CESR Community Connections

Colorado is on Track to Becoming the Nation’s Climate Tech Hub

Coco Goldman — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 18:11:08 +0000

Colorado is on Track to Becoming the Nation’s Climate Tech Hub Coco Goldman Fri, 10/04/2024 - 12:11

Katherine Ratledge

In late September it felt like the world descended on New York City. In some ways it did—the UN General Assembly was in town for their annual meeting. But there were also more than 6,000 people in town to participate in Climate Week, an annual gathering of investors, innovators, NGOs, academics, and politicians tackling the climate crisis.

Because it’s New York, and because there was $1.3 trillion invested in the climate economy last year, Climate Week felt more Wall Street than Greenpeace. The DOE’s Loan Program Office shared that for every public dollar spent on the energy transition there were $5-6 dollars put in by the private sector. Professors from NYU and Columbia discussed innovations in the financial markets to derisk the energy transition and first of a kind (FOAK) investments. Top executives from the beauty industry considered the merits of aluminum versus plastic packaging. Deloitte hosted a two-hour workshop on the integrity of carbon markets. And new technologies with promising results were being discussed everywhere. Lines for some tech demos were like getting into the hottest club in Manhattan. The climate tech excitement was palpable.

Climate tech, an amorphous term, usually refers to any technology that mitigates greenhouse gases or helps society adapt to a changing climate. Think electric vehicles, renewable energy, and low carbon materials. However, climate tech can also refer to efficiencies in mining, the digitization of buildings, regenerative agriculture, and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). It is a massive sector with a growing influence in the marketplace. Almost all Fortune 500 companies have investments in climate tech and estimates suggest it will be a nearly $9 trillion economy by 2030.

Is Colorado Ground Zero for Climate Tech?

It’s common to think climate tech is synonymous with the Bay Area, however, Colorado is rapidly becoming a new hot spot. There are more than 80 climate tech start-ups with headquarters in the Front Range. Denver-based Koloma, a natural hydrogen company, just raised a quarter billion dollars in its Series A. Electra, a green steel company, is building its first pilot plant in Boulder. Another Colorado company, Solid Power, was just awarded $50 million from the DOE to expand its development of solid-state batteries for EVs.

Why Colorado? One investor dubbed the Front Range the ‘Goldilocks’ of clean tech-- not too built out or too expensive, and with just the right amount of talent, funding, and government support. Colorado has a unique set of amenities that makes the state attractive to founders and investors. Home to 24 federally funded scientific labs, like NOAA, NREL and NCAR, and major research institutions like ��Ƶ, CSU and Colorado School of Mines, Colorado is a ‘hub of climate research and technical expertise.’ Its traditional strengths in aerospace research and the pharmaceutical industry give it an additional competitive edge.

With so much research happening, there are plenty of opportunities to commercialize big ideas. ��Ƶ, for example, is among the top five universities for startup creation. Co-founders Greg Reiker and Caroline Alden are examples of this ecosystem at work. Their company, LongPath Technologies, came from quantum technology developed in a ��Ƶ lab and is now playing a crucial role in monitoring methane emissions around the state. Another startup, Prometheus Materials, producer of low carbon cement, licensed IP from ��Ƶ’s biotech and engineering departments. Eat Meati, a mushroom based meat, was originally developed by Tyler Huggins and Justin Whiteley as PhD students at ��Ƶ. Capitalizing on this momentum, Venture Partners launched the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator program in 2023 to pair university technologies with seasoned entrepreneurs.

(Interested in learning more? CESR is hosting LongPath Technologies on October 15th with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Register here.)

Additionally, Colorado has a suite of policies in place to support climate companies. Colorado has been at the forefront of energy efficiency and clean energy for some time, approving a renewable energy portfolio standard back in 2004 and being an early adopter of PACE (property assessed clean energy), an innovative program that helped expand rooftop solar. Money from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is speeding things along, as well. Vestas, the wind turbine manufacturer, invested $40 million to expand their operations in Brighton and Windsor. Colorado is using money from the IRA to meet emission goals in the state’s Climate Action Plan, through initiatives in transportation, land use and regulation of the oil and gas industry. The state was recently designated a Quantum Tech Hub by the Biden-Harris administration and received $41 million to strengthen its quantum computing capacities. Finally, NSF awarded $160 million to fund the Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine, which will support the development of new technologies for drought and wildfire resilience.

Finding a Shared Vision

In some ways, what’s happening in climate tech could not be more exciting. There is definitely a revolution to remake and reorder the world to respond to climate change. When I started working in climate nearly 20 years ago, the community was mostly made up of NGOs, government partners, educators, journalists and scientists. But now the business community is involved, and the rooms are full of accountants, financiers, analysts, strategists, entrepreneurs, and it's great! We need all of these people and more.

And yet the excitement is masking some hard truths. To start, we are not meeting our climate goals. The world has warmed 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the Industrial Revolution and though the results are not yet apocalyptic, they are certainly getting there. Last week, Hurricane Helene became a category 4 storm overnight dumping 40 trillion gallons of water across the Southeast and killing nearly 200 people. In 2023, the United States had 28 weather disasters costing a billion or more in damage. (For context, there were three such disasters in 1980.) I heard little at Climate Week about adaptation—in other words how can we not just mitigate greenhouse gases but also build resilience to withstand the impacts of climate change? Should we have a massive government program like the Civilian Conservation Corps to shore up defenses against extreme heat or sea level rise? Do we need new financial tools to help homeowners move away from climate danger zones? Can we create better building materials to withstand heat, wildfire and floods? Weather disasters are leaving communities with crippling consequences, and we need a massive infusion of talent and capital to solve these problems now.

Second, we need to be honest about how the digitization of everything is actually going to affect the planet (and people). Data centers are gobbling up farmland, using millions of gallons of water daily and generating an energy crisis in America. In Virginia, which is already the data center capital of the world, big Tech has proposed 180 million square feet of data centers—the equivalent of 1,000 new Walmart Super Centers. The IEA predicts artificial intelligence will double data center electricity use in the next few years. It caught my attention at Climate Week when developers were touting CCS as an offset to the data center emissions issue. Emissions are just a small fraction of the environmental impact of AI and yet enthusiasts seem to always cite clean energy as a panacea to the industry's problems. What if instead of seeing climate goals as an emissions math problem we took a more comprehensive look at environmental impact? What then would 'net zero’ look like?

Lastly, and most importantly, nature needs a spot at the table. Discussions of biodiversity and the millions of other species on Earth were eerily absent from Climate Week. In all the hustle and bustle and techno excitement few people mentioned the reason all this matters — the necessity of ecosystem services for survival and a general awe at the power of nature. In fact, it was a conversation between Jane Goodall, the famed primatologist, and Craig Foster, the director of My Octopus Teacher, that brought a room full of business leaders to a grounding halt. Craig showed a video of an octopus stealing his camera and filming him, the 1001st species in the kelp forest. Jane performed a ‘hello’ in chimpanzee and talked about the first time David Greybeard, her beloved primate friend, touched her hand. And then they both waxed poetic about how Mother Nature needs a spot at the Board Room table, leaving much of the audience in tears.

Accomplishing the insurmountable is a favorite pastime of the human race. The Pyramids? The Manhattan Project? The Moon Landing? These are all moments in history that happened due to extraordinary orchestration, precision, technical prowess, money, leadership . . . all things we have in multitudes if only we have a shared vision. I have my fair share of anxieties about the planet, but I am a climate optimist. I am a strong believer in the power of collective action and in the role of business to create meaningful change. Here at the Leeds School of Business we have the opportunity to lead and train our business students to be a part of the solution. I am hopeful we can do just that.

Want to be a part of the solution? Check out CESR’s programs and the SRE certificate for undergraduates in business.

Katherine Ratledge is the Program Manager at CESR and attended Climate Week in NYC earlier this month. She manages the Clean Energy Pathway for MBAs and the SRE certificate program for undergrads at Leeds.

