Investing to change lives

Melbourne Business School is committed to deepening the relevance and impact of our work.

We specialise in mutually beneficial, innovative and collaborative approaches to solving complex problems in industry, community and government contexts.  We bring a powerful combination of empathy, rigour, integrity and relevance to all of our endeavours.

Melbourne Business School is a major agent of change in co-creating value with and for the communities we serve. We play a transformative role and help members of our communities to reimagine and redefine their futures. Whether that is through the career enhancing personal transformation of our students, strengthening the business models of social ventures, improving employee wellbeing through workplace redesign, or developing the capability and capacity of Indigenous communities in regional Victoria.

Melbourne Business School uses business acumen and capabilities to address important challenges in industry, government and social contexts. We don’t do this alone. It is with the support and partnership of our community that we are able to have such a positive impact on society.

 

For instance, the Senior Executive MBA (SEMBA) class of 2003 banded together to establish an endowment fund that supports the MURRA Indigenous Business Masterclass – an annual education and mentoring program for Indigenous entrepreneurs that aims to build capabilities to meet the increasing demand for indigenous products and services in this country. Ian Kirk (MBA 1998) also afforded his generosity to the program.

Jennifer Kahirimbanyi (MBA 2015) said the financial support of the SEMBA class of 2003 had a tremendous impact on her career.

“I am very grateful to the SEMBA Class of 2003 for providing the support that enabled me to take on an internship at Social Ventures Australia. Financial constraints would have prevented me from taking on an unpaid internship. Their support gave me the opportunity to fulfil my passion to contribute to the resolution of social issues.”

A donation from Phillip Cormie (EMBA 2002) a world-renowned management consultant has also contributed to the advancement of research into social impact investing and how organisations can address global warming, inclusion and other social issues.

We also make a difference through our partnerships with corporate organisations such as Telstra who fund the MBS Telstra Indigenous Scholarship and talented individuals like Jennifer Day, currently studying her Executive MBA.

 

 

“A lot of effort around Indigenous employment focuses on graduates or work experience at entry level, but this scholarship is for management level, allowing us to provide the full range of opportunities for Indigenous Australians. The scholarship allows us to show the breadth and best of Indigenous employees,” said Telstra Chief Sustainability Officer, Tim O’Leary.

Jennifer’s mentor at Telstra said work ethic and a commitment to make a difference is what set Jennifer apart.

“Jennifer represents the very best of emerging leaders, demonstrating the passion to create real value and the maturity to understand that we can only achieve this through and with others,” said Matthew Tutty, Jennifer’s mentor and Executive Director of Strategy and Operations at Telstra.

It is through the generosity of our donors that our School can make such a lasting impact on the communities we serve.