Harvard Business School (HBS) has received a $5 million gift from Josh Harris, M.B.A. ’90, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Harris Philanthropies, and his wife Marjorie to establish the Harris Family Fund for Sports Management and Alternative Investments.
This gift augments the Josh Harris Endowment for Sports Management, created in 2015. The mission of the Harris Family Fund for Sports Management and Alternative Investments is to promote the diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented individuals in these fields, while simultaneously advancing research. The fund will achieve this goal through the creation of programming and financial support for students who are passionate about pursuing related positions.
“We know that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to the long-term viability of every organization. This is not just a social or moral imperative, but increasingly an economic imperative, too. The firms and industries that make this a central part of their strategy will be better positioned to thrive.” said HBS Dean Srikant Datar. “This generous gift from Josh and Marjorie will remove barriers for our students and spur research among our faculty, creating exciting new opportunities.”
Both sports management and alternative investments are business areas close to Josh’s heart and pivotal to his career. Under his leadership, Apollo Global Management became the second-largest alternatives and largest alternative credit manager. In the sports industry, he is not only the Founder and Managing General Partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), but Managing Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, General Partner of the Crystal Palace Football Club in the Premier League, and a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Harris Family Fund for Sports Management and Alternative Investments will support academic initiatives including faculty research, case writing, and curriculum development. The fund will also help convene the greater Harvard community through events featuring some of the University’s foremost experts on the topics.
“Attending Harvard Business School had an immeasurable impact on my career, and I am thrilled to give back to an institution that provided me so many incredible opportunities,” said Josh Harris. “This fund will go towards supporting students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing careers in either Alternative Investments or Sports Management – two industries that are close to my heart but that urgently need to include more voices from more communities. Marjorie and I are proud to partner with HBS to advance research in these fields, promote inclusion and support the next generation of industry leaders.”
A barrier to entry in these fields can sometimes be post-graduation compensation. As such, the fund will help establish fellowship programs providing salary supplements to encourage MBA students and recent graduates to realize their career visions without feeling limited by salaries, in addition to scholarships for Executive Education or HBS Online participants interested in these sectors.
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