Brandeis International Business School

The Bunson Finance and Society Initiative at Brandeis International Business School

The Bunson Initiative represents the intersection of global finance and entrepreneurship — both core competencies at Brandeis International Business School — including courses in microfinance and economic development.

About the Initiative

The Bunson Initiative hosts the annual Impact Investment Challenge

The Bunson Initiative holds an annual Impact Investment Challenge, where students create proposals reconciling goals of sound investment and sustainability.

Thanks to the generosity of Steven M. Bunson '82, the Bunson Finance and Society Initiative supports courses and programs at Brandeis International Business School that explore the interaction between the world of finance and society at large.

Experiential learning opportunities include internships, field trips, speakers and student club activities.

Opportunities

In collaboration with the Career Strategies Center, the Bunson Initiative offers support for summer internships at organizations related to finance and society. It also offers travel stipends for students wishing to attend conferences or events in which the content is aligned with global finance, social entrepreneurship, socially responsible investing, and the intersection of finance and society

For more information on criteria, or to apply for a stipend, please contact Barbara Cassidy at barbarac@brandeis.edu.

Events

Student presents at the Impact Investment Challenge.

The initiative organizes the Bunson Impact Investment Challenge, along with the Global Market Investments Club. At this annual event, students pitch investment proposals relating to sustainability and social impact to their peers, professors and a judging panel of financial professionals.

Among other activities, the initiative also hosted speakers such as:

  • Gwen Ruta, vice president for corporate partnerships at the Environmental Defense Fund
  • Fernando de Mello Barreto, Brazilian consul general