Heather Mann

Heather first learned of social entrepreneurship while pursuing psychology doctoral studies at Duke University. Advised by renowned behavioural economist Dan Ariely, Heather led an international research project exploring how socio-cultural factors impact dishonesty. Yet while research questions intrigued Heather, she felt a growing desire to tackle social challenges more directly. Always passionate about education, Heather engaged in strategic consulting for an education foundation, and gained for-profit consulting experience at BEWorks, a boutique consulting firm in Toronto.

Upon learning about social entrepreneurship through Duke’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), Heather was ignited by the idea that business tools could be mobilized for social purposes and actively sought out learning opportunities. After earning her PhD, Heather moved to Vancouver and joined forces with Thijs Mathot as co-founder and Program Director of Brighter Investment. In this role, Heather works to create networks of students, universities, and employers. She is driven by the opportunity to help students change their lives through education. Heather tweets at @HeatherSocEnt