Graduate Student Programs

The Power of Access: Impact Lending to Underserved Communities (FIN 579)

Do you want to gain valuable career skills?  Expand your professional network through a unique opportunity for firsthand experience in financial consulting! Apply to our MBA Lending Course this winter, The Power of Access: Impact Lending to Underserved Communities (FIN 579 E/F)!

Class Purpose: Engage our MBA students in working with small BIPOC businesses to gain access to business loans. Teams of students will perform financial assessments, risk analyses, and forecasts and create loan packages for these businesses to submit to The Commerce Bank of Washington for approval. In addition to helping businesses secure debt financing, MBA students will learn how systemic bias can play into the gaps in access to capital.

What You’ll Learn:

• Conduct comprehensive financial assessments.
• Perform risk analyses and financial forecasts.
• Create a tailored loan document for BIPOC businesses.
• Collaborate with business owners to project their financing needs.
• Understand and address systemic biases in access to capital.
• Expand your professional network within the industry.

Course Highlights:

• Gain hands-on experience in financial consulting.
• Work in teams to develop a unique loan document.
• Submit loan document to The Commerce Bank for approval.
• Collaborate with BIPOC businesses to bridge the gap in access to capital.
• NO FINAL TEST

Course Details:

• Class Title: The Power of Access: Impact Lending to Underserved Communities (FIN 579 E/F)
• Duration: Winter Quarter 2024
• Instructor: Michelle Purnell-Hepburn
• Location: PCAR 393
• Credits: 4 (Practical Experience Credit) 

For More Information:

If you’re excited about making a real impact and want to learn more about this course, contact Kennedy Cockrel, Assistant Director of the Consulting & Business Development Center at the UW Foster School of Business, at [email protected].

Apply Here

Ascend

Ascend will help businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color by growing 400 businesses above $1M in annual revenue, 75 grow beyond $5M, and 25 businesses beyond $10M.

Ascend MBA Fellowship

Eager to gain hands-on experience while making an impact? This opportunity will allow you to apply your classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, collaborate with industry experts, and make a tangible impact. If you’re ready to elevate your consulting skills and grow your professional network, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Ascend Fellows will work with Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) owned businesses during the 2024-2025 academic year. Each MBA Ascend Fellow will work with 1 company and complete a consulting project during Winter Quarter 2025

As an MBA Ascend Fellow, you can receive a stipend of $1,500 per project or earn practical experience credit (2 credits, will pay up to $1500).

Who is this for?

• Evening MBA (may opt for credit)
• Hybrid MBA
• Full-time MBA (may opt for credit)

What You’ll Gain from This Opportunity

• Collaborate with C-suite leaders to develop and implement solutions for operations, financial management, supply chain, technology, and marketing challenges. This experience will enhance your strategic and analytical skills, helping SEDI-owned businesses achieve measurable improvements. You’ll also be paired with experienced business entrepreneurs who support these businesses.
• Gain hands-on experience by analyzing issues, interviewing staff, formulating recommendations, or implementing leading practice solutions.
• Apply a ‘business first lens’ to address functional and industry topics, shaping strategic agendas, driving enterprise transformations, and delivering innovative solutions to clients. Embrace the challenge of tackling a variety of business, technological, and organizational issues.
• Develop your ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team setting.

At the End of the Program You Will

• Receive Critical Constructive Feedback
• Students will receive comprehensive feedback on their work, providing valuable insights into their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Complete an Oral Presentation + Submit Deliverables.
• Students must conduct an oral presentation summarizing their work and any deliverables completed through their project with business stakeholders and the CBDC Director.

Qualifications

• A critical thinker, tech-savvy innovator, entrepreneur, and purpose-driven leader who thrives in ambiguity and enjoys working in a team environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and professionalism with co-workers and customers.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, spelling, grammatical and proofreading abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, Outlook) and other presentation/ analysis tools.
• Able to meet deadlines.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship, now or at any time.
• Program can be done remotely, with in-person events on campus.

Application Timeline and Notification Dates
September 25: Application Opens

October 8: Info Session

October 22nd : Info Session

October 23rd: Info Session

November 1: Applications closed

November 4: Applicants notified of invitation for interview

November 5-9: Interviews

November 12: Fellows Selected and Notified

December 4: Ascend Fellows Welcome

Apply
Fill out the application with your basic contact information, submit a resume and cover letter, and address your relevant experience.

Application

Contact
Mayte Manzo
[email protected]