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Intentional Impact?

I am currently a student perusing my degree in Business Administration. As a more tenured student, how can I turn my experience supporting students and families into a long-term career in leadership or social impact, and what steps should I take now to prepare before graduation?

spring26 leadership businessmajor social-impact intentional
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Pooja’s Answer

It's wonderful that you're eager to support families and make a positive impact. Knowing how you want to help is key. Would you prefer working directly with people at a nonprofit and engaging with volunteers? Or do you see yourself helping from an office setting? Try looking into local nonprofits to see if they offer internships. This could help you explore different paths and find the best way to make a difference.
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Roberto’s Answer

Hi Shakemia.
To jump from "helping" to "leading," the secret is to start applying your Business Administration tools to your social work right now. Don't just provide support; start analyzing how the organization actually functions. Look for ways to improve processes, organize resources better, or measure the results of what you do. In the world of social impact, a true leader is someone who figures out how to make help reach more people more efficiently. The most important step you can take before graduation is learning to speak with data. Instead of saying "I helped many families," start saying "I managed support for 20 families and improved response times by 15%." By combining your business degree with your real-world experience, you stop being just a volunteer and become a professional capable of running projects that truly change the world.
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Shweta’s Answer

Hi Shakemia,

You're on the right track, and your experience helping students and families is a great start for a leadership role in social impact.

Focus on what matters most to you, whether it's education, family support, or community programs. This will help you move in a clear direction. Think of your past work as leadership because you've been solving problems, working with others, and making a difference. Be ready to talk about what you did and how it helped.

Use your Business Administration degree to learn practical skills like budgeting, managing programs, and analyzing data. These are very useful in social impact jobs.

Before you graduate:

- Lead a project
- Look for leadership roles
- Talk to people working in the field
- Practice telling your story clearly

You don't need to have everything planned out. Just keep building skills and gaining experience. This will prepare you well for a leadership role after graduation.

Best,
Shweta
Thank you comment icon Shweta, Thank you so much for your thoughtful advice and encouragement. Your words truly helped me see that the work I’ve already been doing is leadership in itself, and that perspective means a lot to me. Sometimes I focus so much on where I’m trying to go that I forget the value of the experience I already have serving students, families, and my community. I appreciate your reminder to focus on what matters most to me. Education, family support, and community impact are all areas I feel deeply connected to, so your guidance helped confirm that I’m moving in the right direction. Thank you! Shakemia
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Aishah’s Answer

Shakemia, your question is fantastic! You have a great talent for connecting with and helping people, which is a wonderful skill. You might want to look into a career in HR. I once thought I would work as a College Student Personal Administrator, but after a short internship in retail, I discovered my passion for HR. Helping people navigate life changes, combined with business knowledge, is a valuable asset at work. I suggest you seek internships in retail HR or even on campus to blend these skills. You have a bright future ahead!
Thank you comment icon Aishah, Thank you so much for your encouraging words and advice! I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond. I have always enjoyed helping and connecting with people, so hearing that HR could be a great fit for me is exciting and affirming. I especially appreciate your suggestion about internships in retail HR or on campus. I never really considered how my experience supporting students and families could align so well with business and human resources. Your journey and insight definitely gave me something meaningful to think about. Thank you again for the encouragement and for speaking positively into my future! Shakemia
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