Traditional

White

Jamie Gardner (Bus ’95): The Value of Diverse Career Experiences

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:12:01 +0000

Jamie Gardner (Bus ’95): The Value of Diverse Career Experiences Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/19/2024 - 13:12

Jacob Gorovoy

In an insightful discussion with Jamie Gardner (Bus ’95), CESR Advisory Board member and current Head of Strategic Programs with Google, she dives into her elaborate career journey, offers valuable advice for students seeking careers in sustainability, and her desire for more people to share their sustainability stories.

A Collection of Crucial Experiences

Gardner would describe her career path as “very non-linear." After graduating from the Leeds School of Business, she explored a variety of career options including interning for the Rocky Flats with the Economic Development and Community Relations team for the Department of Energy, working at a PR firm in Los Angeles, and returning to Colorado where she found a sweet spot working at JD Edwards, an enterprise software company in Denver in their public sector practice. However, despite enjoying the many perks of working in the business field as a young professional, the opportunity to “travel the world,” “great pay,” and “performance reward trips,” Gardner felt the desire to do more good in the world.

“At the time, they [business and making beneficial societal change] were two very separate things," she states. "You either did business or nonprofit work, but the two did not meet.”

Therefore, to follow her passion for enacting sustainable impact, she attended grad school at Georgetown where she studied public policy. During her time at Georgetown, she worked for the Children’s Defense Fund, and the Senate Subcommittee for Children and Families, among other fascinating aspects of the social impact sector. Ultimately, she was enticed back into the tech industry to build a public sector practice at IBM.

"Businesses exist with the consent of society. Businesses thrive when they are addressing their customers' needs. CESR helps business leaders understand that broader context."

-says Jamie Gardner

Unfortunately, that never happened. Gardner ended up traveling again, servicing Fortune 100 companies all over the world. While she was successful and constantly learning, once again she was challenged to choose if she wanted to be in business or create social change. Her husband encouraged her to “go do the work you love,” prompting her transition over to the nonprofit sector. She found a new calling, bridging the divide between business and nonprofits at the Taproot Foundation, in their California office, and eventually launched her own management consulting business where she advised and facilitated "business, nonprofits, government, academia, philanthropy in addressing social problems together."

During Covid, like so many other families, she and her husband decided to move their children back to Colorado to be close to her family. Instead of scaling her consulting business, Gardner decided the time had come to go back into business now that it was possible to fill her need to also have a positive impact on society. Grateful for the many relationships that made it possible, she accepted a role as Head of Strategic Programs at Google, a company that aligned with her values for giving back, partnering with government and nonprofits, and influencing billions of people around the world.

Creating Sustainability Leaders with CESR

Gardner’s vast experiences throughout her professional life are what motivated her to volunteer for the CESR Advisory Board.

“We need people within business who understand social impact so that we can make better decisions that positively impact our communities,” she explains.

CESR helps train business leaders to better understand and articulate how their business is impacting the world: its employees, customers, local communities, and globally. Gardner is passionate about CESR’s mission of educating and forming effective and sustainability-minded business leaders.

“CESR is a fantastic mechanism for leaders to learn how to influence social impact without leaving their private sector jobs,” she says.

When asked about the trends emerging in sustainability and social responsibility in a business setting, Gardner explains that “without the proper training like what CESR offers, businesses will continue to cause ‘intended or unintended harm’. We are at a point where businesses cannot simply ignore societal concerns. It’s unrealistic to think that business is just about creating profit. Businesses exist with the consent of society. Businesses thrive when they are addressing their customers' needs. CESR helps business leaders understand that broader context.”

"You do not have to be in a sustainability-specific role to make positive change. In finance, operations, marketing, etc. positions, you have influence and can drive impact by the decisions you make every day."

-says Jamie Gardner

Advice for Prospective Professionals

As for advice for prospective sustainability-minded professionals, Gardner stresses the value of relationships.

“Get out there and talk to people," she says. "That’s critical. You really don’t know what an organization is like until you’re inside of it."

Gardner additionally emphasizes the importance of viewing any business position from a sustainability perspective.

“As we are experiencing right now, sustainability, DEI, CSR roles, can be quick to cut when times are hard," she says. "So it can be hard to get those limited roles and when you do, you are constantly having to prove the ROI of it. You do not have to be in a sustainability-specific role to make positive change. In finance, operations, marketing, etc. positions, you have influence and can drive impact by the decisions you make every day.”

Gardner’s work and involvement with CESR have not only guided her in the realm of sustainability but also have inspired others to approach their careers with a different lens, one that stresses creating a positive impact in whatever position they may hold. Gardner advocates for more people to share their stories and experiences with the sustainability community, such as her own, to better see “what's working and what's not working." While the work of a few individuals may have an immense impact, sharing our stories will further help bring sustainability to the forefront in a business setting.

“No one person can do it alone," she says. "We can go much further together."

To learn more about some of the other CESR Advisory Board Members, visit CESR's previous blog posts about board members Tonie Hansen, Dr. Glyne A. Griffith II, and Diane Solinger.

Traditional

White

Navigating the Path to ESG and Sustainability: Insights from Tonie Hansen

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:19:38 +0000

Navigating the Path to ESG and Sustainability: Insights from Tonie Hansen Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/05/2023 - 15:19

Aaron Vadakkan

Tonie Hansen is an ESG leader and started building the ESG department at NVIDIA in 2006. She built their corporate responsibility functions from the ground up and worked on their strategic relationships and brand reputation. She originally went to NVIDIA to build its charitable foundation, and also spent 15 years before that in several different marketing roles. She currently serves as an advisor on the CESR Advisory Board, and is spearheading the ESG Bootcamp on October 12th. Tonie spoke with CESR recently about her many roles and the upcoming ESG Bootcamp that she has been working on planning.

Hear from Tonie and other experts at CESR's ESG and Sustainability Bootcamp

When: Thursday, Oct. 12th from 11-2 p.m.

Where: C4C Flatirons Room

Who: Seats are still available for degree-seeking Leeds students. Unfortunately, no more seats are available for community members or non-Leeds students.

On her career path and experience in ESG and Sustainability.

Tonie switched her career path three times during the course of her entire career. She started by studying Business Management at the University of New Haven. After working in Marketing for several years, she decided to get her MBA and later became interested in strategic corporate giving. Hansen began working as a Senior Manager of CSR at the NVIDIA Foundation, which she grew into a role building the ESG department at NVIDIA.

On getting involved with CESR and serving as a CESR Advisory Board member

After mentioning to her friend Diane Solinger, current chair of the CESR Advisory Board, that she is interested in learning about and interacting with the next cohort of sustainability professionals, Tonie was introduced to CESR. She decided to join the board in order to work with youth who are passionate about making an impact. Looking toward the future, she is excited to work on the next step beyond cutting carbon emissions, which is replenishing the ecosystem and focusing on biodiversity.

On the ESG & Sustainability Bootcamp, what students will get out of attending and why the topics we’re covering are important

“The purpose of the ESG & Sustainability Bootcamp is to help students understand what their career options are if they are passionate about sustainable business and to connect them with some of the people doing the work,” Tonie says. “For example, students should understand that the ‘Head of ESG’ role is an amazing one, but not the only way to make an impact.”

She also hopes to teach students how to apply the skills that they have developed over their education or work careers to change the culture at the organizations they will work for.

The bootcamp will begin with an introduction to ESG values and why they are important by Mike Leeds, and then Tonie will go into what ESG (focusing on the E and the S for the sake of time) careers exist in each area. See the full agenda here.

On the key challenges and opportunities in the ESG & Sustainability space

Tonie breaks her response to this question down into two parts, the macro and the micro sides. On a bigger picture scale, biodiversity is a huge opportunity for students interested in ESG and Sustainability. Today, companies are doing only what they need to do by government standards. How do we incentivize and encourage them to go above and beyond to do the ecosystem repair work that is required? The main challenge with this is that it is very expensive. On a micro level, regulations are becoming a way of life for many companies. These companies will need to pay people to do the work necessary to gather data and ensure regulations are met.

