Our Non-Profit Fellowship is a quintessentially Oliver Wyman program, enabling consultants to take time off from their consulting careers to make a dedicated personal contribution to a non-profit organization.
Since 2001, we've sponsored over 100 Oliver Wyman Non-Profit Fellows around the world and we have ongoing relationships with organization like Charles Darwin Foundation, the Clinton Foundation, Endeavor, Kiva.org, Teach for India, and Wyman Worldwide Health Partners. Some of our fellows chose to work in the field in a developing country while others to provide much-needed strategic support at a non-profit's headquarters. Our Fellows report similar results: immeasurable personal growth, new professional skills, and an unforgettable experience.
Participants in the Oliver Wyman Non-Profit Fellowship Program have worked at or served as field volunteers for organizations below:
Alex
Joined Oliver Wyman: 2008
Based in our New York office, Alex took a four-month Non-Profit Fellowship to work on the CCHIPs (Comprehensive Community Health Initiatives and Programs ) project team for Wyman Worldwide Health Partners in Rwanda, helping to develop a model for transforming rural healthcare in developing countries. Photo by Alex Fischer, alexfischerphoto.com Lesson Learned
"To operate successfully, an NGO needs to court the trust of a multitude of officials and always make sure that proper deference and respect are shown in its statements and publications. As a result, "wordsmithing" documents for public consumption becomes a painstaking and arduous process that, I will admit, feels frustrating at times. The CCHIPs team members explained that this focus on deference arises out of people's fear for their jobs and Rwandan society generally being rather hierarchical with a strong emphasis on respecting one's superiors. I am obviously not in the position to argue that one system is better than the other, and I would never attempt to, but it does make me appreciate how exceptional an opportunity I have back in the States to sit in meetings with high-ranking executives and be encouraged to speak my mind."
"I had been warned that my exact role will likely evolve over time, but my first objective was to improve the cost structure and staff utilization at the health centers. It's a virtuous circle: The more efficiently the health centers can deliver care, the more sustainable they become, and the more money can be invested in improving the facilities and providing health care."
Good to Know
When attempting to "pack light" for a river-rafting trip on the Nile in Uganda, it probably isn't the best strategy to conserve weight by packing flips flops as your only pair of shoes. Chances are your flip-flops will break as you are walking across the border from Uganda to Rwanda at 4:30 am.
Ying
Joined Oliver Wyman: 2008
Ying took part in a Non-Profit Fellowship in Amman, Jordan, working with Women's World Banking, the only microfinance network with an explicit focus on women. Its network of 39 financial organizations in 27 countries provides small loans, to people to start their businesses. Photo Courtesy of Al Amana/Women's World Banking Lesson Learned
Microinsurance, like any commercial product, needs to be actively promoted and sold. While insurance can be a hard sell anywhere, it is even more difficult to pitch to low-income individuals who may have never heard of the concept. Because many microfinance borrowers are illiterate or unaccustomed to reading, marketing materials should be highly visual. To illustrate the benefits of a homeowner's insurance policy, organizations have developed colorful comics, staged community events, puppet shows, street performances, and concerts, all to help people understand the concept behind microinsurance. The main goal is to connect with the audience in the most accessible ways possible and use tailored examples to define an intangible product in concrete terms.
"The Middle East is an underserved market with few mature microfinance institutions. Political conflict and the lack of infrastructure in remote regions have made it hard for institutions to reach many potential borrowers. Additionally, the oppression of women in the Middle East contributes to making them one of the poorest demographics in the world. But provided with economic assets, many of these women could potentially gain financial independence by developing and leading businesses that help sustain their families as well as the local economy."
Good To Know
The magnificent and surprisingly well-preserved architectural ruins of the city of Petra are absolutely stunning. Built over 2,000 years ago as the capital of the ancient Nabatean civilization, Petra was eventually conquered and ruled by the Romans. Perhaps best known to foreigners as the site where "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was filmed, Petra is one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" and should top your list of places to go (~3-hour drive from Amman). Just bring lots of water, some sturdy cleats, and a map (although Beduoin guides are also available for hire).
PARTICIPANTS IN THE OLIVER WYMAN NON-PROFIT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: United Way, Endeavor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Charles Darwin Foundation, Junior Achievement, Kiva, Urban Prep Academies, Nature Conservancy, Seeds Of Peace, Boston Childrens Hospital, Teach For India, Womens World Banking, Oxfam India, Technoserve, Wyman Worldwide Health Partners, Center For Effective Philanthrop, Clinton Foundation, Acumenfund
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