Liz Maw

A message from Net Impact’s departing CEO, Liz Maw When I joined Net Impact as CEO in October 2004, George W. Bush was about to win his second term as President. Lord of the Rings had won Best Picture

A note from our CEO, Liz Maw: 2016 has been anything but boring here at Net Impact. We’re committed to doing more for our members and chapters than ever before, whether that’s bringing our annual conference on the road through our NIx initiative, bringing new people into the mix with our Impact Design expansion, and redoing our website.

“What do you like about being white?" It was a question I’d never heard asked before. Nor had the few dozen people sitting around me at a North Carolina church. I was at a two-day workshop facilitated

Drive change and make an impact just like Wonder Woman or Green Lantern, but maybe in a more subtle outfit. When I was little, I dreamed of having great superpowers when I was older. Think back for a

Tiffany T. is the kind of young woman that could become a nonprofit lifer. She’s smart, articulate, and above all else committed to making a difference in the world. But as she started her job search and senior year at UC Berkeley last fall, Tiffany set her eyes not on the nonprofit sector but on mission-driven business. Now a recent graduate, she's working within the corporate citizenship department of a Fortune 100 company. “I’m happy working at a big company, because I feel like they really have the capacity to inspire others and make change in the world,” says Tiffany.

You’re thinking about grad school, and the options are overwhelming. If you’re like me, you might have registered for the LSAT, GRE, and GMAT all at once, and buried your bookshelf with test prep books. While there are many routes to changing the world, I have a special spot in my heart for the MBA (Masters in Business Administration), which I received from Columbia Business School in 2001, and where the majority of Net Impact’s 300 chapters lie. But why an MBA if, like me, you’re a passionate idealist committed to the nonprofit sector?

Twenty two years ago, a small community of MBA’s and entrepreneurs had a boundary-breaking idea. In the midst of a world where business was often viewed as an evil force, they dared to think differently. United by their vision of a future where business could mean more than making money, they held the first Net Impact Conference. The boundaries we now face are less obvious but no less limiting. In the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), most of the low-hanging fruit has been picked. We’re grappling with barriers that are global in scope and structurally multi-faceted. What’s more, the stakes are higher than ever; persistent poverty, global health epidemics, climate change, and joblessness threaten the lives and livelihoods of billions of people around the world. In early November, our community is coming together to take on the messy, uncomfortable, controversial (yet inspiring and imperative) challenge of breaking boundaries once again. We’ll hear from impact leaders across sectors who are embracing these three strategies for disruptive change.

What do coffee, dish soap, and conferences all have in common? [Pause for head scratches]. Well, for one, they’re all spurring sustainability stories driven by “regular employees.” Over the past few

Trying to change the world can be exciting and gratifying. It can also be lonely and scary. That's why so many social sector organizations - including our own - have loved to see examples like the

At Net Impact, we know it's critical to take time to pause and reflect. Our 21st year has been a remarkable one, thanks to the passionate involvement of the Net Impact community. Our mighty network

Last weekend, 2,500 people traveled from as near as San Jose and as far as South Africa to join us at the 2013 Net Impact Conference. Driven by the belief that each of us has the capability to spark

Two and a half years ago, Susan Carriegos heard about a solar installation going up on a new TD Bank store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was the talk of the local community. Intrigued, Susan decided

Preeti works at a microfinance organization in Ecuador, helping low income entrepreneurs start businesses. Clive works at an organic food company on new product development. Sara is a customer service

You've heard these myths before: you've gotta go into the business world if you want real leadership skills. Corporate jobs, though, are totally evil. But nonprofit work doesn't pay anything. In her

You've heard these myths before: you've gotta go into the business world if you want real leadership skills. Corporate jobs, though, are totally evil. But nonprofit work doesn't pay anything. Over the

Last weekend, I stood facing nearly 2,700 like-minded and passionate people at our 2012 Net Impact Conference and posed a challenge: do you have the courage to lead us - rapidly - into a new world of

Net Impact's new Talent Report: What Workers Want in 2012, our nationwide U.S. study conducted with Rutgers University, lets the cat out of the bag. We Net Impacters are already in on the big secret

Davos. The word immediately conjures up the world's most exclusive and important meeting of powerful leaders from every sector. I'd heard stories of running into Michael Dell in the hall, the Finance