A Better World Through Business

Emma Bengtson, ‘24 BSB, has a vision to make a difference. Her goal? To launch a nonprofit that offers free access to music lessons, instruments, and resources for young people—a dream she’s nurtured since middle school.

“I’ve always been passionate about the idea of business as a force for good,” said Bengtson. “It’s not just about maximizing shareholder value; it’s about leaving a meaningful impact.”

Turning Passion into Action
 

Bengtson, majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and Public and Nonprofit Management, committed to social impact long before college. In high school, she organized a donation drive for a local nonprofit, the Alexandra House, learning the ins and outs of their operations and community impact. Later, she put those lessons into practice as an HR intern at a nonprofit that supports employment for adults with disabilities.
 

“Nonprofits are usually small, so you see every side of the organization,” she explains. “That’s taught me so much about how things really work—from budgeting to staff management to building community connections.”
 

In MGMT 4001: Social Venturing in Action, Bengtson and her classmates worked with the Page Education Foundation to tackle staff retention issues. They developed a creative, employee-focused development program that redefined job growth within the nonprofit’s constraints in an effort to reduce turnover. “It was amazing to see how our ideas could create real change,” she said.
 

Bengtson translated this experience to making an impact at her internship with Merrick. She saw the same need, and applied those learnings from Page to create a personalized career development curriculum. Then, she led live workshops with staff to help them identify their career goals and plan out their next moves. 
 

“This has definitely been my biggest accomplishment as an intern, and I wouldn’t have gotten here without the experience in Social Venturing,” she said.
 

A Vision to Make an Impact

As a child, Bengtson was inspired by her father, a project manager who always put people first.
 

“I was inspired by his commitment to be an ethical leader with integrity who cares about the people he manages and works with,” she said.
 

Through her coursework and internships, Bengtson has seen how companies can make a positive impact on the communities around them.
 

“I’ve seen firsthand that you can go into business and make a difference,” she said. “It’s not about abandoning the corporate world — it’s about changing the rhetoric around what business can achieve.”
 

This perspective has shaped how Bengtson navigates her coursework in entrepreneurial management. While many of her peers focus on product development, she applies those lessons to service-oriented ventures. She’s honed skills in business plan development, identifying target audiences, and building partnerships—all with her nonprofit dream in mind.
 

Balancing Vision and Reality
 

After graduation, Bengtson will join General Mills as a sales associate, where she’s already built connections through an internship. The company’s strong focus on community initiatives and employee-driven philanthropy makes it a natural fit.
 

“They’re supportive of social impact work, from donation matching to highlighting employee initiatives,” Bengtson says. “It’s the perfect place to build my network and financial foundation.”

Within the next five years, Bengtson hopes to start offering music lessons as a stepping stone to establishing a permanent space. “It’s all about building credibility, resources, and a team,” she said. Her long-term vision includes creating a physical community space where young people can access instruments and connect with others in a welcoming, supportive environment.
 

Changing the Narrative
 

For Bengtson, the Public and Nonprofit Management co-major has been transformative. She’s learned not only the mechanics of running a nonprofit but also challenged misconceptions about the field.
 

“One of the biggest myths is that nonprofits can’t be financially sustainable or pay their staff well,” she said. “Investing in people and infrastructure is just as important as the mission itself.”

She’s also drawn inspiration from courses like Social Venturing, where students explored how to integrate ethics and social missions into corporate frameworks. “It’s proof that you can do good in for-profit spaces,” she said.
 

Bengtson encourages students to approach social impact with an open mind. “You don’t have to work in a nonprofit after graduation,” she said. “You can apply these lessons to any sector and still make an impact. It’s about having a clear sense of your values and how you want to contribute.”