How One Dinner Created 2 Business Case Studies for My Students

We’re building something special this semester, and I am excited for the world to see it.

Hey Fam,

Thanks for stopping by.

Last summer, I met Yudu Gray, the cofounder of 247 Artists, while we were both guest lecturing at a summer program at Berklee College of Music.

After our sessions, we connected over dinner, sharing our passions for music, education, and community. Although we didn’t know exactly how we’d work together at the time, we both felt there was potential for collaboration down the road. A few weeks later, I came across a music business summit on Instagram aimed at Boston youth. Intrigued by the organization behind it, I did some digging and found out it was hosted by Beat the Odds Boston. After learning that we had some mutual connections, I reached out and connected with the cofounder, Gio Lopez. It didn’t take long to realize how aligned we were in our dedication to creativity, youth education, and giving back to the community.

That’s when I began thinking about how both organizations could fit into my Fall Senior Residency program—and from there, the magic started to unfold.

After some thinking, I pitched the idea of having them both be our clients in the Senior Residency program, and they agreed (snaps fingers). It was the perfect opportunity for students to engage with two organizations aligned with their coursework while learning from leaders making an impact in their communities.

You may be wondering what Senior Residency is, so let me explain.

Senior Residency is a capstone course at Emerson College, where students spend the entire academic year working with real-world clients on projects involving strategic marketing, branding, program development, and community engagement. It’s the culmination of everything they’ve learned in the Business of Creative Enterprise program.

The course combines skills like collaboration, aesthetic sensibility, organizational structure, and finance.

Fast-forward to last week. I set up a meet-and-greet for both of my sections of Senior Residency so they could meet with their clients in person before the work began. I wanted to create an intentional space that felt welcoming and creative and encouraged collaboration and connection. We held class in the Co-Lab space at our library instead of the usual classroom.

With food, couches, and open spaces for conversation, the setting was perfect for promoting the kind of networking and comfort that can lead to deeper connections between students and clients.

Let me take a step back and tell you about our clients, Beat the Odds Boston and 24/7 Artists. Beat the Odds is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving under-resourced youth, helping them explore their creativity and heal through music and the arts. 24/7 Artists is a for-profit business focused on building a global community of creative professionals and developing tools to promote innovation and personal growth within the music industry.

Both organizations are led by people of color and are committed to uplifting their communities through creativity.

During the meet-and-greet, our clients shared their journeys, talking openly about their wins, challenges, and lessons learned. Students heard firsthand how these leaders built their organizations, whether it was through team building, navigating financial struggles, or developing sustainable programming. I could see students connecting the dots between what they’ve learned in the classroom and the real-world experiences the clients were describing.

What stood out most to me was the way students began asking deeper questions, questions that showed their curiosity and understanding of what it takes to lead and grow a business.

Students asked about work ethic, how to build and sustain a team, how to raise money, and how to know when to pivot and try something new. They began to see that success requires strategy and resilience and that setbacks are part of the journey. It became clear that the students saw the connections between their projects and the broader world of business and social impact. The clients’ stories gave them a real-world lens to apply their knowledge, and they were excited to learn from those experiences.

The synergy between both classes was another highlight.

While each section works with a different client, I wanted them to share this space to find ways to collaborate and support each other’s projects. Students began to see how a grassroots nonprofit and a for-profit business, though different in structure, shared similar values around creativity, community, and leadership. Having this kind of cross-class connection was exactly what I had hoped for… an environment where collaboration doesn’t happen within one group but across the entire course.

What I want my students to take away from this experience is more than technical skills in business. My hope is that they grow to appreciate creative thinking, collective intelligence, and problem-solving. By working with organizations that aren’t heavily resourced and face systemic barriers, my students are learning empathy and gaining a broader perspective. Our clients are led by people who have had to overcome significant challenges, and I want students to see that leadership looks different depending on where you stand in the world.

I often tell my students that business is rooted in people and how we treat each other, build relationships, and show up for the communities we serve.

Without a strong foundation of trust and empathy, no business can thrive in the long run. Success goes beyond profit or growth; it lies in the positive impact we create for those around us. That’s the mindset I hope they carry forward into their careers. Whether leading a team, building a company, or serving a community, human connection will always be at the center of their work.

Lessons I Learned

1. Whenever possible, create spaces for collaboration.

• Providing a physical and intellectual space that feels welcoming and creative can transform how students engage with each other and clients. Shifting from traditional classrooms to environments encouraging open dialogue helps students make deeper connections.

2. Emphasize the human element in business.

• Show students that success is built on relationships, trust, and empathy. Helping them see the human side of leadership—whether in nonprofits or for-profits—prepares them to lead with compassion and make a positive impact in their future careers.

3. Highlight and amplify diverse leadership models

• Expose students to leaders from diverse communities and organizations that face unique challenges. It helps broaden their worldview and teaches them that leadership can take many forms.

At the end of the day, my job isn’t to make sure they learn the ins and outs of business.

It’s to create an environment where curiosity thrives so that learning can happen. What excites me the most is seeing students connect with each other, learn from diverse business leaders, and grow in ways that push them beyond the boundaries of the classroom. I truly believe we’re on the right track, and I can’t wait to witness the brilliance that comes out of their collaborations.

We’re building something special this semester, and I am excited for the world to see it.

Thanks for your time today. Talk to you soon.

Much Love,

Dr. Jae