More than 500 students from 51 universities across the United States recently converged on the campus of The University of Texas at Dallas for the Enactus USA National Exposition hosted this year by the Naveen Jindal School of Management.
Enactus is a network of leaders using business to make a positive social and environmental impact. Teams of students, guided by educators and supported by business leaders, are tasked with conducting needs assessments in their communities, identifying potential solutions to complicated issues, and implementing community impact projects.
The organization is comprised of more than 37,000 students from more than 2,000 campuses in 33 countries. It holds an annual series of regional and national competitions in which teams of students showcase their projects. They are evaluated by global business leaders.
Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean, welcomed the audience at the April 19-21 event which was hosted by the Jindal School’s MS Business Analytics Flex program in conjunction with the UT Dallas chapter of Enactus. As hosts, the chapter did not compete this year.
Teams in the 2023 national expositions, such as the Jindal School event, compete to be named national champion. Those teams from each country travel to the Enactus World Cup competition to vie for the title of Enactus World Champion. That competition is held in a different location every year. In 2023, it will be Oct. 17-20 in Utrecht, Netherlands.
In the World Cup Qualifier competition, projects can be at any stage in the project. The winning team at the JSOM event was Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Second-place honors went to the University of Texas at Austin and Southern Adventist University took third.
The Early-Stage Competition recognizes teams with projects in the early stages of development and provides feedback aimed at promoting the growth of the projects. Early-Stage teams were judged on their efforts to define a need, pursue entrepreneurial leadership, work toward positive impact, focus on long-term sustainability, and effectively communicate their project. Rutgers University was awarded first place. Second place went to Regent University and Valdosta State University took third place.
Gaurav Shekhar, the faculty adviser for Enactus UT Dallas, an assistant professor of instruction in the Information Systems Area and director of the MS Business Analytics Flex and Online programs at the Jindal School, said hosting the national exposition is greatly beneficial for the school and for the students who visit from campuses across the United States.
“Jindal is a young school with some of the best programs in the world,” he said. “We are a leader in building sustainability and developing the future workforce. This event allows students from many different locations to become familiar with the Jindal School. It also provides an opportunity for our students to experience and get to know students from other places.”
Over the three-day event, teams participated in three rounds of competition for the World Cup and Early-Stage categories each. In addition to the ample opportunities for networking and making new friends, participants also were offered a career fair and a career services session.
Zvia Schoenberg, Enactus United States president, said visiting different university campuses is an important benefit of the organization’s program.
“We want students to experience different campuses across the United States,” she said. “It is a valuable experience for them to be able to get to know other like-minded members.”
Bringing the exposition to JSOM was a natural fit, according to Robyn Fehrman, Enactus Global CEO and president.
“We are a global network that uses business innovation to solve the world’s most pressing problems, and we are so excited to bring these students together at the Jindal School,” she said. “It really is the crossroads of entrepreneurship and sustainability.”
Fehrman served as moderator of the Enactus Forum, featuring a panel of business leaders who took on a topic that many managers are grappling with, “The Future of Work.”
Participants were Abby Thompson, practice group vice president at Robert Half; Roti Balogun, global head of talent for the Chase division of JPMorgan Chase and an Enactus alumnus; Monoj Jonna, co-founder and CEO of Ramped and an Enactus alumnus; and Richardson, Texas, Mayor Paul Voelker, who also is the CEO of TrenData Inc.
“Due to rapid changes in technology, accelerated by the pandemic, workplaces look different than they did five years ago,” Fehrman said. “Businesses have already implemented changes and more are likely to come.”
She quizzed panel members on a range of topics, including their advice for success to students who will soon enter the workforce. Their responses included using the power of a network, being authentic, having a strong digital presence; being able to demonstrate a level of servant leadership; and getting involved in a passion project.
The trend of flexible work hours or the ability to work remotely that launched during the pandemic out of necessity is likely here to stay, Thompson said. “(They) are the future for those who are suited to it.”
Panel members were also asked what the most important skills or most critical competencies are for now as well as the future workplace.
“Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and innovative agility are all critical skills,” said Balogun, “but adaptability covers it all.”
Jonna agreed. “Adaptability is important,” he said, “and you must have the ability to assess what you are good at and what the world needs. You also should be willing to learn new things.”
Host sponsors for the exposition were KPMG and Rich’s. Activity sponsors were Enterprise Holdings, Menasha, Anderson Merchandisers and ARCA Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.
“I’m sad that this is ending,” Shekhar said to the audience in closing the exposition. “This has been like an amusement park you don’t want to leave. We have had 500-600 new friends on our campus. And I am most grateful that our tomorrow is safe because you are working on it now.”
