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Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab (BSEL)

  • Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab (BSEL)

    Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab (BSEL)

    The Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab (BSEL) 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.

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.

Community: We support our students’ opportunities for connectivity and collaboration, while amplifying their individual opportunities for success in the global economy, elevating stories, perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that reflect both our inclusive community of learners and the broader range of communities and business environments in which they operate.

PROGRAMS

BSEL offers mentorship, funding, and community through several co-curricular programs.

  • 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

  • Jessica Jackley

    Jessica Jackley
    • Director of the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab
    • Professor of the Practice in Entrepreneurship

    Jessica Jackley is an entrepreneur and investor best known as founder of Kiva, the first microfinance crowdfunding platform with over $2B in loans since 2005. She is currently a Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business at USC, and Founder and GP at Untapped Capital. Previously, Jessica was Founder/CEO at Alltruists, creating unique volunteer experiences that can be done anywhere. Other notable experience includes serving as Walt Disney Imagineering's inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence, Chief Impact Officer at Aspiration, Venture Partner at Collaborative Fund and Mustard Seed Maze, author of CLAY WATER BRICK(PenguinRandom House), and founder/CEO of Profounder (acquired by GOOD Inc. in2010), among others. Jessica was previously a Visiting Practitioner at Stanford’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society. Extensive board service includes Habitat for Humanity, Opportunity International, International Museum of Women, and more.

NEWS + EVENTS

ALL NEWS + EVENTS

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
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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

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  • 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.