CESR Sustainability

Exploring the Future of Energy Launch Event

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 01:40:24 +0000

Exploring the Future of Energy Launch Event Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/21/2020 - 19:40

Justine Roberts

This past week CESR launched a new series, Exploring the Future of Energy, which has been developed in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Schneider Electric. The first event, The State of the Renewables Industry, was anchored by Heidi VanGenderen, ��񱦵�’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Panelists provided context for where we are today with renewable energy generation and use, and then explored the potential for future adoption of green energy and the technical, political and regulatory challenges that stand between us and a 100% renewable energy economy.

Panelists set the stage by explaining how their work - a government research laboratory, a private sector company, and a utility - fits into the clean energy transition. Peter Green, deputy laboratory director of NREL for Science and Technology, pointed out that population is expected to grow 20% and energy consumption to grow by 40% over the next 20 years without any new interventions. He argued that we have to produce a lot more renewable energy to meet demand, but that we also need new policies to support restructuring the energy grid. Peter sees the grid of the future as a distributed system with a range of inputs and off-takers, and lots of different devices and points of control. The power system of the future will need to optimize energy from lots of devices and storage locations. The foundations for this are being laid now but need time to mature.

John Powers, who leads the global renewable energy consulting practice at Schneider Electric, addressed the role of corporations in the energy transition. His partners are companies that need to adopt more energy efficient strategies, and sometimes want to set carbon neutral or carbon negative targets that exceed government requirements. One trend John pointed out is the aggregation of smaller corporations that band together to adopt renewable energy in a cost effective way. He also noted that commitments to renewable energy are even outpacing the availability of that energy. Companies are signing long term agreements which are necessary to allow new projects to get built. That in turn is creating demand for renewable energy globally.

Hollie Velasquez Horvath, Senior Director State Affairs and Community Relations at Xcel Energy, talked about how her company has been pushed ahead in the past by regulation. Today, customers are pushing and Xcel is working to provide energy solutions that meet their goals so they can continue to be their energy provider for the long term. Xcel is seeing the cost of renewable energy come down, and that has allowed them to integrate more and more of it into their grid. Hollie also made the point that Xcel’s commitment to a 100% renewable energy plan for Boulder by 2050 is a goal that has set the bar really high and it is not yet technically achievable. It will require innovation and problem solving from many quarters to be successful. She believes that we will need yet-to-be-developed technologies and called on today’s Leeds School of Business students to join the renewable energy industry and help make this vision a reality.

One question that the panelists discussed was the role of energy efficiency in a carbon neutral economy. Hollie pointed out that over the past several years Xcel sales have remained steady while their customer base has grown. This means customers are using less energy. She noted that Xcel has an opportunity to update its definition of what energy efficiency means and help customers use even less by, for example, including incentives that will level off peak times. Peter mentioned that NREL is working on efficiency at an industrial scale with over 900 partnerships around the world that focus on a wide range of projects including carbon capture, converting CO2 to other chemicals, optimizing performance of wind farms and new software developments, among others.

Another question referred back to a comment Peter made in his opening remarks about the growth of EVs, and asked where that energy would come from? Peter believes that we are simply going to have to generate more renewable energy and will see more and larger production facilities. John noted that a mile driven in an EV is already cleaner than what it is replacing, and while the energy grid is not perfect, it will be easier to move the grid toward a greater amount of renewables than it will be to get gas to be carbon free. Every little step helps, he said.

Heidi also asked the panelists to address whether they believe we can get to a 100% renewable economy. All of the panelists agreed that we are a long way - but it is the right goal. They believe that while the economic and technological advances that are required to get us there may seem fanciful today, that is only because they haven’t been invented yet. The challenges panelists outlined include solving the problem of a reliable, cost effective energy generation and storage system at the scale of a utility, the right policies and large-scale cooperation. John noted that although it will take continuous innovation to get from where we are now at about 7% renewables to even a target of 20%, we should not let the challenges slow us down from getting there as fast as possible.

The panel ended with a call by all participants for students who are interested in our sustainable energy future to join the industry and put their talents and passion to use in helping us achieve a renewable energy future.