Advice for students seeking careers in ESG

"The opportunity that presents itself now is to figure out how you want to make your impact in ESG," Tonie says. "How do you want to spend your time? There are a lot of different ways to make change, and students should explore and figure out which one is right for them. Some of the most important skills students will need include change management, program management, and strong communication skills with executives."

Discover sustainability and ESG careers, build your network, and develop career-relevant skills through CESR events. Learn more about the ESG Bootcamp and all we have to offer on the CESR Events Page.

Traditional

White

Tips to Start Your Sustainable Business Career Search

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 16:03:03 +0000

Tips to Start Your Sustainable Business Career Search Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 08/27/2023 - 10:03

Sena Kavi

Starting your career search can feel overwhelming, especially if you are planning on pursuing a career in sustainability. Having reliable resources can help you find confidence as you search for the best opportunity for you as a future business professional. These steps can be essential in helping you get started in your sustainable career search.

Think ��Ƶ What You Want from Your Career
When approaching your career search, the first step is always considering what you want from your career. One of the essential questions to ask yourself in this step is, what impact do I want to have? The issues that you want to work on are unique and staying true to the impact you want to have will help you be more successful in your career. Learn more about important issues from biodiversity to diversity, equity, and inclusion and how they impact the business world to gain inspiration.

The next essential part of this step is deciding on the type of role and organization that is right for you. An excellent guideline for this is the Sustainable Careers Matrix created by Katie Kross at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Would you rather be in a traditional organization or company – a multinational corporation, investment bank, etc. – or would you rather be a part of an organization that has a sustainability-oriented mission? When it comes to your role, would you rather be in a traditional business role involved in finance, operations, accounting, or marketing, or would you rather be in a role that is solely sustainability-focused? Ultimately, this goes back to the impact that you want to have, what you’re skilled at, and what you want to do every day. Keep in mind that any role can have a big impact, regardless of whether it is a more traditional business role or it has sustainability in the title.

Invest in Sustainability Skills
Learning to be a master user of Excel, understand financial statements, and calculate greenhouse gas emissions will set you up for success. Plus, develop an understanding of reporting frameworks, how various functional areas operate in a business, and how to influence people. Some of these skills can be developed with some intensive investment, and others take a lifetime to perfect. Get to work on these competencies that will make you a valuable part of any sustainability team through classes, independent projects, and workshops.

“You will be amongst the business professionals making positive impacts on our world in no time,"

- says Sena Kavi

Build Your Network
Both CESR and Leeds have countless connections that you can reach out to to broaden your sustainability network. With the help of resources such as LinkedIn and conversations with CESR staff about our network, identify professionals that work in the types of roles and companies that you are interested in. Reaching out to those professionals that you identify for informational interviews is one great way to build your network. Simply having a conversation with someone can result in you finding the job that is the right fit for you. Informational interviews can also help you further determine what you want from your career as well as what you want to avoid. See this page from ��Ƶ Boulder’s Career Services to prepare for an informational interview, and do not hesitate to reach out to CESR, the Career Development Office, or Graduate Career Management for additional career advising and resources. Don't forget to follow #opendoorclimate to find climate professionals who are colunteering to talk with people interested in getting climate jobs.

Keep Up with the Trends
Staying updated on the current events of areas such as sustainability, natural products, and clean energy is very important, as it can prepare you for interviews and allow you to further explore what issues you are passionate about. For information related to sustainability, use news outlets like GreenBiz and Sustainable Brands, and sign up for the Reconsidered Newsletter for additional news and resources every other week. To dive into the world of natural products, check out the New Hope Network and NOSH, the second of which also has a podcast about the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food. For news on clean energy, follow Canary Media and Utility Dive and listen to podcasts like Catalyst and The Energy Gang. These newsletters, news outlets, and podcasts are all great starting points for you to keep up with the trends; simply listening to a podcast on your way to class or work can go a long way. Find more LinkedIn pages to follow listed in this post or this one.

Utilize Sustainability-Focused Job Boards
Any job search is defined by hours spent on various job boards, sifting through hundreds of job postings. Using job boards that are dedicated to posting sustainable jobs will make your job search much easier. Some of the job boards recommended by CESR are B Work, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, Colorado Nonprofit Association, ForceBrands Jobs, Luke's Circle, Naturally Boulder, Nick at Noon, Nosh, and Second Day. Additionally, CESR’s newsletter always provides a variety of updated job postings; be sure to subscribe to be up to date on opportunities catered for you.

Build Skills and Get Inspired with CESR
CESR offers many events every semester, including panels, bootcamps, workshops, and case competitions. These events are opportunities for you to strengthen your skill set and network, and get inspired for your job search. Our events and programs focus on ESG & Sustainability, natural products, and clean energy. Check out our events page to see what’s coming up.

As you continue on your career search, stay true to your goals and aspirations. Remembering the impact that you want to make, along with keeping up with trends, utilizing sustainable job boards, networking, and attending events to strengthen your skills will bring you closer to the career that you are looking for. You will be amongst the business professionals making positive impacts on our world in no time.

Traditional

White

Cross-campus partnerships empower students to address the links between climate and finance

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:31:25 +0000

Cross-campus partnerships empower students to address the links between climate and finance Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/13/2023 - 12:31

Justine Roberts

"Providing public forums to openly discuss the most important and contested issues of the day is central to the mission of a public university. I'm proud that C-SEF, CESR and the Burridge Center are able to provide such a forum on this issue,"

says Matthew G. Burgess, Director, Center for Social and Environmental Futures

The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR), Center for Environmental and Social Futures (C-SEF), and The Burridge Center for Finance, are jointly presenting a panel discussion titled Debating Divestment, on March 1st, 12:30-2pm at Kittredge Hall at ��Ƶ Boulder.

This event is open to the community and designed to explore the arguments, data and research underpinning diverse perspectives on calls for The University of Colorado system to divest from fossil fuels. The program aims to prepare ��Ƶ students to tackle a critically important issue across their careers, as they develop into the future citizens and leaders we need.

“As current/future investors and business leaders, Leeds students are increasingly aware of their impact,” says Matthew Fleming, Director of Operations at the Burridge Center for Finance. CESR and Burridge work together to elevate these conversations within the business school. The cross-campus collaboration with C-SEF further advances awareness of the relationship between business and positive environmental and social impact.

The Business Case for Divestment

The University manages several billion dollars in institutional funds, including endowment, pension and operating funds. Since the 1970’s, Fossil Free ��Ƶ has been calling for divestment of endowment and pension funds from oil and gas companies. During the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit at ��Ƶ Boulder, students and supporters organized to raise visibility of the ongoing movement.

"I was struck in reading the Washington Post recently about climate finance issues by a quote from the U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry in Davos. When asked what we primarily need to successfully address human contribution to climate change, his response was pretty straightforward: Money, money, money, money," says Heidi VanGenderen, Chief Sustainability Officer, ��Ƶ Boulder

While the moral case for climate action and carbon reduction remains a key component of the divestment discussion, financial data increasingly supports the business case for ESG investing. In just the past few years we have seen the operating environment for business shift in response to pending SEC rules calling for disclosure of climate risks, new reporting standards for measuring emissions across a company’s value chain, and international agreements that encourage participation in a circular economy model, among other developments.

Recent research also suggests that ESG investing is not a riskier strategy but a positive contributor to financial returns.

“Financial performance data over the past ten years and beyond, show that superior financial returns have been achieved with divested and ESG invested portfolios – and that being invested in fossil fuel stocks is now fiduciarily irresponsible,” says John Powers (MBA’83). The Global Turning Point Report from Deloitte underscores the financial risks of not taking action on climate change.

Talking Strategy

“What’s the most effective way to accelerate decarbonization? Outside-in threats that gradually undermine companies’ social license to operate or inside-out engagement to drive incremental change? That is the core question of the divestment debate,”

says Joshua Nunziato

Changing direction on the strategy for a large fund with many stakeholders involves a complex series of considerations. Scholarly studies of the main arguments for and against divestment have explored how effective calls for divestment have been in moving us toward a low carbon future and eliminating our use of fossil fuels.

