Student Activities

Students at the GSM are involved in a wide variety of extracurricular activities that advance socially and environmentally business:

The Business of Health Care Reform Panel 

Join other alumni, current students and GSM business partners on November 10^th for a lively (and civil!) discussion about the health reform proposals now before Congress.  Expert panelists will address the economic issues underlying the reforms and the business challenges and/or opportunities that they present.

The scheduled panelists are:

The event will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, starting with refreshments in the grand foyer of the GSM’s new home at Gallagher Hall.

Please send a message to to register for the event, including your name in the body of the message. 

Big Bang! Business Plan Competition 

As a Land Grant University with a 100-year history of creating science that matters, the students in Big Bang! bring solutions to improve the human condition.  Big Bang! is the annual UC Davis business plan competition organized by MBA students at the GSM. The goal is to promote entrepreneurship at UC Davis and within the surrounding region by bringing together business, science and engineering students —who often develop real-science socially responsible solutions. Big Bang! provides year-long training and education that culminates in a three-phase competition at the end of the school year. It also coordinates education, networking, and mentorship events to facilitate team creation and plan development. Due to the prevalence of UCD departments targeting environmental and social concerns, plans often carry a related focus – such as medical technology, biotechnology, clean energy, and foods to health and wellness.

Challenge for Charity 

This business school organization, the largest of its kind in the world, hosts an annual competition that draws on the talents, energy, and philanthropic efforts of MBA students from top eight West Coast business schools. Money raised by the Graduate School of Management supports Special Olympics Northern California and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento while infusing our business leaders with a lifelong commitment to community involvement and social responsibility. The competition is based on three criteria: volunteerism, fundraising and a C4C weekend of sports and games.

Community Consulting Group 

The Community Consulting Group (CCG) harnesses the intellect, skills and initiative of students at the Graduate School of Management, while aiding non-profits in solving crucial operations and management issues. MBA candidates and non-profits form a “win-win” partnership in which students have the opportunity to apply their MBA skills to real world projects, and organizations gain valuable insights and expertise. CCG has built on UC Davis' tradition of outreach and community service thanks to the multi-faceted talents of its consultants and the guidance of a dedicated group of faculty and staff advisors. Our mission is to provide practical business solutions for non-profits and organizations with community-oriented projects and to give MBA students the opportunity to apply learned skills to real-world situations.

Finance Club 

The Finance Club is dedicated to extending the GSM finance curriculum beyond the classroom, specifically with the Financial Literacy Program (FLP) to educate youth on matters of basic practical finance. A curriculum was developed and piloted in the spring of 2008. The idea behind the FLP is that GSM students will go into local public schools and teach the curriculum (e.g. take over a math class for a day). The Finance Club manages the program by developing relationships with local schools, recruiting teaching volunteers, reviewing the curriculum with GSM volunteer teachers, and scheduling the trainings to take place.

Net Impact 

Davis Net Impact is an MBA student organization dedicated to creating a network of leaders who use the power of business to create a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. Founded in 1999, the chapter is one of the most active in the country and has been honored by Net Impact Central as the  2006 Small School Chapter of the Year, the 2007 Trailblazer Chapter of the Year.  Among other activities, the club hosts seminars as part of its Green Bag Lunch series, organizes company site visits, and offers students the opportunity to become board members for local nonprofits.

Women in Leadership 

The mission of Women in Leadership (WiL) is to serve the Graduate School of Management and the greater Davis community through professional and social activities geared toward the development of future women business leaders.  In addition to hosting speaker panels, mentoring and networking opportunities designed to bridge the gender gap in business, WiL sponsors an annual clothing drive to benefit local women’s opportunity organizations.