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Reflections on our Panel Series: How Current Events are Shaping the Workplace

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 03:38:40 +0000

Reflections on our Panel Series: How Current Events are Shaping the Workplace Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/27/2020 - 21:38

Justine Roberts

For the past three weeks CESR has been hosting a series of conversations about how the pandemic and the racial justice movement have been shaping workplace procedures and policies. We have explored how employers can support employees’ mental health needs during times of crisis, how the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments is changing as companies re envision their workplaces in terms of worker safety, and how businesses acknowledgement of diversity in their workforce can lead to greater engagement and help build equity.

We have learned a lot from our expert speakers, and from the thoughtful questions asked by attendees. If you missed the series you can watch each of the panels at the links below:

Here are a few takeaways from some of the panelists who participated in this series:

Andrea Miller, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Delta Dental of Colorado

The one statement that keeps playing in my mind was a comment Russell Cropanzano made, “Anxiety collapses into depression.” This statement has led me to revisit things like the decline in our intranet engagement, water cooler talks, etc. Is it because people are busy, is it the summer, or are people feeling even more down and stressed out? Probably a combination of all three. I guess my point is to keep reinforcing those resources, dream up some new things and connect with people to see if they are okay. I’ve checked in with lots of team members since hearing that. I think it helps.

Russell Cropanzano, Chair of the Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics Division / Chair of the Social Responsibility and Sustainability Division:

The pandemic is a unique crisis, as it is unfolding over a number of months. People are afraid of being sick, of course, but there is also secondary damage to well-being – job loss, lack of social contact, loss in earnings, etc. It’s the reverberating effects of the pandemic that worry me the most. This could be with us for many years.
We know from research that supportive organizations can benefit people. It’s important to have regular communication and to maintain social networks. We discussed some ways to do that. However, as many Americans receive their health care through their jobs, this won’t reach many people. They are further hampered by the lack of a uniform and consistent national policy.
People’s personal situation is important. Those who are older are at greater risk. Those engaged in elder care or who are living in multi-generational households could also experience a great deal of anxiety.
Don’t underestimate the social effects. Being home effaces people’s support networks. Of course, if they lose their job, then this is even worse.

Sabrina Volpone, Assistant Professor, Organizational, Leadership, and Information Analytics PhD Program Director

The topics that we talked about in the panel are universal - BLM, COVID, leading in a pandemic … they are impacting each and every one of us as workers in ways that we have not experienced work and life before. We can have a tendency to think 'this pandemic is impacting the careers of working mothers’ or focusing on one or two groups within the workforce. This is impacting everyone in different ways and it is necessary that organizations revisit their policies and procedures over and over again through multiple lenses to make sure that the experiences of all employees are being considered.

Justine Roberts, Sustainability Community Engagement Coordinator, CESR

I appreciated the discussion in our panel on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion about how employees can rethink the boundaries between their identities in their private lives, and as employees. Working from home means that certain barriers have broken down - we see into each other’s private lives in new ways from a dog barking to a child asking for a snack. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It allows us to bring more of ourselves to work, allows us to be more authentic, and more empathetic. There is an opportunity here to recognize one another’s humanity and to make corporate decisions that respect and support our needs as people, not just as workers.

There is so much more in these conversations that is relevant and actionable. We hope you find the discussions as interesting as we did.

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Our Amazing Graduates

Anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2020 20:50:25 +0000

Our Amazing Graduates Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/15/2020 - 14:50

Justine Roberts

At CESR we love working with students. They are so many things: passionate, insightful, forward-thinking, courageous and determined. And in this graduation month, we are proud to introduce you to three ��񱦵� grads who have so much promise we can’t wait to see what they do. All of these students earned the Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate, and share a passion for impactful work that they nurtured while in school.

Laurel Esstman

Laurel originally wanted to be a teacher because she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. By junior year she had switched to marketing and operations, with a minor in education. Business felt like a natural fit - both of Laurel’s parents, and her brothers, all have business degrees. But Laurel wanted to bring her focus on making a positive contribution to her community to her work in business. The SRE Certificate allowed Laurel to do exactly this.