Heidi VanGenderen notes that “the questions of concerted divestment and investment are an extraordinarily important part of the climate challenge. The investments we require to effect the energy transformation to help address this unprecedented challenge is also, arguably, the greatest opportunity presented in the history of people on the planet. Clear and open debate about the whole of this landscape must and is taking place to find a solid path forward.”

Debating Divestment Panel March 1st 12:30-2pm, Kittredge Hall

This panel will explore these economic issues, and the relationship between capital and climate change. It will engage students and community members in the complexities, concerns and pressure points in the divestment debate, equipping them to engage broadly in the work of decarbonization across their careers.

Matt Burgess encourages students who want to advocate on either side of this issue “to do their homework. If you’re asking ��Ƶ administrators to give you their time, and you’re asking ��Ƶ faculty and staff to invest their retirement savings according to your advice, you owe them that much,” he says. Matt adds, “I encourage you also to attend the March 1 event.”

Registration Information

Register to attend Debating Divestment, on March 1st, 12:30-2pm at Kittredge Hall at ��Ƶ Boulder. This event is open to the community.

Speakers include:

Betsy Moszeter, Chief Distribution & Marketing Officer and Portfolio Manager, Green Alpha Advisors
Carla Fredericks, Chief Executive Officer, The Christensen Fund
P. Noel Kullavanijaya, President of Capital Markets and Investor Networks, Equilibrium Capital
Shaun Davies, Associate Professor and Research Director of the Burridge Center for Finance, Leeds School of Business

Joshua Nunziato, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Social Responsibility and Sustainability division at Leeds, will be moderating.

Traditional

White

B:CIVIC Summit Brings CSR and ESG to the Forefront of Business

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 04:26:15 +0000

B:CIVIC Summit Brings CSR and ESG to the Forefront of Business Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/07/2022 - 21:26

Justine Roberts

The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at Leeds (CESR), and B:CIVIC, have a long history of collaboration focused on advancing sustainability in business. B:CIVIC has been instrumental in launching and supporting Leeds' Certificate in CSR (CCSR) executive education program, and generously made it possible for Leeds students to attend this year’s Summit. We are thrilled to continue to work together to develop new opportunities to equip the next generation with the skills they need to make positive social and environmental impacts through business leadership.

The 2022 B:CIVIC Summit, Turning Point: CSR at a Crossroads presented by Delta Dental of Colorado and VF Corporation was a full day event exploring the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and business success.

Participants explored how to advance the work of CSR and impact “with purpose,” as Chair Liz Gardner, Area Manager, Community & Local Government Affairs, Xcel Energy, put it. Sessions talked about the importance of collaboration across industries, functions and sectors, about how ESG can help build trust which is essential to long term value creation, and how to catalyze radical change by creating work environments in which it is safe to try new things.

Leeds was able to participate in this year’s Summit in a number of ways. The CESR team, together with five MBA students, two undergraduate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) students, and three alumni, all attended the event. Jennifer Forman, one of the two Instructors of our Certificate in CSR (CCSR) program and SRS faculty member Joshua Nunziato, both presented on panels.

Pete Dignan, Instructor for CCSR and the newly launched Climate Action for Business executive education programs at Leeds commented that it was “exciting to also see the large number of past and current participants in CESR's Certificate in CSR attending the Summit. Several were directly involved in planning the event, and/or moderating panels during the day. It's clear from this that the longstanding collaboration between B:CIVIC and CESR continues to create ripples of positive impact throughout the Denver-Boulder community."

Below we have collected some of the Leeds’ team’s takeaways and reflections from the event.

Staff and Faculty Reflections

Joshua Nunziato, Assistant Teaching Professor, Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Leeds

As a first time participant in the B:CIVIC event, Joshua was impressed by the quality and insight delivered by the panelists and other contributors. He noted topics and conversations ranging from “carbon accounting and DEI to the accelerating transition from traditional 'Corporate Social Responsibility' toward ESG: sustainability framed around Environmental, Social, and Governance management, which is an organic expression of companies' core purpose.”

Joshua appreciated "that so many from the Leeds community were able to show up and represent our institution at a regional event with national draw!"

Kathryn Wendell, Executive Director, CESR

For Kathryn, a major theme of the conference was the idea of purpose as the keystone of any sustainability strategy.

Rich Maiore, CEO of Rocket Social Impact, which is one of the corporate supporters of CESR’s Diversity in CSR initiative, talked about this in his presentation on how to identify when a business should take a public stand on a political issue. Rich noted that taking a political position will make some folks mad, no matter what you do. So it is crucial to have a point of view and articulate clear values in advance so that your response to issues that arise can be consistent and relevant to your core business.

“I appreciated that way Rich laid out a process which involves having good screening questions to figure out if you have to take a stand in an issue including: Is it important to your business? Does it involve any key stakeholders? Geographic location? Do you have credibility in this space? Does it relate to your company’s values? And can you make a significant impact?” Kathryn noted.

Kathryn also appreciated a key takeaway that Joshua Nunziato shared in his session, that “sustainability is not maintaining the status quo. It’s about evolving into the world where we want our children to thrive.”

The key question, Kathryn said is “why is the world a better place because we are in it? And then business leaders need to make sure that all their ESG strategies are aligned with that.”

Justine Roberts, Program Manager, CESR

Justine noted an important discussion about integrating ESG and CSR horizontally across a company so that there is an organic commitment to impact and it is woven into effective governance and policies. “For example,” Joshua Nunziato said in his session, “tie executive compensation to the environmental and social goals you want to advance.”

Along with that is the recognition that no company is perfect and so how you evaluate a company’s ESG needs to be nuanced. As Garvin Jabusch, founder and CEO of Green Alpha Advisors said, the question needs to be “is a company doing more to solve big system-level risks than to cause them?” In an environment in which the meaning of ESG and CSR, and the relationship between the two, is evolving, there are also no standardized tools to measure a company's ESG.

A number of speakers agreed that leading with an ESG focus means thinking about long term value creation, which is a shift from the way that many businesses are organized. “The answer to the culture war, and to convincing investors that a green economy is the future, is to be undeniable,” said Garvin. “Figure out what is going to fuel the future, because that is the tailwind economically.” For Garvin, that "tailwind" is impact and sustainability.

Taylor Dewitt, Program Coordinator, CESR

Taylor resonated with the idea that “the future of ESG is undeniable, meaning the economy is directly related to the “health” of the planet.” She noted that a number of panelists made the case that as emissions continue to rise we are seeing large corporations take into consideration their impact on the planet, and more importantly, their responsibility to make sustainable and ethical changes to the way their business operates.

Taylor also noted that many speakers talked about the importance of diversity and inclusion in business. Panelists such as Yontae Johnson talked about how diverse teams are demonstrably more productive and profitable because they are able to provide more perspectives and ways of thinking about business problems that lead to deeper and more comprehensive conversations about proposed solutions. “I took away from the Summit that to combat climate change we need to consider environmental justice first and foremost. To do that we need inclusive teams that can consider problems from many different angles,” Taylor said.

Leeds Students’ Takeaways

Joelle Trubowit (MBA’24)

I really enjoyed the B:CIVIC Summit and am thankful for CESR giving students the opportunity to join. One theme I noticed was a conversation about how their companies make decisions on what they are able to do and what is within their realm, rather than trying to tackle ALL of the problems we face. Related to that, speakers talked about how they are educating their consumers on their decisions, and relaying their areas of focus to stakeholders.

Gale Chareancholwanich (MBA’24)

One of the sessions that I like the most is how nudge theory can be applied to the ESG world and volunteering programs. The speaker also provided real and successful and practical examples of how to get people to respond via email by using the behavioral science of our brain system.

On top of that, the Ernst and Young ripple session was really interesting. I heard from the leaders who were involved from planning to launching the process.

I also got an opportunity to connect with other attendees from various fields like the energy industry and education non-profit companies. This event really motivates me and, question myself about how I will make an impact globally.

