Economics undergraduate Katie Merritt knew she wanted to apply her academic interests to help build a more sustainable world—but how? When she heard about the ThinkImpact Social Entrepreneurship Program—run by the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit and Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship—she applied. (read more)
Launched in collaboration with Zayed University and the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ThinkImpact, which was launched in 2021, introduces students to entrepreneurship to solve urgent societal problems. It accepts students from all degree levels and programs across Case Western. The program runs during the academic-year and then offers support as each cohort graduates to relying on other campus entrepreneurship resources.
Last year, Merritt and four other students formed a team and began brainstorming. Every week, students attend in-person sessions at the Fowler Center and bi-weekly virtual meetings with students in the UAE—which has helped them to start thinking like entrepreneurs.
“You don’t have to come in with a pre-existing idea. The program is designed to help students explore opportunities,” said Megan Buchter, who leads the ThinkImpact Social Entrepreneurship Program and directs the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit.
This past spring, ThinkImpact Director Megan Buchter (CWR ’10, MGT ’15) and 11 students traveled to Dubai to see social entrepreneurship in another country. They also met with students working with Wasseem Abaza (MGT ’14), PhD, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at Zayed University. He and Buchter had teamed up to offer parallel programs that run-in concert. This spring the cohort will travel to Ireland to explore social enterprise and sustainable solutions in Galway and Dublin.
This story was originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Think magazine.