Situation

The College faced a common institutional challenge with significant financial pressure:

The Challenge:

• Recently invested in purchasing and remodeling prime downtown Boston building across from Boston Commons
• Substantial investment created financial pressure for revenue generation
• During summer months (June-August), valuable real estate sat largely unused while regular students were away
• Meanwhile, Boston's summer brought influx of international students and interns seeking affordable housing in expensive city
• Untapped opportunity: Connect unused dormitory space with European students needing summer accommodations

Action

As employee in Office of Off-Campus Housing, identified opportunity and developed comprehensive solution based on proven experience managing similar programs at
another college:

Phase 1: Research & Proposal Development
•Conducted market research to understand demand from European students and agencies
• Developed comprehensive business case demonstrating revenue potential and operational feasibility

Phase 2: Securing Institutional Buy-In
• Created detailed presentation for Director of Off-Campus Housing, who championed proposal to Vice President of Operations
• Emphasized both financial benefits and community impact to secure approval

Phase 3: Building Partnerships
• Contacted local agencies specializing in international student placements
• Established relationships that became foundation of referral network

Phase 4: Operational Setup
• Designed systems for reservation management and booking processes
• Created student check-in procedures utilizing existing work-study employees
• Established pricing structures for single and shared room options
• Implemented quality control and guest experience management protocols

Result

Quantitative Outcomes:
• $100,000 monthly revenue during three-month summer period
• 300% profit increase compared to previous years (verified by independent accountant analysis)
• Significant contribution to college's endowment and building investment recovery
• Housed dozens of European students throughout summer months

ROI Impact:

• Transformed dormant asset into substantial revenue generator during typically slow period
• One-person operation (with supervisor support) created efficient, low-overhead model
• Program's remarkable profitability initially triggered formal financial investigation, which concluded success resulted from innovative, efficient operation

Qualitative Impact:

• Created cultural exchange opportunities between international and local students
• Generated employment for student work-study participants during typically slow summer months
• Enhanced Boston's appeal as international education destination
• Sustainability: Program continued operating long after initial setup, eventually adopted permanently by another department

Key Insight:
Project demonstrated value of purpose-driven innovation serving multiple stakeholders simultaneously—college's financial needs, students' housing challenges, and city's tourism goals—creating shared value through strategic thinking.

Company details have been generalized to protect organizational confidentiality while preserving strategic insights and measurable outcomes of these transformation initiatives.