Mary Boling (MBA’24)

It was great to hear what people are talking about at the B:CIVIC Summit. I learned a lot, and two of my biggest takeaways are:

How businesses are tracking emissions has not been streamlined and, with different reporting frameworks and systems available to use, it can be difficult to identify the full environmental impact of a company’s business practices.
Europe is ahead of the USA around regulation which is bringing consistency and transparency to business. It is likely that the USA will follow. So we have an opportunity to look to them to figure out what's coming down the pipeline.

Kiera Josephine Hurley (BSMrkt'23)

I really enjoyed the B:CIVIC event and am grateful I had the opportunity to go. The Summit was inspirational and impactful, and filled with professionals in all types of industries working to make a difference in their organization. I was able to hear from incredible speakers representing companies such as Southwest Airlines, Xcel Energy, Delta Dental, Ernst & Young, and many others.

One of the most resonating statements I heard came from Aaron Dignan, founder of the Ready and Murmur who said: "Continuous participatory change is making small changes in an adaptive environment wherein you change through people, not to people."

I think this encompasses a lot of what is happening in the sustainability world and a common theme of the Summit; which is that change is happening and is necessary but we must invite everyone to play if we want it to be seamlessly integrated into an organization.

Final Thoughts

At the highest level, the conference raised the profile of ESG and CSR efforts within the Colorado business community and beyond, and brought together a community of people working on sustainable and ethical business to explore best practices, share successes and challenges, and build networks that support the work of driving change day-to-day, including the Leeds School of Business.

Traditional

White

ESG Integration and the Future of Business

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:46:10 +0000

ESG Integration and the Future of Business Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/26/2022 - 13:46

Justine Roberts

"I’m optimistic that CESR’s programs and collaborations will enable more values-based, purpose-driven business models to flourish and help drive solutions to the tough environmental and social challenges that we see in this world today." Kathryn Wendell, Executive Director, CESR

The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR) annual Community Reception brought together community members, faculty and students for an evening focused on the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration in business.

The event was an opportunity to look ahead at the big programs CESR is working on, recognize community members whose collaboration helps strengthen our work to connect the business world to the business school, and be inspired to continue driving values-based business forward through two talks featuring business and faculty thought leadership.

A Look Ahead

Kathryn Wendell, Executive Director at CESR, opened the event with with a look at some of the strategic initiatives the Center is working on to “to foster dialogue and enable action related to the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into business strategy and operations,” from career pathways for Leeds MBA students to a new online executive education program called Climate Action for Business that will help business professionals develop and implement climate action plans.

She noted that CESR is also playing an important role in helping to shape the UN Global Climate Summit, “Right Here, Right Now” which ��Ƶ Boulder will host on December 1-4th, 2022. As part of the Summit, Kathryn will be moderating two conversations, one of which will gather Chief Sustainability Officers to talk about their companies’ commitments to climate and human rights. This event, along with the entire UN Global Climate Summit, will be livestreamed so that it is accessible to anyone who is interested.

Kathryn thanked CESR's supporters, and noted that all of CESR's initiatives are rooted in strong partnerships with influential organizations at the local, national, and global levels in Clean Energy, Natural & Organic Products, and ESG Integration.

CESR Community Connector Awards

One of the highlights of the Community Reception is the opportunity for CESR to recognize key individuals whose contributions have strengthened the Center's mission and work over the past year. This year’s CESR Community Connector Awards recognized three awardees; one each to a vital supporter focused on driving impact in business solutions to the environment, social issues and good governance (ESG).

Carlotta Mast

Carlotta leads the New Hope Network Content Team, producing all content and conference programming for Natural Products Expos, among many other initiatives, and she is the chief author of the NEXT Natural Products Industry Forecast. Carlotta helped to shape our Natural & Organic Pathway at Leeds, and has enabled Leeds MBA students to experience Expo West annually in Anaheim, California, and she cares deeply about positioning Leeds as THE business school for students interested in the natural products industry.

Demesha Hill

Demesha Hill is Managing Director at Janus Henderson Foundation and the Community Relations Manager at Janus Henderson Investors. She is a champion for community engagement programs and provides leadership and strategic support for the corporate diversity and community outreach initiatives. She serves or has served on several nonprofit boards and was named Corporate Executive of the Year by the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce in 2018. Demesha has worked to strengthen CESR’s and Leeds’ programs in DEI for full time and executive education students, serving as a guest speaker, and consulting on program design and content.

Ellen Balaguer

Ellen was a senior executive with Accenture for 27 years before retiring. She is a philanthropist and works with a number of education organizations and nonprofits in the U.S. and around the world. She is an active member of the Leeds Advisory Board in addition to several other boards. Ellen was crucial in helping to shape CESR’s strategic plan over the past year, and we are grateful for her big ideas, passion, and support.

Keynote: Richard Steel

Richard Steel, CEO of Parsec Ventures, an investment firm focused on early stage companies, gave the keynote. One of Inc Magazine's fastest-growing company CEOs, he has run both private and public companies over the last two decades and advised the White House Business Council for the last 9 years. Richard founded and chairs a philanthropic fund, writes for Forbes, and is the author of the best-selling book, Elevated Economics. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School where he serves on the Alumni Board.

"ESG is no longer a fringe issue. It is in every board room and in every marketing department. It is no longer a siloed topic,"

says Richard Steel

Richard spoke about the confluence of events that are pushing businesses toward greater integration of ESG. From climate change and DEI, to regulatory standards, to the increasing accessibility of information and changing consumption habits of the next generation, ESG is affecting business decision making. Investors are also focused on sustainability, and on leveraging their capital to combine profit and impact.

CEOs are grappling with how businesses should respond. Some companies, notably those represented by The Business Roundtable, are taking the lead on redefining the purpose of a business away from shareholder primacy and toward investments in employees, consumers and communities with an eye toward long-term shareholder value.

"Purpose is inherently linked to value creation . . .and companies who can legitimately articulate a story that includes meaning and purpose beyond simply the product attributes will have a greater chance of winning in the elevated economy," says Steel.

Faculty Talk: Dr. Joshua Nunziato

Joshua Nunziato is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Social Responsibility and Sustainability division (SRS) of the Leeds School of Business. He teaches courses on sustainability, business ethics, and ethical leadership to EMBA, MBA, and undergraduate students. In addition to his teaching, Joshua directs the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program at Leeds.

Joshua focused on some of the ways SRS faculty are helping to create a more sustainable business world through scholarship, teaching, and collaborations with the business community. For current undergraduates Joshua mentioned the SRS capstone course The Sustainable Firm: ESG Strategies and Practice, in which teams of students are placed at companies on and beyond the Front Range for a three month, pro bono sustainability consulting project.

A new project, launched just this past year, is a partnership between SRS and CESR to offer working groups—facilitated by Leeds faculty— for young professionals to workshop principles-based ethical decision-making challenges they face on the job.

“Across every single one of these initiatives, CESR has been an invaluable partner. As a faculty, we look forward to continuing this rich collaboration in the months and years ahead, in service of a more sustainable world for all!"

says Joshua Nunziato

Joshua also noted several faculty research projects underway at Leeds that are shaping our understanding of how businesses can contribute to an ethical and sustainable world. “As members of the scholarly community, Leeds faculty in our division are doing world-class research, to deliver innovative insights about best practices for more sustainable business,” he said.

In particular, Joshua highlighted

Jeff York, who is a world expert on the power of green entrepreneurship to deliver market-based solutions to sustainability problems.
Marcia Kwaramba, who is currently doing field research in Africa on how entrepreneurship can lift small business owners out of poverty.
Zack Donohew whose applied research, in partnership with some of the world’s largest space companies in (and beyond) the US, is helping to ensure efficient and equitable use of near earth orbital space.
Joshua's own work on contemplative practice as a catalyst for more sustainable business leadership, including prayer, yoga, mindfulness , and even the legal, therapeutic use of psychedelics.

Interested in learning more or following up with one of our incredible speakers?

