Caroline Grossman
Adjunct Associate Professor of Strategy; Executive Director, Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation
Biography
Caroline Grossman, ’03, is the executive director of the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, the destination at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for people committed to helping solve complex social and environmental problems.
In her six years at the Rustandy Center, Grossman has led efforts to pursue research partnerships worldwide, driven student and alumni engagement across the University of Chicago, and developed strong relationships across Booth, the university, the social sector ecosystem in Chicago and beyond. Most recently, she led the center’s suite of programming to foster opportunities for students and alumni to channel a business toolkit for social impact through nonprofit board service, social entrepreneurship, and co-curricular experiential learning.
As an adjunct associate professor of strategy, Grossman has designed and taught two Booth courses. One of those lab courses, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Social Impact Practicum, allows students to delve deeply into a project to consider the role of the firm in society. Past classes have explored the domains of corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as global social impact.
Beyond Booth, Grossman has extensive experience as an educator and business leader, teaching at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and DePaul University, and in brand management at Kraft Foods Inc. Grossman is a partner at Social Venture Partners Chicago, a partnership of philanthropically minded individuals working to fund innovative and scalable nonprofits and social enterprises, and is serves on Board and finance committee at Temple Sholom of Chicago. She’s also served on the nonprofit board at North Lawndale College Preparatory School and is board member emeritus and past board president of the Playmakers Laboratory Theater.
Grossman is a 2003 graduate of Chicago Booth’s Full-Time MBA Program and holds a BA in history from Yale University.