Partnership
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
The school’s alliances spread across a spectrum that touches government, the private sector, nonprofits, universities around the globe, the D.C. community, and other schools and units within the George Washington University. These relationships enable our students to engage in high-quality experiential learning projects with global companies, to make a real impact, and to garner in-the-field experience that gives them an edge when entering the workforce.
The school added two high-profile partnerships in 2020–2021 that leveraged its Washington, D.C., location and deepened its social impact.
The GW School of Business was selected by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to lead a prestigious Center of Excellence in Security Technology Transition. The school also partnered with the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development to provide best-in-class training for minority-owned entrepreneurs in the District of Columbia.
“Our campus is in the heart of one of the world’s greatest multicultural cities. Because of our school’s proximity to the federal government, leading national and international institutions, visionary nonprofits, and public and private sector decision-makers, GW School of Business students have unequaled opportunities to be part of a transforming global economy,” said Dean Anuj Mehrotra. “Through our many partnerships, our school, our faculty, and our students are helping to bring positive change to the world.”
The most consequential new collaboration is the Center of Excellence with DHS. The selection of the GW School of Business to host the center underscores the school’s track record in developing cutting-edge, in-demand academic programming. The goal of the initiative is to build the national security workforce. Through the center, GW offers a degree designed for government and private sector employees who work in security technologies.
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence interact with industry, DHS, first responders, and federal, state, and local government agencies. The advisory council of the new center at the GW School of Business includes alumni of the school.
The Homeland Security partnership gives the GW School of Business a second distinguished government-supported center. Since 2006, GWSB has hosted one of 15 federally funded Centers for International Business Education and Research. GW-CIBER is a cornerstone of the school’s highly ranked international business program.
Meanwhile, GW is showcasing its social impact through a new high-level partnership with the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development, initially sponsored by JP Morgan Chase. The collaboration, known as the Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs (ELEVATE), provides best-in-class training for minority-owned entrepreneurs in the District of Columbia.
“We launched this partnership in February 2021 using a curriculum designed by the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the GW School of Business,” said Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy Vanessa Perry, who was involved in bringing the collaboration to the school. “This partnership allows the GW School of Business to play a valuable role in the local community, in supporting minority-owned businesses, and in advancing entrepreneurship — one of our areas of expertise.”
The training, led by faculty members George Solomon, Ayman El Tarabishy and Executive-in-Residence Shyam Giridharadas, extends the school’s connection to D.C. and underscores its commitment to community engagement.
Collaboration is essential to the success of the GW School of Business. Partnerships are enhancing the school’s reputation, expanding its academic offerings, heightening its student experience, and strengthening its social impact. Partnerships with organizational stakeholders also provide financial aid, opportunities for the best and brightest, and helps advance our goals of recruiting a diverse and inclusive student body.