NESsT Entrepreneur-in-Residence (June - September 2004, Santiago)

Business School: University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

NESsTER Project: Assist with resource development strategy for NESsT

“While in business school, I often struggled to find the balance between “doing well” and “doing good”. Business leaders have tremendous potential to improve the quality of life for communities around the world, but very rarely are those topics the focus of an MBA education. I feel very privileged to have an opportunity to work with NESsT, one of the few organizations that is able to bridge the gap between social responsibility and business. NESsT, through their NESsT Entrepreneur-in-Residence (NESsTER) program, is providing a much needed perspective on social entrepreneurship and enabling us to apply our skills to improve the sustainability and impact of non-profit organizations.”

-- Stephanie Ropp

Background: Stephanie Ropp is joining NESsT as an entrepreneur-in-residence in August 2004, after completing her MBA at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Prior to business school, Stephanie worked for five years with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. She held roles in manufacturing, research & development, sales, and marketing before taking a job as the global product manager for food grade products. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a Master’s degree in engineering management from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio.

At the University of Chicago, Stephanie studied international business, economics, and marketing. After a summer internship with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals where she worked on Hepatitis C drug development and marketing, she became more interested in the health and economic issues of emerging markets. Stephanie spent a term studying economics and development at the London School of Economics. In London, she volunteered with Engineers Against Poverty, a UK-based NGO which focuses on improving the corporate social responsibility activities of engineering services companies and supports public-private partnerships involved in engineering initiatives in developing countries.

After her internship with NESsT, Stephanie will be joining Booz Allen Hamilton as an Associate Consultant.

Contact: sropp@gsb.uchicago.edu