Professor Helen Winter and Joy Qiao (MDR '25), “Develop Students Who Can Tackle Complex Societal Issues” -- Inspiring Minds, Harvard Business Publishing Education

Professor Helen Winter, in collaboration with alumna and reseach assistant Joy Qiao (MDR '25), have published an article titled “Develop Students Who Can Tackle Complex Societal Issues: Course Design to Foster Problem-Solving and Collaboration Skills,” in Inspiring Minds, a publication by Harvard Business Publishing Education. The article highlights an innovative approach to legal education through the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Social Entrepreneurship course at Pepperdine Caruso Law’s Straus Institute, developed by Professor Winter. 

In presenting the course’s approach, the authors invite educators across disciplines to consider how Winter’s experiential learning model—blending practical skill-building, team collaboration, and real-world application—can be adapted to enhance teaching and impact in their own fields.

The course integrates alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods with social entrepreneurship tools to empower students to create sustainable, justice-oriented ventures addressing real-world social problems. Emphasizing experiential learning, the course engages students in passion-driven team projects, stakeholder interviews, and business planning using frameworks like the Business Model Canvas. With opportunities to present to industry professionals, the course fosters practical skills, collaboration, and long-term impact, preparing students to become adaptable, socially responsible changemakers across disciplines.

 “Develop Students Who Can Tackle Complex Societal Issues: Course Design to Foster Problem-Solving and Collaboration Skills" may be found at Harvard Business Impact