Through the Leeds School of Business Laurel participated in a program called Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa. Through EESA she worked with entrepreneurs, helping them with business solutions. One of her clients was a bakery operating out of the owner’s house, and the other was an app company that wasn't yet profitable. After coming back from South Africa Laurel signed up for the SRE Certificate. A lot of the classes, like project management, allowed Laurel to plan her own projects on topics she wanted to learn more about. She gravitated toward corporate social responsibility (CSR). Her favorite class was Business Solutions for the Developing World because it was about using business in real world situations and it built on her hands-on experience in South Africa.

Another program Laurel took advantage of is the Certificate in CSR (CCSR), an executive education course offered by CESR. She was the first undergrad to participate in CCSR, which is more typically for folks already in the workforce. CCSR gave Laurel a network of like minded people who all wanted to work in the same field. And it gave her clarity on the importance of a triple bottom line.

For Laurel, sustainability is just a way of doing business. She believes in bringing everything she has learned into whatever position she has, and making the most of the opportunity. One benefit of the SRE Certificate is that it exposed her to more concepts that could be used in the business world. Going into college, Laurel had an idea of what she wanted to do but she didn’t know how to achieve it. The SRE Certificate helped her understand how business can be used as a force for good.

Anthony Ortiz

Anthony grew up in Fort Collins and graduated high school with an International Baccalaureate degree which set him on track for a 3-year college degree. Originally, he considered going out of state for college, but after visiting ��񱦵� he realized he could get everything he wanted right here in CO: new friends, new experiences and new opportunities.

The outdoors has always been a big part of Anthony’s life. He is a talented fly fisherman and that led him to a deep concern for river systems and watersheds. He developed a conservation perspective early on. After considering a degree in science, Anthony realized that a business degree would take him into any field he decided to pursue and majored in finance.

He chose to get the SRE Certificate while working for a nonprofit called Wyoming Wildlife Federation. He knew that he was going to do some sort of certificate and was leaning toward SRE when he learned that his internship in Wyoming counted toward the experiential learning requirement. It was an easy decision for Anthony after that. His advice to students considering an SRE Certificate is to do something similar to what he did; find a course that overlaps with other requirements, such as Sustainable Operations (which can meet an ops requirement) or Leadership Challenges (which is also an honors class), and try it out.

Anthony liked how the SRE courses had connecting ideas that gave the program an overarching identity. He also appreciated how his SRE classes - Leadership Challenges, Sustainable Operations, and Business Solutions for the Developing World - focused on people. While Anthony loves finance, he acknowledged that it can feel like a lot of math and following rules. Life is a lot more than that.

For the moment, Anthony is looking for a job that will give him experience in an impact oriented business. Someday Anthony would love to work in South America, a landscape that has captured his imagination. For now he is excited about the outdoor and natural products industries and is looking at jobs in finance and in sustainability/CSR departments in Colorado.

Alison Schlichting

Alison’s degree is in Entrepreneurship & Strategy Management and Accounting. In addition, Alison earned the SRE Certificate. This combination was perfect for her. Alison chose to be a business major because it offered the flexibility to work in many different industries. And while she hasn’t chosen a specific field she knows exactly the kind of company she wants to work in: a smaller organization where she can make a big contribution, and an environment where she can nurture her passion for the work.

Alison signed up for the SRE Certificate after taking ethics. She liked hearing about the ways businesses work toward a triple bottom line, and not just maximizing profits. Alison also enjoyed learning about the creative approaches companies take to making a positive impact on the world. If the SRE Certificate had been an Area of Emphasis she would have taken even more classes.

For her practicum Alison researched the best hospitality companies in Denver and landed an internship with Inspirato, a luxury agency. When she interviewed and mentioned her interest in sustainability Inspirato immediately selected her to work on ways they could become more environmentally responsible. Inspirato manages multiple properties so Alison decided to focus on the cosmetics they use. She researched more sustainable shampoo and conditioner options, and met with CEOs of the companies making these natural products. Alison also recommended that, if Inspirato was serious about promoting a sustainable mission, they should create a position dedicated to that work. Since then, Inspirato has hired someone to be their sustainability coordinator.