You can read faculty peer reviewed articles on the CESR Faculty Research page
To partner with Joshua’s Sustainable Firm capstone class, please reach out to him directly
To learn more about the upcoming Climate Action for Business executive educaiton class, please fill out the interest form.
To learn more about CESR’s plans for ESG Integration, or to collaborate with CESR as a guest speaker, Trek site, or for hiring students, please contact us.
Richard Steel’s full remarks will be available on the Leeds YouTube channel. We will update this article with a link as soon as it is ready.

CESR’s annual Community Reception brought together community members, faculty and students for an evening focused on the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration in business.

Traditional

White

Leeds Sets Students Up for Success with Sustainability Internships

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 16:01:13 +0000

Leeds Sets Students Up for Success with Sustainability Internships Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 08/28/2022 - 10:01

Justine Roberts

Leeds MBA students enjoy an end of summer networking event organized by Michelle Lishnevsky (MBA'23) and Sonya Query (MBA'23) on behalf of Naturally Boulder as part of their Board Fellows internship with the organization.

Leeds students interested in environmental and social impact intern with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking organizations. For both undergraduates pursuing the Social Responsibility and Ethics Certificate (SRE), and MBAs, these internships build on their courses and on their co-curricular engagement with the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibilty (CESR), and provide valuable opportunities that advance their careers.

Every year the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibilty (CESR) at Leeds works with students who are focused on business responsibility for environmental solutions, ethical leadership and postive social impact. We support students through programs that build skills and knowledge, encourage networking, and offer career advice. Learn about how some of our students spent their summer, and how Leeds classes and experiential learning programs support their success.

Maddie Barrett (BS'23, SRE Certificate), Product Circularity Intern, Seagate Technologies

Seagate's Product Circularity program enables end-users and large business like OEMs and CSPs to recycle, dispose of, and re-new hard drives so their product life cycle can be extended.

The most challenging part was creating marketing materials and campaign materials for a competitive market. I wrote a positioning framework by conducting a SWAT analysis and orienting the program towards large B2B organizations.

My project ran through multiple organizations and I collaborated with different teams. Leeds has prepared me to function in a team, overcome problems, and face challenges. Consistent group work is what the business world will look like no matter where you end up.

Product marketing enables me to work on materials that can predict the success or the failure of a product. I love writing and organizing case studies, solution briefs and developing relationships with partners that make all of that possible. I will be continuing with Seagate throughout my senior year and can’t wait to see what happens next!

Mikah Anderson (BS'23, SRE Certificate), Circular Economy and ESG Activation intern at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

This summer I created a gap analysis for my company's circular economy program. This project was inclusive of the internal circular economy programs and external opportunities for improvement from competitors. I also worked on a geo-specific materiality project to determine geographies with high feasibility of increasing sustainability solutions. The last major project I worked on was creating talking points about the company's sustainability strategy for customers, investors, and other stakeholders.

My biggest learning was about how geographies impact and interact with the ESG strategies, practices, and material topics a company may be interested in.

Leeds courses that improved my communication skills served me the best. There is a specific formality and vocabulary necessary in writing emails, investor documents, and internal documents that was required at HPE.

I learned that my career goals align with having both ESG reporting and more technical environmental work. I know that I want to woek at a high level in sustainability management and my experience at HPE opened my eyes to different avenues to making that possible.

Evan Anderson (BS'Winter22), Investment Banking Summer Analyst - Consumer Group, Piper Sandler

I worked on the Food & Bev industry as well as with the Agriculture Landscape group both of which were interested in sustainbility. I learned a lot in this role about professional communication and how to operate within the expectations set by a team. I also learned how to put together presentation materials from analytical and qualitative materials.

The hardest part was having to familiarize myself with a topic and then turning around to produce materials for it on a tight deadline. This taught me how to utilize my resources most efficiently, and how to identify crucial information quickly.

The extracurriculars at Leeds are very helpful for creating professional networks, gaining additional skills, and specializing in interests. I’ve had several roles within Leeds include serving as a student club executive and am in my second year as Research Assistant at CESR. These contributed to landing the internship and to my success. I also had the support of a mentor through Leeds who helped me prepare and made introductions.

The great part about an internship is being able to confirm your interests and career goals. As a student, you have to think about what you want to do in the future for a long time before you actually get there and try it out. It was good to know that I liked the job I thought I’ve wanted since the beginning of college. I also learned my work style, which I believe is a HUGE part of success in a job. This experience showed me that I can have high ambitions and achieve them..

Michelle Lishnevsky (MBA'23) and Sonya Query(MBA'23), Board Fellows, Naturally Boulder

Board Fellows is a student-run MBA club that pairs graduate students with nonprofit partners. As Naturally Boulder's Board Fellows we worked on optimizing the organization's social media accounts, including an audit of their current strategies. We presented our project to the board which allowed us to interact with them in a meaningful way, to see how the board voted on our recommendations, and then begin implementation.

Being a Board Fellow helped us get to know people in the industry at all levels. We sat in on board meetings as non-voting members, and got a look at the industry from the perspective of its leaders.

One of the biggest challenges was being on Zoom and it was interesting to see how board members interacted with each other.

This opportunity came through a strategic partnership between CESR and Naturally Boulder. Our classes helped prepare us to communicate effectively and present our work in a meaningful way. We will be Board Fellows for the remainder of the year.

Tyler Phillips (MBA'23), Summer Associate with General Motors Ventures, GM's Corporate Venture Capital Fund

My assignment was to assess the battery startup landscape from an investment perspective to aid in GM's overall EV Battery investment strategy.

I learned that even in large, established companies it's possible to make a strong contribution to a team in a short amount of time. However, I worked extra hard (some weekends) to make sure that I delivered real value throughout my experience.

Leeds - specifically Professors Gregg Macaluso and Chris Imamura of Supply Chain - gave me great practice building decks and presenting to a mock executive audience. I ended up presenting my research to the Chief Technology Officer at GM, who took it to Mary Barra, the CEO! I made sure that my presentation "hooked them in the first 30 seconds", as Professor Gregg would say.

My internship validated my passion for renewables, specifically around e-mobility and battery electric vehicles. I am hoping to continue the work I started in the battery space with an established OEM (or new EV maker) to help inform their battery strategy.

Zachary Salinger (MBA'23), David & Lucille Packard Foundation MBA Fellow at the Climate Breakthrough Project

My biggest learning this summer was that nonprofits are restricted in their ability to innovate because of funding. 80% of the time a nonprofit receives funding, they can only use it for pre-designated expenses. This eliminates their ability to pivot, which is needed for innovation and meaningful breakthroughs. Entrepreneurs know that the first idea is hardly ever perfect but nonprofits are being restricted.

The hardest thing about my position was wrapping my head around moonshot climate mitigation strategies. There is a disconnect between the private and public sector in how to address climate change. Creating solutions requires technological innovation and favorable policy that incentivizes entrepreneurs. In our current world fraught with energy, food, and supply-chain issues, it is difficult to find a balance between economic feasibility and sustainability.

The first year of my MBA gave me the project management skills needed to effectively work with my colleagues. Many classes in the first year required learning how to effectively run a meeting and finish deliverables in a short period of time.

This fellowship changed my perspective on the nonprofit and climate philanthropy industry, while also allowing me to see its immense complexity. It spurred an interest in the holistic ways the public and private sector can work together to tackle climate change

McKiernan Flaherty (MBA'23), Store Executive Intern, Target's leadership development program

My greatest takeaway this summer was how dynamic the retail industry has become. It is constantly growing and changing making every day unique. As for the most challenging part of my internship, it would have to be the rotational nature as it pushed me to assess situations, isolate complications, and then take actions to drive results quickly before moving on to my next project.

My first year at Leeds School of Business prepared me to succeed in this role by providing me with a strong foundation in business analytics, operations, accounting, finance, strategy, and marketing. Furthermore, I would say my ability to deal with ambiguity, build relationships and prioritize among competing deliverables enabled my projects to excel at Target. Along with these skills, maintaining a growth mindset and leading with enthusiasm allowed me to flourish professionally.

