The Golub Capital Social Impact Lab hosted its second Annual Lecture this spring, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in creating a more impactful social sector. The conversation featured Carmita Semaan, founder and CEO of the Surge Institute, and Tyeise Huntley, director of the Golub Capital Social Impact Lab at Chicago Booth’s Rustandy Center.
Golub Capital, the namesake and sponsor of the Golub Capital Lab and lectures, aims to make nonprofits more effective by providing individualized resources, funding for internal capacity-building projects, connections to unlock social capital, technical assistance, and leadership development opportunities.
At the lecture, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members heard from Semaan, whose mission is to educate and develop leaders of color who create transformative change for young people, their families, and the broader community.
Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Semaan noted that her formative years affirmed who she was and helped drive her professional journey. “You have the skills to drive real impact,” Semaan stated, “and knowing who you are makes you powerful and uniquely qualified.” She also encouraged audience members to reflect on their skill sets and draw from them, reinforcing the idea that each person has what they need to succeed.
As Semaan recognized that every individual has a role to play, she reminded the audience that “we need each other. That is the key to generating positive impact in whatever sector we find ourselves in.” This prompted Huntley to ask Semaan how individuals could identify the ways that they need each other, and how to apply these lessons to their daily lives.
Semaan emphasized the importance of strengthening ties across boundaries. “I would challenge you to build connections with people that you don’t agree with all the time,” she said. “I’m constantly learning from people with lived experience and people who are fearless and don’t know any better.” The speaker encouraged audience members to foster authentic relationships with those connections, as “you never know when it may be of use.”
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