Georgia Tech - College of Management - MBA

Board Fellows

Why the Georgia Tech Net Impact Club supports this program

Service to the community is important to the College of Management’s MBA students. This is evident through the support that students give to the various philanthropy events conducted during the academic year. Therefore, in an effort to allow students to engage in meaningful support of the community and utilize the skills they have honed during their study here in the College of Management, the Net Impact Club is proudly supports the Board Fellows Program.

Program Mission Statement

To prepare current Georgia Tech MBA students to be effective civic leaders by serving as non-voting members on Atlanta-area non-profit boards. In this role, the students will develop awareness of board roles and functions by providing business skills, new insights, and innovative perspectives to the boards on which they serve.

Program Benefits

This program will benefit three constituencies, MBA students, local non profits, and the College of Management. Specific benefits for each constituency are listed below:

MBA Students

Real world application of skills learned in business school
Preparation for future role as board member through first hand learning
Networking with community leaders

Non Profits

Access to new & innovative ideas from Board Fellow
Valuable exposure of non profit operations to future business leaders
New network for non profit through Board Fellow

Collegeof Management

Exposure of College and MBA Program to the local community
New networking opportunities with members of non profit boards through student and program interaction

Program Overview / Requirements

Georgia Tech Board Fellows will serve local non profit boards for one academic year utilizing their business skills to make meaningful contributions to the organization which they are serving. They will actively be engaged in meetings, committee meetings (if appropriate), projects, and other events to actively contribute to as well as learn from the Board on which they serve. Specific expectations for both the non profit and board fellow are listed below:

Expectations for Non Profit Organizations

Select a member of the Board or the Executive Director to serve as the student’s primary contact and/or mentor
Help Board Fellow(s) develop an understanding of the nonprofit’s goals and challenges
Invite Board Fellow(s) to full and advisory board meetings and introduce to other Board members
Work with Board Fellow(s) to identify a project that can be meaningfully completed within six months and that utilizes the Fellow’s business skills
Provide the data or other information needed for the Board Fellow to complete the project
Raise any potential issues or questions to the Board Fellows contact immediately.

Expectations for Georgia Tech Board Fellows

Attend all board meetings that do not conflict with classes
Work with the non-profit sponsor to identify an appropiate level of involvement
Commit to professional project execution and timely completion
Be proactive in ensuring a positive experience with the organization
Keep the Board Fellows Leadership updated on progress and potential issues
Attend all Board Fellows sponsored training events

Time Commitments

It is expected that each fellow spend, on average, 5-8 hours per month for the duration of their assignment. Some fellows will spend more time if their board meets more often and some months may require less time depending on the specific agendas for a particular board. Fellows will meet once a month to share experiences with other Fellows and learn about board governance and other topics.