KIM: Working to alleviate poverty in India has strengthened his interest in social enterprise.

Photo by Susan Young

Continuing a four-year tradition among graduating classes, members of the MBA Class of 2007 established a fellowship to support their successors. Chicago native John Kim (HBS ’08) is its first recipient. “Coming to HBS has widened my scope and outlook on life,” says Kim, who arrived at HBS with eight years of work experience — as a Bain consultant, an officer of a campus church, and a marketing manager of a toy company. “I have learned something in every single HBS class. The discussions have been completely engaging,” says Kim, a graduate of the University of Illinois.

Interested in social enterprise, during his first year Kim met Nancy Barry (MBA ’75), former president of Women’s World Banking, at an HBS field study event. Barry invited him to spend his winter break in India investigating business solutions to poverty. “One day we were talking to villagers who live on $2 a day, and the next day we were meeting with business and government leaders,” recalls Kim. Last summer he built on this experience working in Delhi with Drishtee, a for-profit company that promotes economic development. Kim focused on developing a sustainable model for delivering health care to rural India. “If you create a profitable solution, it can be scalable,” he explains.

Upon earning his MBA, Kim is committed to helping people in developing countries. He has yet to determine what role he’ll play, a decision complicated by the fact that he and his wife had a baby last summer. Between his studies, his work experiences, and the arrival of his daughter, Kim describes his time at HBS as “phenomenal.” “It has been a great year,” he says with a wide smile.

Class Gift Breaks Record

With donations from 83 percent of the class, the MBA Class of 2007 set a participation record for a graduating class. The class raised almost $55,000, including a $25,000 matching gift from HBS Fund Chair Michael Cronin (MBA '77). “We posted section results in Spangler on a regular basis, and that appealed to our competitive spirit. Section pride really helped motivate people to give,” said Michelle Grzan, who served as cochair of the class gift with Elizabeth Wesson. Sections A, B, and H each reached 100 percent participation.

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