Recent years have demonstrated an increasing interest among Harvard undergraduates in pursuing careers for the “common good.” A recent OCS panel of Harvard alumni entitled Exploring Careers in Social Enterprise, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Non-Profit Consulting was no exception. Four alumni from the last two decades spoke to a packed audience on their unique experiences and the lessons they wish to pass on to aspiring candidates.

Jessica Hubbard is a Director of CSR at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. An alumna of both Harvard College and Harvard Business School, Hubbard was an active member of the College Democrats and sorority life, in additional to serving as vice president of the Undergraduate Council; however, she admits that no one activity gave her the experience for her current career. For her, the idea of CSR means “engaging with social issues that create risks and opportunities for companies” – for example, selling textbooks to middle class families in India. Hubbard recalled a personal bias as an undergraduate, namely, that a “grown-up job” was for profit. Now, she spoke of an exciting field in which careers paths may not be clear but where it’s “all about the projects where you can add value” to a company and to the world.

Laura Moon serves as Director of the Social Enterprise Initiative at the Harvard Business School. A graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Business School, she emphasized the significance of following her “gut decision…that turned out to be right.” Seven months of world travel and six months of management consulting exposed her to many ideas and taught her a great deal in self-assurance, human dignity, and career interests. A firm believer in utilizing business for social change, Moon advised her audience to “listen to your internal voice” and then to “find the supplementary mechanisms to advance it.” By testing different pathways with a flexible, entrepreneurial spirit, you will find your best fit.

Michael Etzel is currently a first year student at Harvard Business School coming out of five years of work with the Bridgespan Group, a non-profit consulting firm. Etzel engages in what he calls “the business of social change,” in which economic models apply but different bottom lines drive decisions. Non-profit consulting, in short, consists of “smart people answering challenges” for which a non-profit has not (a) the time, or (b) the expertise. Etzel considering for-profit consulting as an undergraduate at Harvard College but quickly realized he wasn’t interested in the traditional questions asked by for-profit firms. Non-profit firms, in contrast, utilize a similar model of problem solving but leave you more control of your personal life. “Closing the door is not always a bad thing,” Etzel assured the audience. “If it doesn’t feel right, walk away.”

Ada Wan is the Talent Coordinator at New Profit, a national venture philanthropy firm, and also counts herself among Harvard College alumni. Wan first begin her professional career as an Associate at Google Boston’s online sales team, where she led a record-breaking “Google Cares” fundraiser for the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. However, she discovered that “at for-profit organizations, non-profit causes are simply not a priority,” and she found her budget at Google slimming fast. She thus joined AmeriCorps, eventually leading to work at New Sector Alliance, a non-profit consulting firm, and her current role at New Profit. In choosing a place to work, Wan emphasized that each applicant “consider the culture of the group” by asking lots of questions during the interview process. These questions, as well as networking skills, will lead to a pleasing and successful career.

Despite the great diversity of interests and career paths, the four panelists agreed on a significant point: take control of your job search! These fields have no traditional ladders or institutions, which makes building a career more challenging and yet all the more enriching. As Etzel remarked to the group, “social change is hard,” but nevertheless rewarding.

—Nicandro Iannacci, ‘13