Scaling Impact: How Consultants Shape the Field

In this month's seminar, co-hosted with the Gradel Institue of Charity, we will be joined by sociologist and non-profit strategist Leah Reisman, and EY sustainability partner and climate strategy advisor, Ben Taylor, to discuss the powerful role consultants play in shaping how organisations think about and do impact, in the non-profit, private and public sectors. Moderated by Professor Marya Besharov, Academic Director of the Skoll Centre, the discussion will reflect on insights from Leah's forthcoming book, How Consultants Shape Non-Profits (November 2024) and Ben's extensive experience delivering sustainability strategies for global organisations. The seminar will discuss consultants' pivotal and complex role in shaping the social impact sector, considering the power advisors wield, the problems that can arise in this relationship, and their potential to shape and scale the impact in the field.

Speakers:

Leah Reisman is a bilingual nonprofit professional and sociologist who spends her time thinking about nonprofit strategy and evaluation, the intersection of art, immigration, and social justice, and how we use organizations to create public good. She received her Ph.D. in sociology from Princeton University in 2020. Her research focuses on nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in the United States and Mexico. For the last decade, she has been working in the nonprofit sector in Philadelphia in philanthropic, cultural, and immigrant-serving organizations. As a crossover sociologist and practitioner, she has experience in both high-level strategy and grassroots community-based work, and a unique combination of rigorous qualitative and quantitative research skills, fieldwide knowledge, and on-the-ground experience in mission-driven organizations.

Ben Taylor is a sustainability partner for EY based in London focused on delivering climate and sustainability strategies for large global organisations. Ben works mainly in the Energy sector with clients helping them with the challenge of the energy transition and delivering on SDG13, but is also experienced in the Telecoms and Technology sectors. Within EY Ben has held several senior leadership roles including global deputy for the 4,000 dedicated climate and sustainability services business, as well as Digital and Innovation leadership roles in the UK. Ben led the build-out of EY’s global thought leadership including a ‘Four Futures’ climate installation for COPs 28, 29 and COP 16, and a method to measure the impact of global organisational cultures. Ben is a member of the Advisory Board for the Responsible Business Institute at the University of Strathclyde and is an advisor to Cambridge Judge Business School's Masters of Accounting programme.

Moderator:

Professor Marya Besharov is Professor of Organisations and Impact and Academic Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. Her research and teaching focus on leadership, social impact, and hybrid organisations. She engages with leaders and organisations worldwide to help them manage competing demands of social impact and financial performance. Marya received a BA in Social Studies, an MA in Sociology, and a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from Harvard University. She also holds an MBA from Stanford University.

*This event will be recorded and photographed.

Please note: the link to access the event online will be emailed to you approximately 24 hours before the event, and on the day of the event.