Social Equity Initiative

The program

The program is divided into two different stages: the initial diagnosis, during one semester in which ten organizations are pre-selected, followed by the experience and consolidation stages, which take place for five semesters in total and are meant for the organizations selected only.

In the first stage of the program, participants benefit from a full diagnosis and receive a customized plan for the following five semesters and from then on define annual KPIs.

(1) for the pre-selected ten organizations.

Semester 1: Situational View

Workshops

  • Kick-off session & ten organization pitches
  • Hybridity and end game
     

Additional activities alongside our community

  • Management diagnosis (in eight areas of expertise) with Nova Junior Consulting, a Nova SBE student club
  • Legal, accounting & tax diagnosis with the support of two of the school's partners: Vieira de Almeida (VdA) and KPMG
  • A two-and-a-half-year plan
  • Yearly KPIs
  • Deconstruction session

During the program's experience stage, participants will have the opportunity to expand and specify their perspectives and skills to address better some pressing issues their organization might have. In addition, they will participate in the various activities organized by the Nova SBE community that promote knowledge transfer and space for reflection:

  • Strengthen teamwork and cooperation within your organization
  • Take time to integrate and apply your learnings during all five semesters
  • Reflect on how to assure your organization's impact and sustainability in the future
  • Develop a pitch to selected investors from our community

(2) only for the selected organizations out of the initial ten after the diagnosis stage
 

Semester 2 to 6: Transformation

Workshops

  • Strategic Alignment
  • Systemic Change
  • Positive and Responsible Leadership
  • Entrepreneurial Learning
  • Revenue Streams Innovation
  • Impact Measurement
  • Developing a Business Plan
  • Social Marketing
  • Preparing a pitch for the community – self-diagnosis & future
  • Social Impact Investing
     

Additional activities with our community

Students Talent

  • Master's thesis
  • Student club projects
  • Volunteering/pro bono internships
  • CEMS Business Projects
     

Faculty & Staff Expertise

  • Master's courses
  • Executive programs
  • Talks & seminars
  • Other workshops
     

Mentors & Coaches Experience | Alumni Talent | Partners Expertise | Investors & Donors Financial Support

  • Diagnosis
  • Mentoring
  • Coaching
  • Team buildings
  • Webinars
  • Final pitches
  • Other support to the organizations

 

people involved in the program (Feb 2019 – May 2020)
+550
people involved in the program (Feb 2019 – May 2020)
people attending Master’s courses and executive education programs
10
people attending Master’s courses and executive education programs
consulting projects, among Master’s thesis, CEMS Business Projects and student clubs
9
consulting projects, among Master’s thesis, CEMS Business Projects and student clubs
people in coaching and mentoring programs
20
people in coaching and mentoring programs
workshops with Nova SBE faculty
7
workshops with Nova SBE faculty

Research & Replication

We believe in the value and potential of a close relationship between business schools and the third sector, contributing to the social organizations' capacitation in management competencies and the creation of more research opportunities about hybrid organizations and the social sector.

One of the goals of the Social Leapfrog program is bidirectional knowledge transfer. As such, we hope not only to capitalize on the resources and knowledge of the Nova SBE community to capacitate the social organizations that participate but also to learn with the reality and specificities of these hybrid organizations, which combine the business and social dimensions and give rise to new research opportunities within the school.

Additionally, the entire program is co-created with the Nova SBE community (students, Alumni, faculty, staff, and partners) and is characterized by constant interaction and reflection that contribute to its growth and make it a very enriching experience for all stakeholders.

With that said, since the beginning of the program that the entire project has been documented, and all templates used in each stage have been archived, facilitating its availability on the program's website to be replicable in other geographies and adapted to its reality.

"Social Leapfrog was an amazing experience. It allowed me to work with real-life projects and to develop my skills as a consultant. However, the most enriching part was working with people who have a purpose, vision and are willing to take risks to improve our reality. It was really interesting to discover their path, struggles, and goals. Social Leapfrog Program is the perfect bridge between the Nova SBE community and social entrepreneurs."

Mara Martins, Nova Junior Consulting

"Being able to participate in the Social Leapfrog Project as a Nova Junior Consulting consultant was a remarkable experience. Taking on a project involving such unique organizations led me to face inimitable circumstances while allowing me to meet amazing people with a tireless drive to help others. Each and every social organization we had the pleasure to work with battled to fulfill their purpose, and it was an honor to help them improve their performance and results, and as a consequence, improve other people's lives."

Nuno Rodrigues, Nova Junior Consulting

“(…) when the time came to decide the topic of my thesis, I decided to join the Social Leapfrog Program, a program that contributes to the development of social organizations in Portugal. In my case, I opted for the Alzheimer’s Association of Portugal, an organization that is committed to helping people with dementia and its caregivers. (…) It has been a challenging but rewarding journey exploring these different realities and seeking creative solutions, adapting business tools to the social sector, and above all, having the opportunity to develop research that has a true impact!”

Vera Filipe, Master Thesis Student