Operating at the Ampersand: Bringing Impact to the Private Sector and Beyond

During SOM’s Fall 2024 Social Impact Week, a panel discussion brought together three inspiring guests with diverse career paths united by a common passion: bringing impact to the private sector and beyond by “Operating at the &.” The panelists included SoVonna Day-Goins, a 30-year Wall Street veteran who founded WomenXMeta to empower economic mobility through financial and digital literacy; Alex Kasavin MBA ‘19, an AI Architect at Microsoft pursuing tech for social impact; and Sabrina Ling MBA ‘16, former Head of People at Noom, leveraging her HR experience across various organizational dimensions to drive change.

Panelists shared insights into their journeys pursuing impact-driven work. SoVonna confessed a sense of lack of impact in her long finance career, leading her to create a tech company focused on educating and empowering women, children, and people of color in financial and technological literacy. She stressed the importance of making a difference in often overlooked areas. Alex shared his experience transitioning from Google to the non-profit sector, highlighting the significant contrast in technological capabilities between the private and public sectors. He emphasized providing the best tools to those doing important work, alongside the moral imperative that technology investments in education must be justified and represent a better investment than alternative uses of funds. Sabrina reflected on her diverse experiences in non-profit and for-profit sectors, noting that leadership principles remain consistent. While social impact organizations might "lean a little bit heavier" on mission-driven motivation, effective leaders still need to create a positive culture and maintain high standards.

The discussion also touched on how individuals' approaches to social impact evolve, showcasing a spectrum of temporal and temperamental characteristics. Some panelists transitioned from youthful zealousness to more moderate, incremental approaches, while others became self-described "disruptors" advocating for decisive action. When asked for advice on board service and leading organizations, panelists offered measured insights. Alex advised finding ways to align mission through work and personal identity, suggesting that separating social impact from one's job can be liberating. Sabrina and SoVonna cautioned against spending "money on symptoms of the problems rather than the causes of the problem". They encouraged students to focus on addressing root issues, emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, and maintaining high ethical standards in leadership roles.

Regarding setting boundaries and choosing opportunities, the panelists provided valuable strategies. SoVonna highlighted the power of starting with “No,” which prompts others to think more carefully before approaching you. Sabrina offered a practical approach using three key questions: “Does it enable me to connect with more people and broaden my network? Will I learn something? Do I like the work?”. She also stressed the importance of learning more about the organization. These strategies help in setting boundaries and ensuring opportunities align with personal and professional goals.

In 1976, William Donaldson articulated his vision for SOM: “to develop leaders who will have the intellectual breadth, practical skills and moral commitment to deal effectively with the increasingly complex problems of our society”. It is reassuring to learn from this distinguished panel how they have navigated diverse career paths—from finance and technology to education and entrepreneurship—converging on the social impact they have created.