Alison’s favorite SRE class was Sustainable Operations, taught by Joe Dobrow. In this class she learned about innovative companies, such as those trying to make artificial plants that will sequester carbon, and how operations fit into sustainability efforts. Another of her classes, taught by Birdie Reznicek, matched students with nonprofits on project based work. Alison helped her nonprofit partner raise funds and was deeply impressed by the passion of the team she was working with, and how much difference a dedicated staffer can have on a small, lean operation.

For Alision the SRE Certificate added enormous value to her ��񱦵� experience. She says she met a lot of incredible faculty and staff that she wouldn’t have connected with otherwise, and she gave 110% in her SRE classes because she loved them so much and admired the professors so deeply. For Alison, while entrepreneurship, strategy and accounting are all important skills, it was the SRE Certificate that spoke to her need for purpose.

Want to Learn More About the SRE Certificate?

If the SRE Certificate interests you, visit our website to learn more and apply for the program. Requirements for the certificate can be found here.

Please reach out to cesr@colorado.edu with any questions.

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Hannah Ishida Makes the Most of Leeds Opportunities

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 17:16:55 +0000

Hannah Ishida Makes the Most of Leeds Opportunities Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 12/16/2019 - 10:16

Leeds MBA and Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR) student Hannah Ishida is making the most of her time here at Leeds through her campus involvement and Leeds courses. She is the president of the graduate Women in Business club, previously assisted in orchestrating the Net Impact Case Competition (NICC), Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) team member, and recently received the Rebecca Adamson Indigenous Rights & Business Scholarship.

“Unique attributes such as CESR and the overall focus on social, environmental and economic impact are the primary reason I chose Leeds,” Ishida says. “Who knows if I could’ve been this involved in a different program?”

CCSR Program

The CCSR program was created for professionals seeking to further themselves and their companies in the practice of socially responsible business. Ishida enrolled in the course concurrently with her MBA to maximize the worth of her education at Leeds. The diversity and inclusion (D&I) and employee engagement modules were of highest interest to Ishida who believes that “if employees are encouraged, engaged and treated fairly, then there's no telling how much they can accomplish. Putting resources and innovating thinking into these areas generates powerful change for an organization and the surrounding community.”

Ishida also found value in the broad scope of the course; they considered a stakeholder approach when evaluating various companies and identified how to generate value while considering economic, environmental and social aspects of business. She also appreciated the network of professionals she was exposed to and the fact that “...everyone was willing to learn from one another and passionate about making a change in their own organizations.” This executive education course has provided Ishida with the ability to implement techniques taught in the curriculum to drive positive change in the business world.

MBA Program

“My MBA experience is empowering because I wanted not only to jumpstart my career, but approach some topics that were really unfamiliar and intimidating to me before,” says Ishida. As she began her MBA, she was excited to learn from both her professors and classmates, and to learn more about the changing world of business. The network she has developed while attending Leeds has been critical to her education, and she hopes to remain actively involved in the Leeds network post-graduation as she begins her career at Charles Schwab in an Organizational Change Management role.

“As a student, I’ve been able to reach out to the professional network with ease,” says Ishida. “The community as a whole is really receptive to Leeds students, and they are eager to help in any way they can. It’s a great way to learn outside of the classroom.”

Involvement

Outside of classes, Hannah Ishida is an actively involved Leeds student. As president of the Women in Business club, Ishida aims to build up the community of women-supporting-women and male allies. Her mission is to “...better understand where everyone is coming from and how to support each other in the future by opening up lines of communication and bringing in community members.” After she leaves CU, she hopes to remain a strong connector in her community to foster this communication. Ishida also helped to lead the Net Impact Case Competition (NICC) last year. She was motivated by the focus on social, environmental and economic issues in business and the complexity of business cases.

“Given the uncertainty of global business, it is important to be prepared and comfortable talking about business through different lenses,” Ishida says. “This competition brings together a group of graduates that have a passion for business as a force for good and brings into light the complexity of the situations we might face in the future. My goal was to make it memorable and a good learning experience for everyone.”