At Target this summer I learned that I am capable of supporting a growing multi-billion dollar business, influencing multiple levels of stakeholders, and managing teams on complex projects across the enterprise. Also, after this experience, I have ultimately come to realize that I desire to have a multi-disciplinary career in the retail industry, for a company that focuses on joy and families.

For more information on how to get involved with CESR just reach out!

Information on CESR affiliated MBA student clubs can be found on the website.

Undergraduates interested in the SRE Certificate, and how it can support your career goals, should set up time to speak with Taylor Dewitt.

Traditional

White

#GoodnessMatters Conference Highlights Trends in Corporate Social Impact Work

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 22:27:24 +0000

#GoodnessMatters Conference Highlights Trends in Corporate Social Impact Work Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/06/2022 - 16:27

Justine Roberts

Molly Nitka, Workiva, Mary Van Jacobs, DaVita, Haley Wallace, DaVita, Jessica Leary, Ball Corporation, Lauren Roadman, Ball Corporation, Justine Roberts, Leeds School of Business.

The recent Goodness Matters conference, organized by Benevity, highlighted best practices in community engagement, corporate philanthropy and volunteerism, and pointed to emerging trends.

During the pandemic, our individual and collective stamina and resilience has been challenged, and organizations have gone through some significant adaptations. In responding to the changing operating environment, business leaders have piloted new strategies and identified opportunities to rethink best practices.

Employee Driven Investment

During the pandemic, volunteerism became more local, dispersed, and individual. The way people made charitable contributions also shifted. Some businesses have responded by allowing employees to have a greater say in corporate decisions about social impact work. By redesigning their matching gift programs to allow employees to select any organizations that matter to them, and allowing for year-round matching, these companies are allowing employees to lead.

Benevity data shows that more individuals contributed both time and treasure in 2022 than pre-pandemic. The number of individuals making financial donations and the total dollars donated both rose. The number of employee volunteer hours, total number of employees who are volunteering, and the number of causes they are contributing to, are all also up compared to 2019.

The shift to a responsive model for social impact and community engagement programs builds on these trends. By supporting employee priorities and interests, companies like Nike and Apple are able to enhance employees’ sense of belonging. By allowing for multiple ways to engage employees, companies are recognizing that purpose matters to their workforce.

Centering Communities

The second trend is closely related to the first and is the idea of trust based philanthropy. In this model, companies acknowledge that they do not have all, or even the best, answers or solutions to community issues and instead go into the grant making and volunteer process sharing decision making power with their nonprofit partners. Some companies have shifted to open grants that can be used for anything the nonprofit identifies as a priority, and grant panels that include community stakeholders as equal voting members, among other changes.

Skills based volunteerism is another idea that has been gaining traction. This is the approach of matching employee skills and interests to the needs of nonprofit partners. Companies like Zoom are using this approach to allow employees to use their skill set to make a difference and build the capacity of partner organizations. The idea of matching nonprofit partner needs with employee talents shifts volunteerism from mobilizing large numbers all at once, which can put pressure on partners to identify or even create appropriate projects, to targeted support for partner identified needs.

Small Acts of Kindness

Covid necessitated a shift to virtual volunteerism, as well as to volunteerism that supports individuals and local communities, not just organizations. Companies like PagerDuty are now encouraging employees to record those actions and count them toward their volunteerism at work. Whether it is shoveling a neighbor's sidewalk, or coaching a local sports team, by counting these contributions to the community, companies can meet employees where they are.

The benefits to companies include making volunteerism more accessible to newcomers, increasing affiliation and fostering a sense of purpose. The data shows that 82% of millennials consider CSR in evaluating their employers. In the midst of the Great Resignation, social impact programs have a real and measurable positive influence on key business metrics such as lower turnover, better job performance and fewer sick days.

Demand for Data

There is growing interest at the board level in ESG, and that is fueling the demand for reporting. Companies are also increasingly interested in going beyond risk management and compliance to showing their value, and their positive social and environmental outcomes. The question is how to move from tracking participation rates, volunteer hours and activities to the business impact, benefits to nonprofit partners and contributions to people and planet?

Data collection strategies must improve so that businesses can understand their users, make good decisions and ensure that their programs are relevant. There is a need for better data visualizations and dashboards that combine quantitative and qualitative information. Dashboards also need to be up to date and easy to use so that everyone across a business can understand the work of CSR and ESG professionals, and their impact.

Optimism, Duty and Urgency

As we emerge from the pandemic, the problems we are facing can seem so large it is hard to know how to solve them. CSR and ESG professionals are driving systemic change across companies. Their work influences HR, marketing and communications, finance, operations and more. It is a hub that has the potential to bring people together and which puts practitioners at the table with all other business issues. Creating a more systemic approach that builds alliances across business functions will accelerate the pace of change and allow us to rise together.

Join the Work

All of the incredible professionals pictured above are alumni of the Certificate in CSR executive education program offered by Leeds, and working on community engagement and CSR. Professionals who are interested in CSR and ESG can learn more about the Certificate in CSR executive education program.

Companies interested in getting involved in supporting the next generation of business leaders and changemakers can reach out to CESR to learn more about our programs and opportunities for collaboration.

Traditional

White

Corporate Partnerships Embed ESG in Leeds Curriculum

Anonymous — Mon, 09 May 2022 21:07:41 +0000

Corporate Partnerships Embed ESG in Leeds Curriculum Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/09/2022 - 15:07

Justine Roberts

I absolutely recommend [working with Leeds students in this class] to companies looking to explore their sustainability management. - Hannah Kight, Senior Environmental Health Services Manager, Breckenridge Brewery

Student consulting teams tackled ESG questions for seven local businesses as part of the new undergraduate capstone course The Sustainable Firm: ESG Strategies and Practices, taught by Joshua Nunziato. Ranging from data collection to corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting, Fitwel and B Corp Certifications, students addressed business sustainability challenges.

Breckenridge Brewery

“[The students] were very organized and worked hard to get the report completed,”

says Lauren Roadman, Community Engagement and Marketing Coordinator, Breckenridge Brewery

Student Consulting Team: Bhari Cowlagi, Morgan Oliva, Pablo Aguilar Rubio, Victoria Leen

Students helped develop a process for becoming B Corp certified. They began by conducting a B Impact Assessment, which is a rigorous self-assessment that scores companies on their social and environmental impact. From that initial score, the team identified some specific policies and practices Breckenridge Brewery can adopt to help them add points and ultimately qualify for B Corp status.

Hannah Kight felt the students provided impressive content and gave her team the information they needed to move the conversation forward internally.

Natera

“[The students] were a big capacity builder,”

says Casey Stock ESG + Sustainability, Natera

Student Consulting Team: Jasmine Ferdowsian, Lily Busse, Peter Harlovic, Zoe Snow

Students worked with Casey Stock and Paul Greenland, VP Marketing and Communications, to create Natera’s first CSR report. They began by reviewing a materiality assessment that had already been completed, created a report outline, and then looked at how to align the results with SASB reporting standards and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The team also made recommendations for the future. One was to engage more stakeholders and thereby develop more granularity in the materiality matrix that would allow Natera to do additional prioritization. They also noted that Natera is in a position to proactively plan for new proposed SEC rules around greenhouse gas (GHG) protocols which will affect disclosure of environmental metrics, timeliness of data disclosures and collection strategies. The third suggestion was for Natera to add a section on ESG (environment, social and governance) and sustainability to the website to showcase work they are already doing.

Paul Greenland appreciated that the students helped shape the business case, “emphasizing the long term value of enlarging our positive handprint rather than just reducing our negative footprint.”

Settee

Client: Stephanie Tomasky; Julia Jones

Student Consulting Team: Kiera Hurley, Makenna Kardell, Mary Sumner Kauffman, Max Brandt

For Settee, a sustainable furniture startup, students developed an ESG report. As a company built around a goal of sustainability, the question was how to convey what sustainability means, and how it is being measured, to help explain why sustainable furniture is the best choice.

