Today's activists don't typically cruise the nation in old vans and grungy bell-bottom pants - the millennial crowd is instead opting to change the "system" from the inside. You can find passionate young adults in nearly every career path - MBA graduates included. This generation is faced with unique and significant issues, and they have responded by flocking to forward looking organizations and companies. But, what about a forward looking school? Is there a place for an alternative business school?
In San Francisco, the Presidio Graduate School has been catering to a unique group of business students who want to make a positive impact on the future. The 150 student campus was founded in 2003 and touts itself as a progressive alternative to mainstream business schools. In response to a recent Bloomberg Businessweek Student Survey, nearly 80 percent of the participating business students said they strongly agree that they feel inspired to pursue an ethical future.
Presidio not only offers a specialized MBA in Sustainable Management, but they also provide a laid-back atmosphere for innovation and idea exchange. After the 2008 financial crisis and various scandals on Wall Street, MBA students are increasingly drawn to ethical programs.
It is becoming increasingly common to judge how progressive a business school is based on its student body demographics. Presidio sets the standard high: 56 percent of its students are female, and roughly 90 percent of all students go on to work within sustainability roles after graduation.
In August 2015, the White House asked the country's top business schools for a commitment to increase pro-diversity efforts. Unfortunately, the nationwide statistics are not as encouraging as Presidio's. Out of 9,000 MBA graduates, only 29 percent are female. A meager 15 percent of the surveyed business students belonged to a minority ethnicity. Presidio Graduate School sets an excellent example for schools looking to increase diversity on their campus.
While Presidio is one of the nation's most progressive business schools, their financial future is uncertain. Small class sizes, combined with a modest tuition, result in an impaired cash flow. They charge less than half of what their competitors do, and have cut other corners to avoid losing sight of their vision.
All of the buildings on campus are rented, and a majority of the learning that goes on is done remotely. The average business student at Presidio will only attend a physical class a handful of times per month. Other frills, such as banquets and fancy events, are nowhere to be found at Presidio. Since approximately 80 percent of their students are local to the Bay Area, the school hopes that their enrollment will increase as their brand gains momentum.
Even though graduating from Presidio means an MBA student will likely earn $40K less than their peers per year, that has not stopped the business school from drawing in new students. Ensuring our global and national sustainability is an important task. As long as there is a demand for progressive MBA programs, schools like Presidio are sure to keep popping up.