The Centre for Social Impact
The Centre for Social Impact empowers current and future leaders to create a better world. We accelerate their success and amplify their impact through thought leadership, education, and collaboration across sectors.
Supporting research and providing advice in our key focus areas
Our strategic prioritiesFostering education in the fields of responsible leadership and social impact
Certificate in Social ImpactBeing a global advocate on issues of responsible leadership and social impact
Learn moreProviding support for our local communities
Community outreach
Research and Advice
Smith School of Business faculty and students are engaged in a number of research activities involving equity, diversity, inclusion and indigeneity; sustainability and circular economy; tech for good; resilience. Members of the Smith community publish and present their research at leading global forums, receive funding from major funding councils, and engage members of the community in their applied research.
Our strategic priorities
Educational Initiatives
The Centre is devoted to creating a generation of responsible leaders. It fosters leading-edge education in the field of responsible leadership.
- The Certificate in Social Impact program for Commerce, MBA and Master of International Business students
- Hosting its annual Social Impact Summit
- Offering a variety of Discovery Learning Workshops
- Hosting Responsible Leadership Speakers Series
- Holding monthly brown bag sessions
- Support of student-led responsible leadership clubs and events
- The development of new teaching methods and educational materials for academic programs
- New Responsible Leadership Internship Program
“Enrolling in the Certificate of Social Impact was one of the best decisions I have made since entering the Commerce program. It has taught me how to think about business and social responsibility in a completely different way, and I now understand that true social change and business go hand in hand.
I cannot speak highly enough of the program. It has been an investment in my education. If you have even the slightest interest in how you can use your career to make a difference in the world, you need to sign up for the Certificate!”
BCOM 2021
The Centre works on the world stage to better understand the challenges associated with globally responsible leadership, and to develop new educational models for responsible management education.
Global Advocacy for Responsible Leadership
Smith School of Business is a founding member the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI) and was one of the first 100 business schools to sign the UN's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Both of these initiatives are supported through the joint efforts of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the United Nations Global Compact.
Our membership in these initiatives is helping to support the development of the next generation of globally responsible leaders through the development of innovative curriculum and community partnerships.
Learn moreOutreach and Partnership
The outreach activities of the Centre include a number of partnering efforts with our current sponsors, student organizations and members of the non-profit and social enterprise communities. Our Certificate students provide over 3,000 hours of community service annually and our MBA students engage in pro-bono consulting projects with non-profit community organizations.
Community outreach