Social Entrepreneurship & Consulting

Looking to continue the phenomenal success achieved in the Spring of 2008, the Notre Dame Entrepreneurship Society.s Social Entrepreneurship & Consulting wing plans to expand the scope and depth of its operations by increasing the scale of its consulting projects, and maintaining a high level of educational value for students who provide service to the citizens of the greater South Bend area.

Working in tandem with the South Bend Small Business Development Center, club members have provided local entrepreneurs with professional consulting services, applying concepts learned in the classroom and engaging in high-level industry research. The society looks to expand this particular area of operation from two projects per academic year, to two projects a semester, while stressing the hands on business-oriented service opportunity it provides to students.

In the Notre Dame spirit of service, the society also aims to continue its strategic partnerships with local banks in helping provide personal financial education services to low-income, Spanish speaking families in South Bend and Mishawaka. This service offers students the unique opportunity of promoting the values inherent in entrepreneurship, while serving the community in a meaningful and productive manner.

The society will also continue its oldest service project, termed "Invention Convention," in which Notre Dame students assist high school students with their creative business plans, helping foster an education in entrepreneurship for South Bend's brightest young scholars.

These projects are among the dearest to the Notre Dame Entrepreneurship Society, and constitute one of the club's core competencies, combining community service with hands-on experiences in entrepreneurship.

El Campito

The El Campito Program has been designed to serve the Hispanic community of South Bend in educating them about personal financial issues. This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community and to apply any of the Spanish, personal finance, consulting, and presentation skills that students are looking to develop. The group, consisting of a 5 person team, partners with JP Morgan Chase in putting on the events.

SBDC

SBDC Initiatives - This group will work with the South Bend SBDC on developing a program to give ND students real-life experience working with local entrepreneurs. The group will work directly with Staci Lugar Brettin of the SBDC, and will be on the ground floor of what has developed at Notre Dame to be a potential small business incubator. The SBDC Consulting

Group was founded in .08 by Entrepreneurship Society member, Cecilia Navarro. This past year, 15 members researched, strategized, and presented, offering solutions to real-life entrepreneurs on how to grow their business.

Invention Convention

The Invention Convention Program has been designed to give our members the opportunity to mentor South Bend high school students in constructing viable business plans. The group, consisting of a 5 to 10 person team, meets 1 time per week on either Tuesdays or Thursdays in the spring. There is a culminating presentation by the high school students to a group of business panelists and dozens of other onlookers in April every year. The owner of the winning plan receives a $1000 prize and a trip to New York.

Did you know?

  • 95% of members place very high emphasis on organizational leadership.

Getting To Know

Christine Lynch

Role:
Vice President of Education,Marketing, and Corporate Development
Hometown:
Colts Neck, NJ
Major:
Marketing, Sociology
Contact:
clynch3@nd.edu

Why Entrepreneurship Society?

"I wanted to become more involved in business-related clubs and the name sounded interesting. I really had no idea what to expect. I started with taking a plunge with a case study on Facebook, which opened numerous doors for my future leadership involvement. Through that project, I met quite a few new people and members in the club. From that point on, I wanted to be part of it. This past spring, I was the Intra-School relations officer where I worked with the "Road Show" by spreading the brand name in classrooms and to dorms. Now I'm working on other marketing-related initiatives. The club has been a great experience to meet people and improve my personal and professional skills at multiple levels."