Skip to main content
EDIT

Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab

  • Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab

    Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab

    The Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab is a Center of Excellence at the USC Marshall School of Business.

    A hub for social impact entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, BSEL works with USC undergraduate and graduate students from all departments, schools, and majors. We host a variety of mentorship and networking opportunities, and work closely with the Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship program, a first-of-its-kind-program aimed at providing students with concrete business skills to build sustainable careers in social impact and business.

    Annually, we host the Jacobson Family Sustainable Impact Lecture Series for our students, alumni and local community. The series features social impact and business leaders and experts, and provides opportunities for students to gain insights into entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, best business practices, social issues and their greater contexts and more in intimate settings.

    Alumni from our co-curricular and related academic programs have founded dozens of successful businesses including Rebundle, Beamlink, Peruana Sauce, Pulp Pantry, UMEED, Green Pines Media, RxLA and Secure Remedy.

ABOUT THE CENTER

Our Story

Founded in 2008 and named in 2014 through a gift from the Brittingham Family Foundation, BSEL has become one of the world’s leading hubs for social entrepreneurship leadership, education, and mentorship.

Our story is intertwined with the founding of the first-ever Master of Science in social entrepreneurship program housed in a business school. The MSSE program, housed at USC Marshall Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, was created in response to an overwhelming need to bring the business sector into the space of complex societal problem-solving. The MSSE program is closely aligned with our values and vision for the future, and with our mission to bolster the next generation of leaders to catalyze, accelerate, and deepen innovative solutions to the world’s most vexing problems.

It is clear that addressing social problems is no longer the sole responsibility of government and civil society. We are committed to developing programs and offering connections that build networks, skills, and resources aimed at creating sustainable social change.

Our Values

Innovation: We believe in continuous innovation in developing creative approaches to educational programming and research.

Educational Excellence: We believe that creating social impact through business requires a unique business education that exposes students in and out of the classroom to cutting-edge ideas and skills taught by seasoned instructors, practitioners, scholars, mentors, and those with the lived experience of the social challenges we seek to address.

Courage: We foster a courageous spirit in our students because we believe that solving the wicked problems faced in society requires the fortitude to think and act differently.

Representation: In a world where racism, gender inequality, anti-LGBTQ+ bias, and other forms of discrimination impact students’ opportunities for success in the global economy, we elevate stories, perspectives, and backgrounds that both reflect our diverse community of learners and mirror the range of communities and business environments in which our students will find themselves.

PROGRAMS

BSEL offers mentorship, funding, and community through several co-curricular programs. For a list of opportunities, click HERE.

  • BSEL Social Impact Scholars Program

    BSEL Social Impact Scholars Program

    BSEL's Social Impact Scholars Program is a highly selective nine-month mentoring and skills-building experience for a group of rising juniors and seniors who are engaged and pursuing careers in social impact. MEET OUR 2024-25 COHORT

    LEARN MORE

  • Warren Bennis Scholars Program

    Warren Bennis Scholars Program

    The Warren Bennis Scholars Program is a university-wide initiative offered by the Office of the Provost through the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab at the Marshall School. Each year, 20 students across academic disciplines are selected at the end of their sophomore year to participate in the two-year leadership program. Scholars receive leadership training in and out of the classroom. Upon successful completion of all requirements of the program, students will receive a designation on their transcripts.

    LEARN MORE

  • Color photograph of the Jacobson Family Sustainable Impact Lecture Series audience.

    Jacobson Family Sustainable Impact Lecture Series

    Throughout the academic year, the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab hosts panel discussions featuring professionals and leaders in the social impact space. The 2023-24 Jacobson Family Sustainable Impact Lecture Series will address a variety of critical topics including affordable housing, impact report, AI and climate change and much more. 

Academic Opportunities

BSEL is closely aligned with undergraduate and graduate coursework that supports individuals interested in more formally exploring social entrepreneurship.

  • Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE)

  • Whether for-profit or nonprofit, enterprises that balance social missions with financial missions can offer innovative antidotes to problems in education, health care, poverty and health. Social entrepreneurs are designing and managing these impact organizations. From global microfinance to mission-based pharmaceutical companies to local workforce development programs, enterprises and programs across the globe "look, smell and taste" like businesses while holding social mission as the driving force.

    With a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from the Marshall School of Business, you will experience a business education geared to the unique aspects of social impact. You will be prepared uniquely to become a leader in the field. You will balance your head and heart as you embark on a career with meaning and attack the most pressing global challenges.

    MORE Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE)

TEAM

  • JJ Lee

    JJ Lee
    • Director, MS Social Entrepreneurship

    JJ Lee is the Director of the Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE) program at the USC Marshall School of Business. She oversees recruitment, admissions, advising, and academic and student services for the MSSE program. Prior to joining the Marshall School in 2018, JJ ran the Pre-Master’s Program at USC International Academy from 2014-2018, helping international students prepare for success in their respective USC master’s programs. From 2011-2014, she served as the International Student Advisor at the American Language Institute at USC, managing the university-wide English language proficiency requirement for admission to USC degree programs.

  • Marelle Berry

    Marelle Berry
    • Senior Student Engagement Programs Advisor

    Marelle Berry is the Senior Student Engagement Program Advisor for the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab.  She has worked for USC since 2015, and with the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab since 2019. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with two bachelor's degrees in sociology and gender studies. She also received a degree in merchandise marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Through both educational experiences, she has been able to apply her business skills towards furthering student programs and supporting students with creating great impact over their careers.

  • Michelle Duong-Rosas

    Michelle Duong-Rosas
    • Operations Coordinator

    Michelle is the Operations Coordinator at the USC Marshall Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab. Her passion for social innovation and the role of businesses in social impact is what led her to this position. In this role, she plans student events, manages budgets and financial record-keeping, oversees program logistics and maintains the daily office operations. She is excited to empower students on their journey and equip them with the tools to become the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

    Prior to this, she worked in fund development at a nonprofit. She earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California and her BA in Psychology and Social Behavior at UC Irvine.

  • Avni Shah

    Avni Shah
    • Communications & Editorial Strategist

    Avni is an expert communicator and writer with 15 years of experience in strategic content creation. She has written pieces for the LA Times, Salon, Huffington Post, The Guardian and more. 

NEWS + EVENTS

ALL NEWS + EVENTS

RESEARCH SCHOLARS

Our focus on growing social entrepreneurship stems not just from mentorship and coaching, but also from contributing to academic research that attempts to better understand, define and grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the social impact space.

To this end, BSEL hosts a Research Scholars program. These individuals work closely with our Research Director Dr. Jill Kickul to analyze contexts, strategies, metrics and more related to social entrepreneurship in the U.S. and across the globe.

Our Research

INSIGHT + ANALYSIS

ALL INSIGHT + ANALYSIS

STUDENT LIFE

  • MSSE Student Association

    MSSE Student Association

    The mission of the Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship Student Association (MSSE SA) is to advocate on behalf of MSSE students in order to enhance the student experience.

    EMAIL MSSE SA for more information.

  • BSEL Students in Classroom
    1 / 3
  • BSEL Event
    2 / 3
  • 3 / 3
MORE

STAY CONNECTED

  • COME VISIT US

    Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab
    USC Marshall School of Business
    3670 Trousdale Parkway
    Bridge Hall, Room 105
    Los Angeles, CA 90089-0803

    EMAIL
    Phone: 213-740-9098

  • CONNECT WITH US

    SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter.

    INSTAGRAM

    LINKEDIN

    YOUTUBE

    FLICKR

  • CONTACT US

    Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship EMAIL

    Other Student Programs EMAIL

    Media Inquiries EMAIL Avni Shah, Communications & Editorial Specialist

    For all other questions, please call 213-740-9098.