Undergraduate Students Present Business Solutions to D.C.-Based Martha’s Table

As part of the First Year Seminar, a course that fosters intellectual growth and critical skills among first-year business students, McDonough undergraduates collaborated with Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Martha’s Table to develop strategic business solutions to their challenge: enhancing the organization’s data collection systems.

Founded in 1980, Martha’s Table’s mission is to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities in D.C. by increasing access to high-quality education, health and wellness programs, healthy food, and essential family resources. Over the past five years, the organization has expanded its work and, in turn, developed an organization-wide dashboard to track progress and measure the impact of programs and investments. 

Martha’s Table asked McDonough students to propose innovative solutions to enhance the organization’s data collection systems, creating a streamlined and efficient process to enable more effective data analysis and informed decision-making. Representatives from Martha’s Table presented the project to the students and also served as judges during the “Final Four Competition,” selecting the student group that provided the best recommendations. 

Martin Karadimov (B’28), Max McCavitt (B’28), Iris Wen (B’28), Yasemin Yircali (B’28), and Ella Yu (B’28) were named this year’s winners. They presented a tailored tech solution for the nonprofit with specific software recommendations and a plan to track the effectiveness of the systems while ensuring the solution was as cost-effective as possible. 

“Partnering with McDonough students offered a valuable opportunity to gain fresh perspectives from the next generation of changemakers,” said Mireille Lopez Humes (EML’15), vice president and chief of staff of Martha’s Table. “Their passion for social impact and the analytical problem-solving skills honed at Georgetown were an ideal match for the challenges we face in effectively measuring the impact of our programs. We hope this collaboration can spark creative solutions and new approaches to serve our community more effectively.”

This year, a team of consultants from Deloitte – all Georgetown alumni – worked with students to provide skills development and mentorship as they prepared their presentations. 

“It has been especially rewarding to support Hoyas whose shoes I was in just a few years ago,” said Joanne Stirrup (C’23), a government and public service consulting analyst at Deloitte who served as the liaison between the firm and students. “While Deloitte was not engaged to support the organization, knowing the students were working with Martha’s Table has been particularly gratifying, given the important work they do in the D.C. community. Providing mentorship for the First Year Seminar students has also allowed me to deepen my connection with the Georgetown community, both on campus and at Deloitte.”

The team at Martha’s Table hopes students gained insight into the practical challenges and strategic thinking involved in creating meaningful change. 

“Our experience with the Georgetown students has been overwhelmingly positive,” Lopez Humes said. “They’ve brought energy, creativity, and a thoughtful approach to their work with us. Their contributions will help us explore new ideas and potential improvements in our data collection and analysis. This partnership has given us a fresh perspective on how we can measure, communicate, and amplify our impact, which is invaluable.”

As an alumna of McDonough’s Executive Master’s in Leadership program, Lopez Humes felt the collaboration with undergraduate students was especially meaningful.

“Working with Georgetown students reminded me of the principles and skills I learned in the program, which emphasized ethical leadership and a commitment to impactful change,” Lopez Humes said. “Seeing those same values come to life through the students’ work with Martha’s Table was incredibly rewarding. It truly feels like a full-circle moment, reinforcing the power of community, collaboration, and leadership to make a meaningful difference.”

The partnership between McDonough students and Martha’s Table embodies Georgetown’s values-based approach to business rooted in the university’s Jesuit tradition, particularly cura personalis – or care for the whole person – and a commitment to service for the greater good. Through the Social Impact Consulting Projects, students not only develop their business acumen but also engage in work that seeks to create a positive impact on the local community. 

“Our first-year students had the opportunity to see what social justice in action looks like, as Martha’s Table aligns with our Jesuit values,” said Robert Bies, professor of management and academic director of the First Year Seminar program. “In working on this Social Impact Consulting Project Challenge, our students are helping Martha’s Table in its mission and its positive impact on the people of Washington, D.C.”

Learn more about the First Year Seminar and Social Impact Consulting Projects offered through the Undergraduate Program.