There are countless ways to get involved at Leeds and maximize the value of your academic experience as Ishida has done. If you’re passionate about the impact space, visit our website to learn about opportunities such as degrees and certificates, networking nights, case competitions and student organizations.

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Fall 2019 Sustainability Case Competitions

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 17:41:41 +0000

Fall 2019 Sustainability Case Competitions Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/19/2019 - 10:41

Sierra Herrington

This fall, Leeds staff and students hosted two case competitions for graduate students: the Net Impact Case Competition (NICC) and the Natural and Organics Case Competition (N&OCC). These competitions challenge students to apply concepts of social responsibility, sustainability and ethics to business dilemmas while proposing solutions that are profitable and feasible. Students who elect to participate gain exposure to the industry, expand their network and apply their education to business problems.

Net Impact Case Competition

The preliminary round of the NICC was held on Saturday, November 16th. This year’s case focused on topical and important questions of how to improve diversity and inclusion in a corporation with a bad track record for considering these issues. This annual competition brings together graduate students, executives and businesses that are committed to sustainable business practices and is the only student-run case competition. Leeds students have run the competition for almost twenty years.

This year, a record-breaking 55 teams participated in the preliminary virtual round, allowing more students around the world and with various degrees to participate. For the first time, Leeds students were allowed to participate in the competition thanks to the implementation of security measures to ensure that they do not receive an unfair advantage. Typically, around five teams are international, five are local to Colorado and the rest are from other locations within the United States. The judges are sustainability professionals in the Boulder and Denver area and Phillips66 sponsored this year’s competition.

Leeds second-year MBAs Mike Hilgendorf and Evan Peleaux, co-presidents of the Net Impact Case Competition, oversaw this year’s competition.

“The Net Impact Case Competition is an incredible professional development opportunity for our students, and all participants. The student leaders have done a particularly impressive job organizing the event this year and driven great results,” says Julie Waggoner, associate director of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility.

Mike Hilgendorf was interested in running the competition before he started his MBA at Leeds and quickly became involved with the Net Impact leadership. Aside from the competition’s complementary nature to his focus in clean energy, Hilgendorf was interested in NICC’s international reach and title as the longest running sustainability case competition. This year’s case was about creating a financially sustainable initiative regarding diversity inclusion in the workplace. According to Hilgendorf, this competition “provides students with the opportunity to create solutions to real world business problems that businesses provide, and it is mutually beneficial for the students who gain exposure to these critical issues and the companies to whom we showcase our graduate level talent.” It also familiarizes students with the triple bottom line, which Hilgendorf believes will become increasingly important in the business world.

If these issues of sustainability are of interest to you, NICC finals will be held on February 29th here in Boulder, Colorado, and all are encouraged to come watch the competition!

Natural and Organic Case Competition

The 2019 MBA Natural and Organic Case Competition (N&OCC), sponsored by Charlotte's Web and Naturally Boulder, featured sustainability and social responsibility challenges in the palm oil industry and involved addressing the IPO, supply chain and overall sustainability of the business. The initial round was focused on accessing additional financing given a lack of available capital required for this company to expand into Malaysia. Teams were asked to assess the benefits and risks associated with becoming a public company to fund their expansion. Students were given market information and data surrounding their projected IPO to evaluate the situation. From this preliminary round, judges Zack Donohew, Nancy Shoemann and Jay Waddell selected six of the eight teams to progress to the final round to be in the running for the $7,500 prize.

The N&OCC finals were hosted on the 5th of November, followed by a networking night for students and local leaders in the natural products industry. The teams were presented with a twist in the case, involving a whistleblower that identified discrepancies with what the palm oil company had promised and what they intended to do as they expanded into Malaysia. Students presented their recommendations to judges Catherine A. Walsh, Director of Brand Development at Moxie Sozo and the Co Vice-President of the Naturally Boulder Board of Directors, Steve Savage, Founder and CEO of 1908 Brands, and Rochelle Kwiatkowski, Western Region Key Account Manager at Charlotte’s Web who later announced the winning team at the networking reception. Several students commented on their enjoyment of the experience, even if they did not win. They found it both challenging and rewarding to analyze a case in the natural industry with respect to maintaining a sustainable business with ethical practices.

