More MPE with Professor Ray Horton and Sandi Wright

In this episode of More MPE, hosts Ray Horton and Sandi Wright speak with Lindsay Kruse ’06, CEO of All Means All, an organization dedicated to transforming education to be more inclusive.   Kruse shares her inspiring journey from management consulting to becoming a passionate advocate for equitable education, especially for students with disabilities and other marginalized groups.   Kruse discusses how her personal experience as a parent of children with learning differences became a catalyst for founding All Means All. She explains the organization's unique approach, which focuses on working with school and system leaders to create inclusive educational environments.   Throughout the conversation, Kruse highlights the importance of data-driven impact and details how All Means All has helped schools improve academic outcomes for marginalized students and reduce disciplinary disproportionality. Kruse also discusses the organization's growth trajectory, aiming to create a tipping point where inclusive education becomes the norm rather than the exception.   The interview delves into All Means All's funding model, which combines earned revenue from tuition with philanthropic support. Kruse explains the benefits of their fiscal sponsorship arrangement and offers valuable insights for aspiring social entrepreneurs. She emphasizes the importance of building something worthy of scale before expanding and the value of learning from other entrepreneurs in the field.   Kruse concludes with inspiring advice for the next generation of social entrepreneurs, encouraging them to pursue this challenging yet rewarding path. She highlights the unique opportunities provided by Columbia Business School and New York City for those interested in social enterprise, emphasizing the importance of following one's passion and taking advantage of networking opportunities.   We are delighted to announce that Lindsay Kruse ’06 will accept the 2025 Social Enterprise Leadership Award at the Tamer Institute’s Annual Awards Breakfast in April. More details can be found on the event website [https://www.columbiasocialenterprise.org/awardsbreakfast/]. Mentioned in this Episode   * Lindsay Kruse ’06 Thanks for listening!   Subscribe to More MPE wherever you get your podcasts. Visit morempe.com [http://morempe.com/], or drop us a line at socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu [socaboutialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu].   More MPE is co-hosted by Sandi Wright and produced by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]. Special thanks to executive producer Hannah Slow and student producers Sofia Martins '26 and Dominica Wambold '26.   Learn more [https://business.columbia.edu/socialenterprise/morempe]

In this episode of More MPE, hosts Ray Horton and Sandi Wright speak with Phoebe Boyer ’93, president and CEO of Children’s Aid — one of the oldest and largest of New York City’s nonprofit social welfare agencies.    Before joining Children’s Aid a decade ago, she spent 15 years in the foundation world giving money to nonprofits.   The way the foundation experience prepared Boyer for running a complicated organization is one of the topics discussed in the episode. She also discusses how her family and religion steered her toward a career in social enterprise; how misapplying some things she learned in Business School helped precipitate a crisis in her leadership of Children’s Aid; why she wanted to rebrand a highly successful social welfare agency and how she overcame the opposition; and finally, Boyer voices her concerns about the possible effects of the Trump presidency on the work of Children’s Aid.     Mentioned in this Episode   * Phoebe Boyer ’93 Thanks for listening!   Subscribe to More MPE wherever you get your podcasts. Visit morempe.com [http://morempe.com], or drop us a line at socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu [socaboutialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu].   More MPE is co-hosted by Sandi Wright and produced by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]. Special thanks to executive producer Hannah Slow and student producers Sofia Martins '26 and Dominica Wambold '26.   Learn more [https://business.columbia.edu/socialenterprise/morempe]

