About
At the University of Notre Dame, the words “powerful means” are rich with significance. In 1842 the University’s founder, Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., envisioned that Notre Dame would “be one of the most powerful means for good in this country.” This same guiding principle is woven into the very fabric of the Mendoza College of Business, founded in 1921 on the belief that commerce can and should be a driving force for advancing civilization.
These timeless values are the core of the Powerful Means Initiative (PMI). They inspire our students, faculty, partners, benefactors and alumni to work together towards real, meaningful change with a sustainable impact.
Our Vision
To create a transformative model for experiential learning that helps students recognize their purpose and use their time and talents in service to others. Grounded in empathy and collaboration, the initiative empowers students to become leaders who design and implement solutions that address the world’s most pressing problems.
What We Do
We go where the design thinking process takes us.
“This opportunity has undeniably left a lasting impact on me... Initiatives of this nature, which integrate business expertise and a commitment to social betterment, exemplify the potential of consulting.”
Vivian K. ('25)
To date, hundreds of Notre Dame students have participated in the Mendoza Innovation and Design Thinking course, working alongside our first partner, St. Bakhita Vocational Training Center—a women's vocational school in an impoverished region in northern Uganda. Together we are striving to (1) ensure the students have the support needed to thrive, (2) working with the school to achieve self-sufficiency and (3) improving the economic prosperity of the region.
This work led to the creation of the Impact Consulting minor. This minor offers a dynamic blend of academic rigor and real-world application, immersing students in multi-semester partnerships applying human-centered design thinking, consulting and business strategy to create, invest and implement solutions to make an impact on the world's most pressing problems. Students engage with project partners over multiple semesters to ensure the sustainability of solutions and to measure and amplify impact.