Opportunity for Victorian Community Service Sector CEOs to Study
at Harvard Business School
Applications for the 2023 Harvard Club of Victoria’s (HCV) Non-Profit Fellowships to the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard Business School open on Thursday 1 December 2022.
There will be an information session on Thursday 1 December 2022 at 5.15 pm (for 5.30) to 7.00 pm, via a virtual link for potential applicants for the HCV Non-Profit Fellowships and representatives of peak bodies. The information session is free, but booking before COB on Friday 25 November is essential, as numbers are limited. Please use this link to book: https://www.trybooking.com/CDWQG
Each year, through its Non-Profit Fellowship Program, the Harvard Club of Victoria sends up to three CEOs from the Victorian community service sector to Harvard Business School to attend the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) program. An HCV Non-Profit Fellowship provides A$14,000 of funding to cover the SPNM fees (tuition and case materials, accommodation, and meals), as well as travel to and from Boston, plus a study tour to non-profit organisations in North America.
Harvard Business School have advised their intention to provide a face to face program in Boston from 9-15 July 2023.
The Fellowships are for CEOs in service delivery organisations in the community service sector, with specific focus in the following areas: alcohol and drug services; children, youth and families; disability; environment; family violence; housing and homelessness; Indigenous services; mental health; refugee resettlement. These organisations must be headquartered in Victoria, have DGR status, and have annual revenues over A$3 million. CEOs of industry associations (e.g. peak bodies), management support organisations, and consulting firms are not eligible.
Next year – 2023 – will be the HCV Non-Profit Fellowship Program’s 24th year and we have now sent 44 CEOs to SPNM in Boston, as well as facilitating another 2 CEO’s for the virtual program in 2021.
Our information session will cover the aims and background of the program, along with the key Fellowship selection criteria and requirements as well as the details of the application and interview process for 2023. In addition, previous Fellowship recipients will share their experiences and take questions. (See Panel below)
The feedback that we have received over the years from Fellowship recipients has been uniformly positive and we are confident that the HCV Fellowship provides an outstanding leadership development experience for non-profit CEOs. Our aim is to help them make an even bigger impact in the community service sector in future years. (See below for comments from our 2021 and 2022 Fellowship recipients.)
KEY DATES
1 December – 3 February 2023: Application period for HCV Non-Profit Fellowships.
Saturday 25 March 2023: Shortlisted candidates are interviewed. Provisional Fellowship recipients are notified on the day of interview if possible.
9–15 July 2023: SPNM program is planned to take place on the Harvard Business School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
INFORMATION SESSION DETAILS
When: Thursday 1 December 2022, 5.15 pm (for 5.30), with an 7.00 pm finish
Panel:
Toni Stewart – CEO Focus Individualised Support Services (SPNM 2022)
Marcus Godinho – CEO FareShare (SPNM 2020)
The panel will also be joined by NPF Committee members Dr. Jenny Fitzgerald (SPNM 2020) and Graeme Kelly (SPNM 2010)
Where: Via virtual link provided once your booking has been confirmed
Booking: The information session is free, but bookings are essential, as numbers are limited. Please book using this link https://www.trybooking.com/CDWQG, before COB on Friday 25 November.
For further details, visit the NPF webpage or contact Mandy Croker at mandy@harvardclubofvictoria.org.au.
What Fellowship recipients say about their SPNM experience:
“My sincere thanks to the Harvard Club of Victoria for this amazing opportunity. It was inspiring, challenging, thought provoking and overall, an experience I will be forever grateful for.”
Toni Stewart, focus Individualised Support Services (SPNM 2022)
“I was so grateful for the chance to participate in the 2022 Strategic Perspective in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard University. My organisation now faces its biggest challenges in decades, and this program helped me draw out the questions we need to be asking.
The faculty brought energy and humour to every session, weaving theory on strategy, innovation and leadership into an interesting series of case studies. I brought home literally dozens of models and frameworks to apply practically to our work, and have shared them in debrief sessions with senior staff and reports to the Board.
The participant cohort were as inspiring as the content. It was a privilege to live with and learn from nonprofit leaders, now friends, from around the world. I know we still stay in touch and support each other from afar. I have no hesitation in recommending the SPNM program to other nonprofit leaders.”
Terry Symonds, CEO, Yooralla, (SPNM 2022)
“Participation in the 2021 Virtual SPNM program provided me with the opportunity to step away from the day-to-day of COVID-19 lockdowns and to lift my line of sight for the first time in 12 months. The program was of exceptionally high quality, delivered in a virtuoso manner by Professor Dutch Leonard and his faculty associates. The case studies were diverse and interesting. The chat room lit-up throughout each session with over 100 voices.
Nonetheless, through on-line chat groups, study groups, emails and social media, participants rapidly bonded and shared a unique experience. By the end of the program, I was exhausted but incredibly grateful for the experience.”
Jennifer Fitzgerald, CEO, Scope (SPNM 2021)
“The Harvard SPNM course was the most valuable and inspiring education experience of my life. For me there were four stand out facets. In no particular order:
1. The lecturers were challenging and inspiring. One OMG moment, was when a lecturer upon finishing his sentence said he had noted while he was talking that one course participant (of the 100) had posted in the Chat that she disagreed with him. He respectfully explained why he thought it was particularly relevant to her movement and in particular her organisation’s role within that movement. He had processed all this while he was speaking.
2. The content was particularly relevant to FareShare. It provided me with a process and framework to assist with a refresh of our strategy. It also provided me with some useful material to share with existing and potential funders.
3. Of course, everyone would rather have been together in Boston, but the virtual experience was flawless. Support staff were always present should they be needed. It was clear staff had put a lot of thought into matching participants and the make up of groups.
4. Participants contributed so many experiences, advice and encouragement. I just know that many of us will remain in contact for years to come. I have already had a meeting with the Smithsonian which reached out keen to explore how it could partner with FareShare in Australia.
This was my first Harvard experience and I am determined it won’t be my last.”
Marcus Godinho, CEO, FareShare (SPNM 2021)
The Harvard Club of Victoria Non-Profit Fellowship Committee
Graeme Kelly (Chair)
Mandy Croker
Alice Hill
Dan Hanrahan
Jenny Fitzgerald
For enquiries, please contact:
Mandy Croker
Harvard Club of Victoria
mandy@harvardclubofvictoria.org.au
www.harvardclubofvictoria.org.au