THE Think Tank: Where Learning Continues
The MBA gives you tools. THE Think Tank gives you a place to use them.
This isn't an academic research center publishing papers nobody reads. It's a working space where students, alumni, partners, and practitioners collaborate on actual problems. Where ideas get tested. Where projects get built.
What It Is
THE Think Tank is a collaborative platform—both digital and physical—where people come together to work on things that matter.
Structured enough to be productive. Flexible enough to respond to what people actually need.
Who participates:
- Current students applying what they're learning
- Alumni continuing to develop ventures
- Faculty exploring questions that need answering
- Partner organizations needing analytical support
- Community members with expertise to contribute
- Practitioners working on specific challenges
Core Activities
How It Works
For Students
Think Tank is integrated into your learning. Course projects involve collaboration. Propose independent research. Participate in working groups.
For Alumni
Continued connection and support. Ongoing access to expertise. Alumni contribute as mentors, sharing expertise, and bringing projects.
For Organizations
Analytical capacity and fresh perspectives. Submit challenges. Work with student teams. Commission research on specific questions.
For Community
If you have relevant expertise, contribute. Join working groups. Attend open events. Propose collaborative research.
Where It Happens
Digital Platform
Primary workspace for ongoing collaboration: project management tools, discussion forums, resource library, calendar of events, and matching system connecting people with complementary skills. Accessible anytime, anywhere.
Physical Sessions
Monthly gatherings in community centers, working group meetings in libraries or cafés, intensive workshops in co-working spaces, and field research in communities where challenges exist.
Signature Programs
Annual Transformation Summit
Full-day convening bringing together social entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and practitioners. Features workshops, venture showcases, and presentation of Think Tank research.
Venture Challenge
Annual competition where participants pitch ventures addressing development challenges. Winners receive seed funding, mentorship, and Think Tank support.
Practitioner-in-Residence
Each term, an accomplished entrepreneur or development practitioner teaches, mentors students, and creates connections between students and their networks.
What Gets Produced
Everything produced is shared openly unless there are specific confidentiality needs. The goal is learning and impact, not proprietary knowledge.
For Ventures & Organizations
- Business plans and financial models
- Market research and feasibility studies
- Strategic plans and implementation roadmaps
For Knowledge Building
- Research reports addressing specific questions
- Case studies documenting what worked and what didn't
- Guides and tools others can use
- Policy briefs for decision-makers
For Participants
- Networks of collaborators and thought partners
- Portfolio work demonstrating capabilities
- Refined ideas and validated approaches
- Connections to opportunities and resources
The Practical Reality
Think Tank operates on limited resources. We can't support every project, provide deep expertise in every domain, or solve every problem. We're honest about what we can and can't provide.
What we can do:
- Connect you with others facing similar challenges
- Provide structured frameworks for working through problems
- Support rigorous research on questions that matter
- Offer diverse perspectives that improve your thinking
- Link you to resources and people who can help
Sometimes that's enough to unlock what you need. Sometimes you'll need more specialized support elsewhere.
Who Should Engage
You should participate if:
- You're working on a real challenge and need perspectives beyond your own
- You have expertise that could help others solve problems
- You're building a venture or organization and need support
- You have research questions that need rigorous investigation
You won't find value if:
- You're looking for networking without contributing
- You want theoretical discussions disconnected from application
- You're not willing to share what you're learning
This is for people building things, researching real questions, and helping others do the same.
Getting Involved
Current students: Talk to your faculty advisor about Think Tank opportunities.
Alumni: Access through the alumni portal to propose projects or offer mentorship.
Organizations: Submit a project proposal—we respond within two weeks.
Community: Join our mailing list for open sessions and event announcements.
What This Isn't
- Not a consulting firm selling services
- Not an incubator taking equity in ventures
- Not traditional academic research for publication
- Not networking for networking's sake
What This Is
A space where people working on real challenges access support, perspectives, and collaboration that helps them do better work. A platform where learning continues beyond coursework. A community of people who believe problems get solved when diverse perspectives combine around shared commitment to finding solutions.