Transformative Purposeful Business Fellows program established

The College of Business' Purposeful Business Initiative has launched fellows program to provide a semester-long deep dive into the college’s five values.

Janel Shoun-Smith  |  11/29/2024

As part of the College of Business' Purposeful Business Initiative (PBI) launched in 2023, the Purposeful Business Fellows program was established in the fall of 2023, providing a semester-long deep dive into the college’s five values and how to incorporate them into a successful career and business enterprise.

The fellows program goes beyond typical academic offerings to address the holistic development of students and to help them find purpose and meaning in their chosen field.

The first group of 15 went through the voluntary seven-seminar series fall 2023, with one seminar devoted to each of the five values–Purposeful, Bold, Credible, Creative, Serving. Each in-person seminar features guest speakers and is paired with homework thoughtfully crafted to help students create a meaningful foundation for their future business careers, said Donita Brown, assistant professor of management and lead faculty for the PBI.

Content from Brown’s podcast, The Management Minute, as well as strengths-based coaching was incorporated into this fall’s sessions. Students, faculty and guests from local industries served as guest speakers.

Upon completion, students earn the Purposeful Business Fellows digital badge from Credly, a web platform that issues and verifies digital badges for learning, training, and certification providers.

“The Purposeful Business Fellows program has emerged as a transformative experience for students seeking to align their academic and professional pursuits with core values and virtues,” said Beth Mangrum (BA ‘93, MAC/LIFE ‘22), alumni fund and event director and co-director of the fellows program. “This opt-in program has already touched the lives of nearly 50 students, offering them a unique opportunity to build a strong foundation in their early college years that will serve as a compass throughout their academic journey and beyond.”

 

At its core, the Purposeful Business Fellows program aims to root students in the values and virtues, serving as a wellspring of strength and guidance when students face challenges later in their college careers or professional lives. By participating in this program, students are developing a moral and ethical framework that will inform their decision-making and leadership style in the business world.

Students are encouraged to view their future careers not just as means of financial success, but as opportunities for meaningful contribution to society and personal fulfillment, said Mangrum. Faculty mentors Brown and Mangrum serve as academic guides and as role models, demonstrating how faith and professional excellence can coexist and reinforce each other.

By opting in, students bring a genuine interest in personal and professional growth, which creates a community of like-minded individuals who support and inspire each other throughout the semester.

“Being a Purposeful Business Fellow changed my life, learning from Mrs. Mangrum and Dr. Brown helped me find comfort in Christ," said one student in the first Purposeful Business Fellows cohort. "Before I came to Lipscomb, I was lost, and I did not know how to connect with God. After hearing about the virtues and values of the College of Business, I was able to find my mission and connect with God in a way I thought was impossible.

“A year later, I am a devoted Christian who loves God above all things. I have a clear image of what I want my life to look like, and that is something I could have never been able to achieve without the help of Dr. Brown and Mrs. Mangrum. I found God, I found faith and especially, I have found happiness that can only come from finding Jesus Christ."

Recognizing the importance of character formation alongside academic instruction, the College of Business is preparing students not just for careers, but for life.