The team began with a market assessment, and benchmarked Settee against their closest competitors. They mapped out a full list of the elements that could be evaluated in furniture making, including upcycling and recycling, materials, fabrics, VOCs, and quality over quantity. They also researched industry standards and certifications. Based on this, they designed metrics and outlined an approach of creating web pages for each, on which Settee can tell their sustainability story to customers.

Mortenson

When trying to get 3,000 people to do something different, especially when they are already busy, the why is what helps fuel the change,”

says John Ohman Senior VP Strategy and Development, Mortenson

Student Consulting Team: Isabella Casagrande, Josh Baker, Maya Nefs, Sarah O'Keefe

Mortenson asked their student team to develop a CSR report that would position them as a leader in their industry. Students researched best practices, conducted a peer review, and identified existing initiatives before developing some recommendations.

Their key recommendation was to use a reporting model based on “double materiality,” by considering what is financially material to the business as well as what is material to the environment, people and the marketplace. They believe this will unlock benefits that come from alignment with ESG, such as reductions to operating costs, increased efficiency, risk management, new business opportunities, and stronger brand value.

“There can be a fear that we have to eat the whole turkey in one sitting,” said Julianne Laue, Director of Building Performance at Mortenson. “It has been helpful to have the team to explain transitioning over time, options and opportunities.”

Delta Dental of Colorado (DDCO)

“[The student consulting team] did more than I ever expected. I am blown away by their work,”

says Andrea Miller, Director of CSR, Delta Dental of Colorado

Student Consulting Team: Ashley Nesbitt, Caitlin O'Neill, Emily Knutte, Riley Cummins

Delta Dental of Colorado (DDCO) recently relocated their campus, and chose a site that had easy access to commuter options. Their student consulting project was an assessment of employee attitudes towards commuting by car, and green transportation alternatives, as part of DDCO’s strategy to achieve Fitwel certification.

To create a baseline for their recommendations, the students surveyed employees about their commuting habits and attitudes. They then calculated the equivalent emissions impact and used that to quantify the reduction in GHG emissions from different proposals that DDCO could pursue. One suggestion was to create a carpool matching group for interested employees. Another potentially easy win would be to post signage promoting stair usage and other healthy habits, which earn Fitwel points.

They also looked at two ways DDCO might leverage existing expenses to expand their impact. One was to move from sponsoring employee ECO bus passes to a mobile ticketing book which only invoices for activated passes. Another was to use those savings to internalize the costs of car commuting. The students argued that one reason green transport initiatives are hard to make stick is that employees don't really bear the full cost of driving. They proposed that DDCO could give employees a choice to park for free, or find an alternative and get a credit, incentivizing employees to look at greener transportation options.

Canimal

“[The student team’s deliverable] has already been helpful,”

says Tim Feaver, CEO, Canimal

Student Consulting Team: Kayte Abbott, Madison Reynolds, Mikah Anderson, Syd Chytka, Vance Parry, Zoe Berry

Canimal’s purpose is to improve the circularity of aluminum cans by overcoating "orphan cans", and then reprinting on top. Students were asked to investigate what issues are most material to the company, and develop recommendations that can help future-proof the business.

They started by validating the company’s environmental data and claims. This allowed them to see where data collection and inputs could be improved. The students also launched a survey effort targeting brewers to identify potential customers, and another for consumers to understand demographics and price sensitivities.The students proposed running the surveys again to expand reach and diversify participants.

In terms of future proofing, the team proposed a three phase approach to ESG that would move Canimal toward full circularity in operations, while addressing social impact through HR policies, and governance through a formal ESG values statement, a stakeholder engagement plan, and cyber security measures.

Tim said that he had already begun to operationalize the students’ insights and that he had a lot to share with brewery partners as a result of this project. ”I am considering doing a joint presentation at a brewers conference where the primary focus is sustainability,” he said.

Xcel Energy

“The timing is perfect, and the content is spot on. It's incredibly helpful,”

says Baird McKevitt Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Xcel Energy

Student Consulting Team: Cliff Dinwiddie, Hyde Weissenfluh, Nate Bodner

The Xcel Energy student team reviewed the company’s Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, compared it to a set of peer companies, distilled best practices, and made recommendations for how to improve comprehension, use and access to the report.

Some of the recommendations pointed out ways that Xcel Energy is already leading in their peer group, and focused on communicating those initiatives. For example, many energy companies focus their TCFD disclosures on renewables and decarbonizing electricity, while Xcel Energy has the opportunity to talk about its use of natural gas as part of their larger climate strategy along with offsets, internal carbon prices, energy efficiency measures, and investment in carbon capture. Other ideas included using data visualization techniques alongside narrative text, and moving the report to a website.

The students were also excited about Xcel Energy’s ESG library, and proposed that linking out to those reports from the TCFD, and making them easier to find, could add value for readers and showcase a strength of the company that goes above and beyond what other companies are doing.

Another opportunity to engage readers is in the conclusion, which is not guided by TCFD and so can include next steps and timelines and a call to action to investors and readers. By ending with goals and big milestones for climate goals Xcel Energy can leave the reader looking to the future, and inspire investors to share in the journey.

—-

Interested in exploring opportunities for your company to work with Leeds’ student consultants? Email Justine Roberts to learn more.

Student consulting teams tackled a range of ESG questions for seven local businesses as part of the new undergraduate capstone course The Sustainable Firm--ESG Strategies and Practices. Learn more about the impactful projects teams took on, such as B Corp Certifications and data collection, and our partner companies.

Traditional

White

CESR Community Connections

Colorado is on Track to Becoming the Nation’s Climate Tech Hub

Related Articles

Jamie Gardner (Bus ’95): The Value of Diverse Career Experiences

A Collection of Crucial Experiences

Creating Sustainability Leaders with CESR

Advice for Prospective Professionals

Navigating the Path to ESG and Sustainability: Insights from Tonie Hansen

Tips to Start Your Sustainable Business Career Search

Cross-campus partnerships empower students to address the links between climate and finance

B:CIVIC Summit Brings CSR and ESG to the Forefront of Business

Staff and Faculty Reflections

Joshua Nunziato, Assistant Teaching Professor, Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Leeds

Kathryn Wendell, Executive Director, CESR

Justine Roberts, Program Manager, CESR

Taylor Dewitt, Program Coordinator, CESR

Leeds Students’ Takeaways

Joelle Trubowit (MBA’24)

Gale Chareancholwanich (MBA’24)

Mary Boling (MBA’24)

Kiera Josephine Hurley (BSMrkt'23)

Final Thoughts

ESG Integration and the Future of Business

Leeds Sets Students Up for Success with Sustainability Internships

Maddie Barrett (BS'23, SRE Certificate), Product Circularity Intern, Seagate Technologies

Mikah Anderson (BS'23, SRE Certificate), Circular Economy and ESG Activation intern at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Evan Anderson (BS'Winter22), Investment Banking Summer Analyst - Consumer Group, Piper Sandler

Michelle Lishnevsky (MBA'23) and Sonya Query(MBA'23), Board Fellows, Naturally Boulder

Tyler Phillips (MBA'23), Summer Associate with General Motors Ventures, GM's Corporate Venture Capital Fund

Zachary Salinger (MBA'23), David & Lucille Packard Foundation MBA Fellow at the Climate Breakthrough Project

McKiernan Flaherty (MBA'23), Store Executive Intern, Target's leadership development program

#GoodnessMatters Conference Highlights Trends in Corporate Social Impact Work

Molly Nitka, Workiva, Mary Van Jacobs, DaVita, Haley Wallace, DaVita, Jessica Leary, Ball Corporation, Lauren Roadman, Ball Corporation, Justine Roberts, Leeds School of Business.

Employee Driven Investment

Centering Communities

Small Acts of Kindness

Demand for Data

Optimism, Duty and Urgency

Join the Work

Corporate Partnerships Embed ESG in Leeds Curriculum

Breckenridge Brewery

Natera

Settee

Mortenson

Delta Dental of Colorado (DDCO)

Canimal

Xcel Energy