Life and Community Balance in Business Careers
It can be tough to achieve life balance in business careers today. MBA grads, especially those with families, are looking for alternatives that allow them to spend more time with their families yet still take full advantage of their degrees. Some are looking for jobs in finance that don't require 70 hour workweeks, while others are looking to break the stereotype of MBAs as workaholics only chasing a bigger paycheck. Some have even considered starting up their own home based businesses, which allows them more freedom to stay at home with the family.
With the new generation of MBA students, those priorities are definitely changing and business school administrators are taking note of that fact. They see students who care about getting decent pay, but also care about having a balanced life and doing something socially meaningful. Many are simply seeking more balance to save and improve their family lives and marriages as well. Other business students are keen to have more time to engage in community work.
The example of businessman Perry Mandera demonstrates that it is possible to have a successful company but also participate in community work that has touched many lives in the city of Chicago and beyond. He has worked to develop a reputation as a community leader that goes beyond just a business contribution. He has donated large sums to local charities and established his own charitable foundation. He also gets involved with regional service groups as another way of expressing his charitable motivations.
Perry Mandera has donated significant sums to the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, which is a community outreach program for local youth who are suffering from abuse and neglect. He also sits on the board of directors for this organization, and he is a sponsor of the Jesse White Tumblers acrobatic group which contributes to the community entertainment scene. Mandera also actively supports medical charities like the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
As Mr. Mandera's example proves, there are many ways for business to make a meaningful civic contribution. In addition to donations to charity, they can also support a variety of civic activities that contribute to neighborhoods in need of economic development or aid. They can also join local civic organizations that work together to advance the interests of local businesses and the community together.
Companies can also award sponsorships to express their support for certain civic goals, and this is also a good way of raising the company's profile in the local community. For example, a company could establish a sponsorship program to help fund college degrees for underrepresented individuals, while also helping those students to prepare for a career in a specific industry. Finally, companies can enter into partnerships with nonprofits and charitable organizations which help to accomplish the mission of those organizations and build stronger communities in the process.