The Heller Social Impact MBA program culminates in the Team Consulting Project (TCP), real-world, practical experience providing students with the opportunity to apply their analytical and problem-solving skills to help an organization or business unit more effectively pursue its social mission.
Working under the supervision of a faculty advisor in teams of three to five, students provide consulting services to a mission-driven organization over a four-month period. Students have the opportunity to self-organize into teams and select from among a wide variety of organizations in the for-profit, nonprofit and public sectors. Together, they tackle a management challenge, conduct sophisticated analyses, and submit recommendations. The TCP is accompanied by a workshop series and culminates in a formal presentation and report.
Recent TCP Examples
From addressing Boston's affordable housing crisis to expanding the reach of an impact investing firm focusing on businesses led by women and people of color, recent TCP teams have tackled a number of critical issues. Learn more about their projects.
Real-World Impact
The Heller TCP is not just an academic exercise: it gives students the chance to have real impact on an organization. One TCP team worked with the City of Haverhill to develop performance-based budgeting methods and presented their findings to the City Council, where they received positive feedback and support from both the Mayor and several Councilors, who intend to adopt the students' recommendations. Read about their project in the local newspaper.
Read About One TCP Team's Journey in Heller Magazine
"The task of a TCP team is Herculean: In three months they must learn more about an organization and its field than the client knows itself, and solve a problem the client has been unable to solve." Read the rest of the story here.