For more information, visit our website and learn about past years’ competitions. For undergraduates interested in participating in case competitions or community members interested in judging or sponsoring, the Business Ethics Case Competition (BECC) is coming up this February and details can be found here.

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Alumna Jenny Gerson: Sustainability Success at Zayo

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 22:02:21 +0000

Alumna Jenny Gerson: Sustainability Success at Zayo Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/21/2019 - 16:02

Sierra Herrington

Leeds School of Business MBA alumna Jenny Gerson is currently the Senior Director of Energy and Environmental Management at Zayo Group Holdings, a company that “provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society.” Her responsibilities include cost mitigation through energy management and environmental compliance at Zayo’s facilities.

“In my current role, I like that the opportunities are endless and that anything I do has an impact,” Jenny says, “but the challenge is deciding what to focus on. The key is to bite off something small rather than trying to take on more than you can handle. I struggle with trying to do too much at once.”

An additional role that Jenny Gerson has taken on at Zayo is managing the company’s green teams - groups of employees who are passionate about different issues - located in Boulder, Denver and Tulsa offices. These teams have created events and projects for causes such as waste and energy reduction, and this is just one of the many ways Zayo is working to make a difference.

Careers in Sustainability

For those currently pursuing a similar career path, it is important to remember that persistence is essential to your success.

“If you want to work in sustainability, there may not be positions open, but you can always create one yourself,” Gerson says. “You have to be persistent, gain the trust of your company, and once you show them value, you can move into a full time role as I have.”

Jenny also emphasized the importance of communication skills.

“Communication is key - be able to communicate what sustainability is to a variety of people and convince them that it matters.”

Leeds MBA Experience

When asked about the best part of Leeds’ MBA program, Gerson highlighted the relationships she developed:

“I think the network that it provided both from professors and from my classmates was the most beneficial part of the program” Jenny says.

The network that students build while at Leeds is enduring and extremely valuable as they progress through their careers. Students maintain contact with their peers and professors long after their time at Leeds, continuing to watch each other learn and grow throughout their professional lifetime.

To learn more about sustainability careers, read our articles on alumi Tim Weiss and Amir Abouzalam. For the latest updates on research, events and CESR articles, sign up for our biweekly newsletter.

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CESR Honored With First-Ever Best for Colorado Collaborative Award

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 21:00:31 +0000

CESR Honored With First-Ever Best for Colorado Collaborative Award Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/10/2019 - 15:00

Sierra Herrington

The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR) was honored on June 6th with the first ever Collaborative Award from the Best for Colorado program for their partnership with B Lab on the SDG Navigator project, and ongoing support of the B Corp movement.

“We are immensely proud to partner with Colorado’s thriving community of B Corporations, and to help passionate students learn about this way of building care for workers, community and the environment into the very core of a business,” said CESR’s assistant director Julie Waggoner. CESR staff received the award at the annual Best for Colorado Gala, which featured speeches from leaders of the B Corp community, and Governor Jared Polis.

The Alliance Center, a Denver nonprofit that manages the Best for Colorado program, recognized CESR along with B Local Colorado, Gary Community Investments and B Lab for work that has lead to Colorado having one of the highest concentrations of certified B Corporations in the world. This includes incorporating the B Impact Assessment into course curriculum, engaging with B Local Colorado and the pioneering work of Impact Catalyst (also known as Sustainable Business Partners), an MBA club that pairs students with companies going through the B Impact Assessment. Thanks to this organization’s work, Leeds MBA students have contributed to half of the certifications of Colorado’s more than 100 B Corps.

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

The Alliance Center, B Lab and CESR are just a few of the thousands of global organizations that are working toward achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set targets for addressing global issues such as poverty, climate change and societal inequalities by 2030. Many businesses are shifting their sustainability programs to ensure that they contribute to the SDGs, and B Lab is developing a new tool (set to launch in 2020) that will facilitate this process.

CESR performed the foundational research and analysis for B Lab’s SDG Navigator project during the fall of 2018. This tool has the goal of making it easier for companies to measure and manage their impact on the SDGs.

