Business education is only as valuable as its real-world impact. That’s why Harvard Business School Online’s Community Challenge tackles real, global problems in a rapidly changing world.

HBS Online annually gathers learners from around the world to tackle a pressing business issue facing a nonprofit. This is more than an academic exercise; it’s an opportunity for professionals to apply their skills, think strategically, and create solutions that make an impact.

This year, HBS Online is partnering with CARE, a global humanitarian organization, to explore an increasingly relevant issue: How can non-profits engage corporate employees in social impact, especially when in-person volunteering isn’t an option? The “Challenge” focuses on developing innovative, scalable ways to boost engagement, fundraising and corporate buy-in — without adding extra strain on limited non-profit resources.

With past Community Challenges addressing topics from food insecurity to climate change, this initiative is a powerful example of experiential learning in action. It’s proofed that business education should extend beyond the in-person or virtual classroom — it belongs in the real world, solving real problems.

The Power of Experiential Learning in Business Education

Experiential learning bridges the gap between theory and practice by allowing professionals to step beyond the classroom and apply their knowledge to real-world cultural challenges.

“Experiential learning simulates conditions students will face in the corporate world, where they will be in ambiguous and uncertain situations and must produce tangible deliverables,” says professors Eileen Weisenbach Keller from Northern Kentucky University and Rashmi Jain from Montclair State University for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Preparing students to make informed decisions with imperfect information is at the crux of Harvard Business School’s signature case method, which centers on putting knowledge into action. Learners immerse themselves in real scenarios business leaders have faced and are asked to consider how they’d approach the situation.

HBS Online incorporates that real-world learning method into its online courses. Each program features interactive exercises and social learning opportunities to accelerate and reinforce learners’ knowledge. Initiatives like the Community Challenge help take that actionality one step further by enabling professionals to work in teams and apply what they’ve learned to solving critical business challenges.

How the Community Challenge Works

As an online learning provider, it’s important to create opportunities that extend beyond the screen. We established the HBS Online Community to help our online learners connect offline in regions worldwide through “Chapters.” From there, we asked: How can we give our community purpose and help other communities in need?

HBS Online annually identifies a nonprofit to collaborate with based on causes our learners share caring about. From there, we work with the nonprofit to identify a business challenge they’re facing and HBS Online Chapters from around the world meet in teams to develop innovative, cost-effective and actionable solutions. With a global network of learners spanning diverse industries and regions, the Challenge harnesses various perspectives to drive meaningful impact.

The non-profit reviews the proposals and selects a group of finalists to pitch live at HBS Online’s annual learner conference, Connext, where the winning idea is chosen by a panel of judges comprised of HBS senior leadership and a member of the nonprofit’s executive team.

This initiative empowers learners to put their HBS Online coursework into action by applying key business concepts to a real-world, high-stakes problem. By collaborating with peers worldwide, analyzing complex challenges, and presenting solutions to industry professionals, participants deepen their strategic thinking, leadership and problem-solving skills — while making a tangible impact.

Partnering with CARE to Expand Corporate Employee Engagement

For the 2025 Community Challenge, HBS Online is partnering with CARE, a global humanitarian organization working in over 120 countries to fight poverty, advance social justice and empower women and girls. CARE has long collaborated with corporate partners to advance its mission but wants to reimagine and expand its corporate employee engagement offerings to create a larger, more sustainable impact.

Madden DeGarmo Manion, executive director of corporate partnerships at CARE, speaks to the value of this initiative, stating, “CARE is one of the most dynamic and interesting organizations that really drives impact at scale around the world, making a difference in the lives of millions of people. By participating in this Community Challenge, HBS Online learners have a chance to help us continue to evolve and revolutionize how we’re engaging employees and companies in the work CARE is doing.”

CARE currently engages employees primarily through webinars and town halls. However, the organization wants to develop a broader, more scalable approach that fosters deeper corporate buy-in —especially in regions where traditional, in-person volunteering isn’t feasible. This year’s Challenge aims to help CARE increase fundraising and employee participation in U.S.-based companies through creative, cost-effective engagement strategies.

HBS Online learners will be tasked with designing an actionable plan that outlines innovative ways to:

• Strengthen corporate buy-in by motivating employees to actively participate in CARE’s mission.
• Develop new engagement models beyond webinars — such as gamification, global challenges, or virtual cross-cultural collaborations.
• Scale and sustain employee involvement across different geographies with minimal resources.

Winning proposals must be innovative, impactful, realistic and cost-effective, ensuring CARE can successfully implement the strategies within its existing infrastructure.

The Challenge’s Real-World Impact

The Community Challenge has a track record of driving tangible impact for nonprofit organizations. Over the past six years, HBS Online learners have applied their strategic thinking and skills to solve pressing challenges for mission-driven organizations like Oxfam, United Planet and the Greater Boston Food Bank. Their ideas have helped these nonprofits scale operations, improved engagement strategies and maximize their impact.

The HBS Online Community’s Tokyo Chapter, led by Emi Shitara, won the 2021 Community Challenge for their comprehensive strategy to improve the reach and scale of the nonprofit’s Virtual Exchange Program. Their 93-page proposal outlined market research, technology recommendations and a multi-year strategic plan to establish partnerships in Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, China and India. Their work led to new connections with the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Shitara has continued working with United Planet and sits on its International Board of Advisors. Inspired by the Tokyo Chapter’s insights, United Planet has begun implementing elements of their proposal, taking significant steps toward expanding its programs in Asia.