Yale’s Golub Capital Board Fellows Program Attends National Convening with Network Schools

A delegation of seven MBA students and two staff members from Yale SOM’s Golub Capital Board Fellows program traveled to Chicago in April for the inaugural national convening of Golub Capital Nonprofit Board Fellows Network. The convening was designed as the first national gathering of nonprofit board fellows' programs at top business schools that are members of the Golub Capital Nonprofit Board Fellows’ Network. Hosted by Kellogg School of Management and Golub Capital, the symposium drew more than 100 students, faculty, program directors, and nonprofit executives for two days of candid discussion about building stronger, more agile boards.

“The Golub Capital Nonprofit Board Fellows convening was an incredibly inspiring experience. It was energizing to connect with MBA students from across the country who are passionate about social impact and board service. Hearing how different schools structure their programs and the innovative projects their Fellows are leading sparked new ideas for how we can continue to strengthen our own club here at SOM and make an increasingly meaningful difference in the communities we serve,” said Anna George ’26, one of the seven student delegates.

Faculty Director of the Yale SOM Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact, Judith Chevalier, contributed insights on the convening’s program design panel, sharing lessons from SOM’s efforts to support and build its program. First-year student Ramya Srinivasan ’26 presented a poster outlining the capacity-building project she is pursuing with her board partner. Between sessions, participants huddled in breakout groups to swap templates, troubleshoot thorny governance issues, and crowd-source fresh ideas for impact measurement.

“There is something deeply energizing about building this national community. From a program perspective, building this network allows for collaboration and an exchange of ideas that will lift all boats,” commented Sooah Rho ‘23, Associate Director of SOM’s Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact. “Opportunities like this also allow students to see the evolving needs of nonprofit governance across various contexts and bring those insights home to New Haven.”

SOM students particularly enjoyed connecting with Peter Grunert ’15, a partner at The Bridgespan Group. Grunert—who sits on the advisory board of the Golub Capital Nonprofit Board Fellows Network—led a lively discussion on new network initiatives and, between sessions, offered career advice to budding social-sector leaders.

As the network expands, Yale and its peer schools have committed to four shared goals: strengthening individual programs, enhancing nonprofit capabilities, diffusing innovations and best practices, and cultivating a robust talent pipeline for the sector. Students and faculty returned from the convening energized to build and strengthen the Yale SOM Golub Capital Board Fellows Program.