In this episode of More MPE, hosts Ray Horton and Sandi Wright speak with Kesha Cash ’10, founder and general partner of Impact America Fund.   Cash's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazer in impact investing is a testament to her resilience and vision. She was the first in her immediate family to attend a four-year college and her experiences growing up in a low-income household — witnessing the challenges faced by small business owners — shaped her perspective on economic disparities.   After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in applied mathematics, Cash worked on Wall Street as an M&A analyst. However, her desire to make a broader impact led her to pivot towards helping small businesses in underserved communities. This experience revealed the need for more substantial support and resources for these entrepreneurs, prompting Cash to pursue an MBA at Columbia Business School.   During her time at Columbia, Cash co-founded Jalia Ventures, focusing on mission-driven entrepreneurs of color. This laid the foundation for her to launch Impact America Fund in 2013. The fund invests in companies that create positive impact for low and moderate-income Americans, aiming to prove that it's possible to generate strong financial returns while doing good for communities.   Cash's investment approach is exemplified by Care Academy, a portfolio company that provides education and training for home care workers. This investment addresses the critical shortage of home care workers while aiming to improve their economic mobility and dignity. Cash's strategy involves identifying opportunities that combine financial potential with meaningful social impact.   Throughout her career, Cash has benefited from and emphasized the importance of mentorship. She attributes much of her success to the guidance and support she received from various mentors at crucial junctures in her journey. Now, she actively mentors others, particularly those interested in impact investing and social enterprise.   For aspiring social entrepreneurs, Cash advises ensuring personal financial stability before pursuing impact-focused work. She encourages focusing on one or two passionate areas rather than trying to solve all problems at once. Cash also emphasizes the importance of building and engaging with like-minded communities and balancing profit-making with social impact in a dual-mission approach.   Mentioned in this Episode * Kesha Cash ’10   Thanks for listening!   Subscribe to More MPE wherever you get your podcasts. Visit morempe.com [http://morempe.com/], or drop us a line at socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu [socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu].   More MPE is co-hosted by Sandi Wright and produced by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]. Special thanks to executive producer Hannah Slow and student producers Sofia Martins '26 and Dominica Wambold '26.   Learn more [https://business.columbia.edu/socialenterprise/morempe]

In this episode of More MPE, hosts Ray Horton and Sandi Wright speak with Rohit “Rit” Aggarwala ’00, the chief climate officer and commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of the City of New York, a position he has held since being recruited in 2022 to the administration of Mayor Eric Adams.    The hat Aggarwala wears as commissioner of DEP puts him in charge of a major municipal agency, one with nearly 6,000 employees, a $1.5 billion operating budget, and a capital budget of $3.2 billion — and a long history. It performs three functions that are essential to the health of New Yorkers: supplying clean drinking water; collecting and treating wastewater; and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution.    The hat Aggarwala wears as chief climate officer no doubt brings an urgency to the department’s longstanding programs given his belief that New York City’s environment faces a “climate crisis.”   Aggarwala is a rare holder of three Columbia University degrees — a BA, an MBA, and a PhD — plus for 12 years and running an adjunct professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, where he teaches a popular course titled The Politics and Policy of Urban Sustainability.    Aggarwala discusses a series of issues with Horton and Wright in this conversation: the impact of his Columbia degrees on his career; whether different skills are required to perform leadership roles in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors; the importance of networking in his career; and finally, an issue that has largely escaped consideration in the literature of management — should you stay or leave when your boss is in hot water? Mentioned in this Episode   * Rohit “Rit” Aggarwala ’00 Thanks for listening!   Subscribe to More MPE wherever you get your podcasts. Visit morempe.com [http://morempe.com/], or drop us a line at socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu [socaboutialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu].   More MPE is co-hosted by Sandi Wright and produced by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]. Special thanks to executive producer Hannah Slow and student producers Sofia Martins '26 and Dominica Wambold '26.   Learn more [https://business.columbia.edu/socialenterprise/morempe]

Over the last three decades, thousands of Columbia Business School students have taken part in the elective course, Modern Political Economy. Last year, we took this institution outside of the classroom with More MPE, where host Professor Ray Horton and Columbia Business School faculty casually discussed some of the most current and controversial issues that affect business, government, and society.   This season, Ray and his colleague at the Tamer Institute, Sandi Wright, are going outside the building to have conversations with CBS alumni who have pursued extraordinary careers in fields ranging from social services to impact investing to the circular economy, and so much more. These inspiring leaders of social enterprises are making a profound impact in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors not just in New York City, but across the country and around the globe.   Throughout the series, you're invited to submit questions that will become part of an in-person Q&A to wrap up the season with Ray and Sandi. More info can be found on: www.morempe.com [http://www.morempe.com/]