City: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Executive Director, Awakenings Art
I had no intention of pursuing an MBA until I found the Civic Scholars Program. Although years of self-taught leadership served me well, I realized there was no way to continue growing my nonprofit without more resources, more connections, and more education. The Civic Scholars program proved to me that my experience and aspirations were worthy of investment and cultivation. Applying for this program was a total shot in the dark, but every step of the way, Booth not only exceeded my expectations but welcomed me with open arms to a world from which I always felt excluded. The Civic Scholars Program proves there is space for people like me not only in business school, but in a new generation of business leaders that values progress, equity, and social impact.
I hope to build a bridge between corporations and nonprofits that will lead to better communication, mutually beneficial granting, and higher social impact. As a practitioner and proponent of trauma-informed care in the workplace, I plan to scale my advocacy for healthier relationships and communication internally amongst staff and externally with the community. I also hope to use this degree to bring better business leadership to the arts, a sector close to my heart and desperately in need of higher investment.
