At BGI, we strive to create business for good, as well as producing graduates that are confident and prepared to enter 21^st century business. In today’s changing world, business is no longer something that is separated from social media and online activity. Small businesses that used to rely on word-of-mouth and brick-and-mortar location now strive toward online visibility, using websites, Facebook and Twitter to push their brand into new markets. Our DLM Social Web for Social Change class, taught by Christopher Allen – blogger, author and web entrepreneur, helps students gain skills in social web applications, as well as inspire positive social change.

In the DLM Social Web for Social Change class, students focus on the latest social online tools, such as blogging, social networking, video and online collaboration to create social change. Students also learn not only how to gain skill sets in Web 2.0, but how to manage their time online effectively, allowing them to have more time off-line for their customers, friends and family, emphasizing BGI’s goal of work-life balance.

More than a social media class, or a marketing through social media class, the Social Web for Social Change class inspires students to use their skills to create impact. BGI students are expected to graduate and become change agents, and one of the most powerful tools for change today are through the use of social media and social networks (together what is called the social web). Students in the first part of the course learn about the social web, but the second part focuses on social change, and the students we practice their change agent skills through a social change project.

Past students have said that they re-use habits and skills learned from the class on a daily basis in their personal and professional lives. See what some students from Cohort 7 are saying, a year after taking Social Web for Social Change from Christopher Allen:

“Frankly, my confidence with social media has allowed me to be relevant…which is critical to both my personal survival, as well as my ability to effect change.” – Bonnie Wallace

[After taking this class], I have helped two companies work on their social media plan. I have also done some analysis of Facebook and Twitter to drive business, then overlaid with site analytics to measure success of the media push.” – Tomas Amodio

“People STILL talk about the impact of the Personal Branding exercise you did with our class. It really gave a lot of us a whole lot to think about in terms of what we think of our own identity vs. how others see us. Very powerful stuff.” – Carol Schreitmueller

In addition to learning practical and theoretical groundwork in social networking, personal branding and virtual teamwork, the class strives to include guest speakers who have used the social web to affect positive social change. This year the class has many guests coming to interact with BGI students, including Markos Zuniga, editor of the political blog DailyKOS.com as well as Nancy White, international practitioner and author on building and maintaining online communities.

The class collaborates with other BGI classes, and works towards creating synergies between the Social Web and other MBA coursework such as management and marketing.