“This partnership with B Lab will create a tool to help companies positively impact some of the world’s biggest problems,” said CESR executive director Mark Meaney. “We cannot accomplish the ambitious aims of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals without business.”

By aligning the B Impact Assessment with the SDGs, CESR and B Lab’s work will connect businesses and organizations with impact-oriented objectives that allow them to better address the major issues outlined by the UN in their pursuit of B Corp status.

“Many businesses and NGOs find the breadth and magnitude of the SDGs daunting, and hold back from acting on them,” said Kimberly Kosmenko, project director for CESR’s contribution to the SDG Navigator and co-chair of B Local Colorado. “This project helps to change that by bringing together the UN’s global vision with B Lab’s well honed management tool for ethical, sustainable business.”

What is Best for Colorado?

The Best for Colorado program, lead by The Alliance Center in partnership with B Lab, recognizes Colorado companies and leaders who have committed to using business as a force for good. Those that are honored have established practices that go far beyond profit with the intention of making a greater impact on the world.

Keep in touch

Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest sustainable business news from CESR including research, events, jobs, internships and more.

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Certificate in CSR: the Spring 2019 Experience

Anonymous — Wed, 29 May 2019 17:20:34 +0000

Certificate in CSR: the Spring 2019 Experience Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/29/2019 - 11:20

Sierra Herrington

About CCSR

The Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR) program is a continuing education course taught by Pete Dignan, a 3-time CEO of Certified B Corps, that features guest speakers with deep expertise and practical experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR). To help provide a deeper understanding of what this program has to offer, Pete Dignan has summarized the experiences of three spring 2019 sessions each concentrated on a different CSR topic.

January 30th: the Environment

The CCSR spring 2019 cohort welcomed guest speaker John Heckman on January 30. John serves as Executive Director at Anthesis Group in Boulder, CO. He holds a Ph.D. in Restoration Ecology from Virginia Tech. John spoke about the environmental side of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He started by asking the class to name the biggest environmental challenge faced by humanity today. Students suggested climate change, water shortages, soil health, plastics in the oceans, species extinction,and more. John acknowledged all these, and then focused in on climate change and the decarbonization of the economy, starting with the power grid, and moving to transportation. He went on to define global sustainability in terms of a closed loop system, with only energy going in (from the sun) and out (reradiated into space), while energy and matter circulates (flows) in the lithosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere.

Our guest speaker went on to make the case that sustainability can and should be a competitive advantage for businesses - and that business is about competing and winning. Using arguments advanced by Michael Porter and others, John shared several methods for creating competitive advantage. He guided students through a process for assessing the materiality of sustainability issues, and for using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for selecting issues to address.

John concluded by providing a framework for expressing the business case for CSR to the C Suite. The framework categorizes all CSR initiatives as striving to contribute to one of four objectives: increasing revenue, decreasing cost, improving brand reputation, or reducing risk. The revenue and cost objectives are near-term, while the brand and risk objectives are longer-term.

February 6th: the B Economy

The February 6 session of Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility was a new addition to the CCSR course this semester. The session featured guest speakers Kara Peck, Director of Business Development at B Lab; and Jessica Saba, Media Relations and Corporate Responsibility Manager for 1908 Brands. Kara and Jess introduced students to the B Economy, including Certified B Corps, Benefit Corporations, and the B Impact Assessment.

Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Benefit corporations (sometimes called Public Benefit Corporations, or PBCs) are a new legal entity (like a C Corp or LLC), used to create a solid foundation for long term mission alignment and value creation. The Benefit corporation form protects mission through capital raises and leadership changes, creates more flexibility when evaluating potential sale and liquidity options, and prepares businesses to lead a mission-driven life post-IPO.

The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is a tool that provides a comprehensive and objective measure of a business’s positive impact on society and the environment. By answering a set of questions that reflect impact indicators, best practices, and outcomes, a company receives a composite score on a 200 point scale. The assessment is customized to each company based on size, industry, and geography.

Students logged into the BIA in class and explored the sections and questions with their own companies in mind.

