Marble Stepping Stones - My experience at the Social Finance Masterclass offered by Smith School of Business

November 2018 will be a month I remember for the rest of my life.

I know, quite an auspicious statement. However, I think by the time you’re done reading this piece, you’ll see where I am coming from.

As a Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MMIE) student out of Smith School of Business, November is a trying time. Assignments, term papers, group projects, assignments, networking opportunities, research planning, and more assignments, November is a non-stop gauntlet. Toss in a full-time professional position and the normal real-life concerns (Eating 3 square meals, sleeping 8 hours a night, dates with loved ones, playdates with nephews & nieces, etc.) November starts looking fierce.

Amidst ALL of this, November 2018 was also the month I realized my professional calling. 

After years of studying, working, researching, and introspective exploration, I can say with a large degree of certainty that the world of Social Finance is where I belong.

As luck would have it, none other than the Centre for Social Impact was hosting a Social Finance Masterclass. Oh, and what is this? It’s only a couple of days before my second MMIE bootcamp in early December. 

Well then. Sign me up. Oh, and for the record, you know you are passionate about attending something when you change your flight into Ontario before you finish registering. Yep, I flew in early for this event, and would do so again in a heartbeat. 

So, what was the big deal?

The Social Finance Masterclass was a remarkable opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the Social Finance and Impact Investments here in Canada. I thoroughly enjoyed the presenters along with the material covered. The team at the Centre of Social Impact went out of their way to bring in industry and thought leaders, including Adam Jagelewski, Executive Lead at the Centre for Social Impact Investing at MaRS Discovery District. Adam took us through the basics of social finance along with sharing some amazing insights and cutting-edge content about current initiatives in the space. The in-depth discussion about Social/Development Impact Bonds (SIB/DIBs) was a treat, enabling the plethora of attendees to really sink their teeth into the pros, cons, do’s and don’ts of the model. This was made possible by assessing some current SIB/DIB projects through classic presentations as well as interactive discussions with the attendees. Adam masterfully broke up the attendees into two groups charged with arguing ‘for’ and ‘against’ the model just after learning about it. Not only was it some great primary research for the presenter team, but it was a great way to digest the dense material. It was also fun. Fabulously fun!

Another aspect of the Masterclass that stood out was how it was open to people who are not current students at Smith. I think this was an incredible decision on behalf of the organizers since it allowed all registrants to exchange knowledge from a wide variety of fields, industries, and academic backgrounds. 

Lastly, the choice to host this event at the beautiful SmithToronto campus only added to the professional and positive ambiance.

Since the Masterclass, I haven’t really stopped researching, connecting, and discovering. With the amazing help and support from the MMIE program, I have successfully become a Social Finance Researcher. I feel like I am climbing up to the place I need to be, and it is with opportunities such as the Social Finance Masterclass that makes climbing these stepping stones even more enjoyable.

Written by Jamal Tekleweld, MMIE'19