AIM2Flourish, a program of the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at the Weatherhead School of Management - Case Western Reserve University, is the world’s first higher-education curriculum incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals and "Business as an Agent of World Benefit" - our words for positive and profitable business. Using the UN Global Goals as their lens, students research and identify a positive business innovation and interview a business leader about it. Their stories live on the AIM2Flourish.com platform as sources of inspiration for others.
Read more about AIM2Flourish in the Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner Journal article "AIM2Flourish: An Agent of World Benefit" written by Fowler Center Director Megan Buchter. (English| Spanish)
A Professor-Facilitated, Flexible Assignment
The AIM2Flourish team supports educators around the world by providing videos, classroom presentations, monthly newsletters, and other materials.
AIM2Flourish starts in the classroom, when students learn from their professor about the strengths-based Appreciative Inquiry approach developed at the Weatherhead School of Management, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or Global Goals. Then, students leave the classroom to conduct an in-person interview with a business leader, write a story about a positive and profitable business innovation, and publish it on AIM2Flourish.com. As of June 2019, business students worldwide have published more than 2,000 inspiring stories about positive and profitable business innovation.
An Experiential, Transformative Student Experience
Students experience “Do Good, Do Well” leadership first-hand through conversations with business leaders and publishing their innovation stories on AIM2Flourish.com.
Student feedback shows that the AIM2Flourish assignment positively changes students’ mindsets about business’ goal of being the best in the world to being the best for the world. Students report that the AIM2Flourish assignment changes how they feel about their own potential to be positive leaders. In addition, several AIM2Flourish students have received job offers, internships, and even a board position as a direct outcome of their AIM2Flourish experience.
An Annual Prizing Process for Business an an Agent of World Benefit
In 2017, we celebrated the best-of-the-best stories and recognized students, professors, and business leaders with the first annual 2017 Flourish Prizes at the June 2017 Fourth Global Forum for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. We continue to announce and celebrate the Flourish Prizes with a global online celebration every Spring.
The Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at Case Western Reserve University exists to advance the scholarship and practice of flourishing enterprise. It is allied with like-minded initiatives helping all institutions create prosperity while nourishing human and natural systems.
The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University is developing transformational ideas and outstanding leaders for the advancement of business and society. The school is infused with strength-based management principles that encourage students to view Business as an Agent of World Benefit.
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