The Harvard Business School opening invocation was given by Mashpee Wampanoag Community Development Corporation President and citizen, Mark Harding

This past May, the Mashpee Wampanoag Community Development Corporations President Mark Harding was invited to attend the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities Program: A Harvard Business School Executive Education program developed for NAFOA, AFOA, and NCAI. This is a program for leaders, executive officers, senior administrators, and senior financial managers of tribal nations and Native organizations serving the needs of tribal communities and Native people.

Developed under the guidance of HBS Executive Education, the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities Program is the only program of its kind in the United States. The program brings together HBS Executive Education faculty and guest speakers from Indian Country who are experts in investing in economies and communities. As part of a customized cohort, you will have the opportunity to engage in interactive and participatory sessions with other participants from tribal nations and Native organizations from across Indian Country. At the program's conclusion, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Business School.

The main components of the program featured the following:

Investment Governance – Participants will better understand investments and good governance practices over investments.
Finance – Participants will build a framework and develop a better understanding of the valuation of potential investments, specifically pre-revenue start-ups.
Negotiations – Participants will enhance their negotiating skills and develop negotiation strategies at an individual and team level.
Change Management – Participants will develop effective strategies for leading through change at both an organizational and community level.