HBS Online Community Challenge, 2025
-Philadelphia Chapter’s Success
Reflect, Act, Inspire
Philadelphia Chapter Organizer, Harvard Business School Online – Moutushi Dey, PhD.
What does this success mean to you?
How did it feel to receive this award from HBS Online?
I’ve been actively volunteering with various non-profits for over a decade and have received awards along the way. While recognition is always meaningful, this award was especially significant because it involved driving organizational change and achieving strategic alignment by harnessing the power of people.
What motivated you the most while developing this initiative?
One quote from Benjamin Franklin motivated me the most: “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning”- Benjamin Franklin
1) What was the core objective of your initiative, and how did it align with HBS Online’s mission of empowering global change?
The core objective of my initiative was to highlight the importance and impact of empathetic leadership, using gamification as a tool in driving meaningful change and fostering a more sustainable world. It aligns perfectly with HBS Online’s mission of empowering global change, as HBS Online has created this global platform to bring learners together, share ideas, and spread knowledge through the network effect.
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2) Can you describe the leadership approach that made your initiative successful? How did you foster collaboration among diverse participants?
My leadership approach combined elements of empathetic and transformational leadership. I focused on creating value by embracing diversity and ensuring that all participants’ perspectives were heard and respected. I believe that effective leadership stems from being a knowledgeable contributor, or a knowledge worker, as described by Peter F Drucker, and I am committed to continuous growth through lifelong learning.
For fostering collaboration among diverse participants, I actively listened to their viewpoints, provided thoughtful feedback, and made sure individuals received credit for their contributions, helping them feel seen, valued, and empowered.
3) What were the biggest challenges your team faced, and how did strong management help overcome them?
When I first introduced the concept of the Sustainability Mental Model, it was not immediately clear to my teammates, and that turned out to be one of the most rewarding aspects of this project. I believe that establishing this model would require raising awareness and engaging those who may not initially see its value. I explained to my team that businesses must create value not just for profit, but also for people and the communities in which they operate. The Sustainability Mental Model offers a framework to help businesses achieve this broader, more inclusive vision.
4) How did this initiative create a measurable impact for the nonprofit partner or the communities they serve?
This initiative has the potential to drive measurable impact for the nonprofit partner by enabling them to engage with a diverse range of industries in a cost-effective manner. It allows them to demonstrate how empowering people can generate tangible value for businesses. By adopting a sustainability-focused mental model, industries can strengthen collaboration across their value chains and with community partners, helping to drive a cultural shift toward more sustainable and inclusive practices.
5) Why do you think that the sustainability mental model is important?
The need for the Sustainability Mental Model is more urgent than ever. The devastating impacts of climate change are unfolding globally, and ignoring them is no longer an option. Businesses that fail to integrate sustainability and proactive risk management into their core strategies risk falling behind, both economically and ethically. Embracing this model isn’t just a choice- it’s a necessity for long-term resilience and relevance.
Innovation & Strategy-Focused Questions:
6) How did your initiative incorporate innovative thinking to solve the nonprofit’s pressing business challenge?
Our initiative was built on three core pillars- Sustainability Mental Model, Branding, and Gamification. Designed as a cost-effective solution, it effectively engages and empowers stakeholders while reinforcing sustainability principles, reshaping mental models, and aligning with the organization’s seven strategic elements. This integrated approach empowers companies to explore new markets and develop innovative growth strategies. Without the integration of the sustainability mental model and strategic alignment, it would have merely been a branding exercise-lacking the depth required to generate lasting value.
7) What strategic frameworks (e.g., SWOT, design thinking) did your team use, and how did they contribute to success?
Our team leveraged a simple, scalable employee-driven brand strategy alongside the Prosci Change Management Framework and the Blue Ocean Strategic Framework. These complementary approaches reinforced one another, creating a cohesive foundation that contributed significantly to the project’s success.
8) How did you ensure that your solutions were scalable and sustainable for long-term impact?
The CARE effect is a simple, scalable, and gamified movement. Its simplicity is a key factor in its scalability, and because it is driven by people, it has the potential to be truly sustainable. The most critical role for leaders is to generate momentum for cultural change and ensure long-term sustainability. Achieving this will depend on several factors, including the leader’s genuine commitment, clarity of vision, and willingness to empower others.
Antonis Tsarmanidis – Patrick Muallane – Moutushi Dey
Team & Collaboration Questions:
9) With participants from around the world, how did you manage cross-cultural and remote teamwork effectively?
I find managing a cross-cultural team both enjoyable and natural. Having been born and raised in India-a nation rooted in the principle of unity in diversity, with each state offering its own unique language and culture-I am a firm believer in multiculturalism. Being multilingual, I’ve always been deeply drawn to different languages and cultural perspectives.
As a leader, I took the initiative to prepare thoroughly, presenting initial ideas to the team, actively listening to their input, and collaboratively selecting the ones that aligned best with CARE’s mission. This proactive approach not only fostered inclusion but also enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of our remote collaboration.
10) Can you share an example of how inclusive leadership played a role in your initiative’s success?
I do not view geographic boundaries as a limitation to creating business value. So, when I met one of the Harvard Business School Online learners from Europe, I immediately invited her to join our Philadelphia team. Embracing the diverse talents of team members coming from different parts of the world, fostering a shared sense of purpose, and celebrating each individual’s unique strengths demonstrated the true impact of inclusive leadership.
11) What is the most effective method you use to inspire your team?
To motivate and inspire my team, I try to lead by example. I try to share my personal efforts in raising awareness about sustainability, particularly how I leveraged the Blue Ocean Strategic Framework to uncover untapped market opportunities for existing solutions-such as selective catalytic reduction filtration systems. I consider myself a diversity champion. For several years of my career, I worked in manufacturing industries where I was often the only woman in my team. I consistently took different initiatives to advocate for and empower other women, which played a key role in driving momentum for cultural change within the organization.
Reflection & Future Impact:
12) What advice would you give to future HBS Online learners participating in the Community Challenge?
Reflect, Act, and Inspire.
Meet the Team
Monika Zvinklyte- Monika is a certified PROSCI change management practitioner and led the change management effort by blending gamification with change management strategy.
”Be inspired to care, create impact, and start your movement today. Simple acts of care for others can give a small boost, which is often all that’s needed to take the first step and begin your big transformation.” – Monika Zvinklyte
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Antonis Tsarmanidis- Antonis is a marketing strategist who believes in harnessing data and creativity to help brand transformation, and helped originate the CARE EFFECT idea.
”From one idea to an award-winning concept, this journey proved that bold thinking and shared purpose can move mountains”. – Antonis Tsarmanidis
Moutushi Dey – Matthew MG – Antonis Tsarmanidis
Last message from Moutushi Dey, PhD:
”The success of this initiative, along with the positive feedback I received, affirmed that people connected with and believed in it- motivating me to continue reflecting, taking action, and inspiring others in my own way.“
