At its core, the Powerful Means Initiative (PMI) is grounded in impact, collaborative innovation and transformation. Katie Wiggin, an 2026 MBA candidate at the University of Notre Dame, is a living example of what those values look like in action.
Katie became involved with the Powerful Means Initiative after traveling to Saint Bakhita Vocational Training Center in Uganda as part of her graduate coursework. During her Business on the Frontlines immersion, Katie worked alongside her classmates and Edward J. Huether Associate Teaching Professor of International Business, Kelly Rubey to create a self-sustaining computer lab business model for the school while conducting in-depth interviews and ethnographic research to better understand the region. What stayed with Katie most was the resilience and positive mindset of the community, which sparked a desire to contribute further to mission-driven work and education. “Travelling to Uganda - specifically spending time at St. Bakhita - was one of those rare experiences that just rearranges your internal compass. Being in community with students who were navigating so much with so little made me hyper-aware of how powerful intentional connection and education can be. I walked away feeling this deep responsibility to not just feel moved, but to actually do something with that feeling.”
This desire to continue working with mission-driven individuals like those at St. Bakhita ultimately led Katie to become a teaching assistant for Professor Rubey’s undergraduate Applied Impact Consulting course, the capstone class of the Impact Consulting minor. “It felt like a tangible way to keep showing up for mission-driven work and to stay close to the parts of business that feel human, relational and genuinely transformative.” As a TA, Katie has continued her work with St. Bakhita while also serving as a mentor and role model for undergraduates interested in impact-driven careers. “It’s helped me grow into a more patient, grounded version of myself, because you can’t support people well without slowing down and actually listening. The most rewarding part is seeing students have those little ‘unlock’ moments - when something clicks, or they feel seen, or they gain confidence.” Through this work, Katie has gained skills in empathy, compassion and leadership, and has learned the importance of presence over perfection, understanding that not having all the answers is okay, and that questions and curiosity are often the best route towards true growth and understanding. She believes that working as a TA has helped her stay connected to the community she fell in love with in Uganda and continue working as a force for good!
Drawing on her accounting background and professional experience, Katie has complemented her technical business knowledge with lived experiences at St. Bakhita and in the classroom, preparing her to approach problems in the corporate world in a uniquely empathetic way. She has learned the importance of human-centered work, rather than just numbers and statistics, and now seeks out impact in everything she does. “After Uganda, everything I learned in class became tied to faces, stories and lived realities. It reframed business as a vehicle - one that can either widen or close gaps. It made me more critical, more curious and honestly more hopeful that business can be designed responsibly.” St. Bakhita also reshaped how Katie understands mission-driven work itself. Rather than viewing impact through a lens of heroism or a “savior complex,” she came to see it as partnership, work rooted in dignity and sustained commitment. The experience grounded her, while also sharpening her sense of purpose. It taught her that resilience looks different across cultures, and that hope can exist even in the most challenging circumstances.
As Katie continues her education and transitions into her full-time role at PwC within the deals consulting practice, she plans to seek out work that combines strategy and impact, allowing her to exercise her analytical skills while approaching every project with intention and purpose. “I want to keep spaces around me inclusive, supportive, and empowering, no matter what I’m doing.” For Katie, traveling to Uganda and serving as an Applied Impact Consulting TA was just the beginning of her commitment to impact-driven work and the Powerful Means Initiative. “I want to stay involved as much as possible - whether as a mentor, guest speaker, or behind-the-scenes supporter - because I believe in the ripple effect of these programs. And beyond PMI, I want to build a career grounded in using business as a force for good: choosing organizations that value people, advocating for ethical decisions, and making sure impact isn’t an afterthought. The goal is to carry the spirit of St. Bakhita with me, wherever I land - even in M&A, I hope to shape outcomes that matter for both clients and communities.”