©2019 The William Davidson Institute 5 OUR IMPACT In surveys following each cohort, the students reported that their social entrepreneurship skills—the ability to define a problem, create a solution, develop a business model and take action—increased significantly after participating in the program. Similarly, the students said their global perspective and ability to work productively with people of differing cultural backgrounds also grew. And more than half of the respondents said they would use what they learned in the program to start a social enterprise in the future. Participants also found the overall team experience to be extremely positive, and credited the teamwork with providing them with motivation, excitement for entrepreneurship, lifelong friends and connections, self-confidence and empowerment. And the vast majority of participants reported that they felt strongly that diversity amongst team members enriched their work together. Aseel Saad of Egypt said her recent acceptance into a leadership program in the United Kingdom “wouldn’t have happened without the M²GATE program.” She said M²GATE helped her discover talents she didn’t know she had, including video editing and leadership. “M²GATE was a turning point,” Aseel said. “It let me understand my potential and discover my hidden skills.” Saad also has launched a social enterprise, TripleT, that offers one-on-one, internet- based foreign language training that is flexible and affordable. The promotional site features two animated videos Saad produced using her M²GATE skills. (Left) Two U-M students talk with their MENA-based teammates using videochat software. (Right) Students in Tunisia attend the opening session of cohort 2. OUR IMPACT