, all supported by a work-based mentor and coaching by MBS.
The Program’s three residential blocks led by expert academics from Melbourne Business School and industry experts. These residential learning blocks cover essential topics such as: social purpose strategy; social impact systems thinking and measurement; stakeholder management and communication; leading people; financial fundamentals; and social purpose governance.
Time commitment per block:
- Preparation: 2 hours (including pre-reading and meetings with mentor)
- In-Residence Learning: 2 days on location at MBS
- Work-Applied Learning: 8 hours (including MBS coaching session, mentor meetings and application of learning).
An integral part of the program is action planning – the participants are required to develop actionable plans during each block to apply their learning in their workplace, with the support of their workplace mentor and MBS coach.
In the Centre for Social Purposes Organisations we focus is on supporting not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations to continue to develop their strategic and operational capabilities to realise their potential as a critical sector of the economy and an essential force for social equity and progress. Participants in this Program become part of the broader MBS Social Purpose Network and have the opportunity to benefit from additional networking and learning to build a professional network of like-minded social purpose leaders.
6-19 July: Onboarding in MBS Academy including Pre-Program Diagnostic, WhatsApp Group and Program Goal Setting.
13-17 July: Self-organised initial meeting with Mentor.
13-19 July: Pre-work
20-21 July: In-residence learning
22 July - 23 August: Work-applied learning
10-23 August: MBS Coaching session (30mins)
17-23 August: Pre-work
24-25 August: In-residence learning
26 August - 4 October: Work-applied learning
21 September - 4 October: MBS Coaching session (30mins)
28 September - 4 October: Pre-work
5-6 October: In-residence learning
6 October: Program wrap-up
Scholarships
Inclusions
The scholarship ($12.500) covers all tuition, mentoring, one night of accommodation per block (for the three blocks), and meals during the stay—lunch, dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Successful scholarship recipients will receive this with the requirement that they or their organisation cover $500 of the overall $13,000 fee. Additional accommodation and travel expenses are covered by their organisation.
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria focus on the perceived benefits the program will provide to both the individual and their organisation. The selection committee will carefully consider factors such as the type, industry, and size of the organisations represented. This approach ensures a diverse cohort, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences that add depth, variety, and vibrancy to the learning environment.
The CSL Community Impact Scholarships are the result of a partnership between CSL and MBS.
In 2026, there are up to eight CSL Community Impact Scholarships available for the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Program.
The WISE Employment Community Scholarships are the result of a partnership between WISE Employment and MBS.
In 2025, there are 18 WISE Employment Community Scholarships available for the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Program.
Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Key Facilitators
DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSE ORGANISATIONS
Libby is a recognised leader in the not-for-profit and social enterprise sector. Her achievements demonstrate an ability to bring the worlds of community, business, philanthropy and government together to sustainably address disadvantage in new ways, informed by rigorous research and evidence.
PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP
Will Harvey is a Professor of Leadership at Melbourne Business School. He is an International Research Fellow at the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR (MBA & MASTER OF MARKETING PROGRAMS)
Nam Tran joined Melbourne Business School in 2011. Before completing his PhD and a Graduate Teaching Fellow position at the University of Oregon, Nam was an Auditor with Vietnam Auditing Company (Deloitte Vietnam), providing services to clients in various industries, such as cement, tobacco, brewing and beverages, and real estate.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
David Keith is an Associate Professor of Strategy, and Associate Director – Innovation in the MBS Centre for Sustainability and Business. After completing his PhD in Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, David joined the faculty at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the System Dynamics group. David’s specializes in the use of simulation for strategy development in complex and dynamic settings, with a particular focus on the future of the automotive industry.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT
Daisung Jang is an Assistant Professor of Management at Melbourne Business School. He is an award-winning researcher who studies negotiation. He has a particular interest in studying how people plan to bargain and implement negotiated deals. He is also interested in how individual characteristics influence this process, by exploring how personality shapes how people plan, bargain, and deliver on an agreement.
