CSR & Community Growth Fellow

Organization Overview

"The essence of a person is the ensemble of their social relations." Guided by this core philosophy, WhoBe is an early-stage technology platform designed to support individuals in building and maintaining meaningful professional connections. Although operating in the private sector, WhoBe is deeply committed to the public good. We believe that technology companies have a fundamental responsibility to drive positive societal change and address systemic inequities in access to social capital.

By voluntarily directing our platform's resources toward public interest goals, we seek to reduce information asymmetry, democratize access to mentorship, and promote inclusive participation in professional networks—ensuring that opportunities are accessible not just to the privileged, but to all underserved or under-networked populations. This role is central to helping us operationalize these corporate social responsibilities into tangible public benefits.

Position Summary

This role focuses on integrating CSR principles into a technology platform’s growth strategy, with an emphasis on promoting equitable access to professional networks. The fellow will design and test social impact-driven initiatives that lower barriers to connection-building, especially for underserved or under-networked populations (e.g., international students, first-generation students).

The role combines user research, community engagement, and impact-oriented program design, while exploring how early-stage companies can embed CSR into their core operations.

Key Responsibilities

• CSR & Equity-Focused User Research: Conduct qualitative research to understand barriers to accessing professional networks. Identify structural and behavioral challenges (e.g., lack of confidence, limited exposure, information gaps). Analyze disparities across different user groups.
• Social Impact Program Design: Design and implement pilot programs that promote inclusive access (e.g., guided networking challenges, structured connection-building activities). Develop low-cost, scalable interventions aligned with CSR goals.
• Community Engagement & Inclusive Content Development: Create content that democratizes access to networking knowledge. Highlight user stories that reflect increased access, confidence, and opportunity. Support outreach to underrepresented or underserved student communities.
• Impact Measurement & CSR Evaluation: Track key indicators related to access and participation. Evaluate effectiveness of CSR-oriented interventions. Translate findings into insights for scaling inclusive and responsible growth strategies.

Learning Objectives

• Gain experience in applying CSR principles within a startup/technology context
• Develop skills in social impact design, user-centered research, and community-based interventions
• Understand how platform-based innovation can address issues of equity, access, and opportunity distribution
• Explore how early-stage companies can balance growth with social responsibility

Requirements

The ideal candidate is currently enrolled in a graduate program in public administration, public policy, social impact, or a related field, and demonstrates a strong interest in issues related to equity, access to opportunity, and inclusive development. The candidate should be interested in exploring how technology platforms can contribute to public good and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Strong critical thinking and analytical skills are important, including the ability to conduct basic qualitative research and synthesize insights. The role requires effective written and verbal communication skills.

The candidate should be self-motivated, comfortable working in an early-stage, exploratory environment, and willing to take initiative in designing and testing small-scale, impact-oriented projects. Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills are also important. Familiarity with content platforms, basic data tracking, or community engagement is helpful but not required.