March 20th: Diversity and Inclusion

The March 20 session focused on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) as a key element of any Corporate Social Responsibility program. Companies often pursue CSR because their leaders recognize the potential for business to function in a way that serves all stakeholders well, not only shareholders. Businesses can start by committing to a diverse and inclusive work environment, to create an economy that enables all people to thrive, now and in the future.

Students prepared by taking at least one assessment offered by Project Implicit, a non-profit organization whose goal is to educate the public about hidden (implicit) biases.

Demesha Hill, the Community Relations Manager for Janus Henderson Investors, was the guest speaker for this session. She is also the Managing Director of the Janus Henderson Foundation, and the Board Chair for B:Civic.

Drawing on data from McKinsey and others, Demesha made the business case for a strong D&I program. She talked about diversity in the customer base of most businesses, and how women and people of color now influence the majority of spending decisions. She provided data showing that companies who pursue gender and racial diversity consistently outperform those who don't, in terms of both revenue growth and profit.

One of Demesha's key points was that, while gender and race are important aspects of diversity, they are far from the only kinds of diversity that matter. Sexual orientation and gender expression, difference in abilities, age and many other characteristics of people are relevant when we think about creating a diverse team. She also emphasized that if we fail to consider the conditions and practices that foster inclusion, diversity efforts are much more likely to fail. She presented some of the practices that promote inclusion and lead to equity - conditions where everyone can thrive.

D&I will be covered again in the fall 2019 cohort, which is open for admission and registration now.

More Information

If you are interested in taking the CCSR course, learn more here and sign up for an interview with Pete Dignan or email cesr@colorado.edu with any questions.

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Students Share the Impact of the SRE Certificate

Anonymous — Mon, 13 May 2019 16:22:06 +0000

Students Share the Impact of the SRE Certificate Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/13/2019 - 10:22

Sierra Herrington

Congratulations SRE Graduates!

This year, we are proud to announce that 42 students have graduated with the Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate in the class of 2019. This is the largest-ever class of graduates in our program. The SRE Certificate program continues to grow from year to year as the next generation begins to push for more sustainable and socially responsible business practices, and the business world takes note. As of graduation, 80% of SRE Certificate students already have jobs or have been accepted to graduate programs.

“The SRE Certificate is essential to our students’ business education because it informs their actions as they enter the business world,” says Sara Neuner, CESR Student Program Coordinator. “It provides a strong foundation for their values and showcases their commitment to social responsibility, sustainability, and ethics as well as their competence within this space.”

Student Experiences

As more students join the program, we gain a deeper understanding of what the SRE certificate means to them. Recent grads Phoebe Kluck, Christian DiSolvo and Hayley Chambless proclaim that this certificate was a vital component in their education at the Leeds School of Business.

Phoebe Kluck has always had a passion for social responsibility. The SRE Certificate Program gave her business degree a true purpose. After graduating, she intends to enter the nonprofit sector, where she will “...dedicate [her] life to empowering individuals who have backgrounds and capabilities that are different from [her] own.” With a deep understanding of the world’s social issues and the business skills necessary to make a change, Phoebe seeks to make a global impact in her career. Phoebe will be continuing her education at the London School of Economics in the fall in pursuit of this dream.

Christian DiSalvo, on the other hand, explains that he has not always stood firm in the values he holds today. Initially, he entered the SRE Certificate Program merely because it fit in his four-year course schedule. At the time, he says, he had no idea “... how profound the impact of this program would be on me. The courses I studied and experiential learning I had while pursuing my SRE Certificate will forever shape my outlook on the world,” he says. After his decision to obtain this certificate, Christian became heavily involved in the student organization, CESR Fellows. As the Director of Finance for CESR Fellows, not only has Christian become very engaged, but he has engaged many others as well. He leads the Carbon Neutrality Committee within CESR Fellows, and after graduating, he will work in carbon accounting here at the ��񱦵�.

For others like Hayley Chambless, a passion for social responsibility, ethics and sustainability combined with a study in business did not seem initially feasible, given the stereotypical depiction of corporate America. Many, like Hayley, believed it to be a mutually exclusive decision. Through the SRE Certificate program, however, she “...realized that I could combine my passions for business and social issues through learning about corporate social responsibility and seeking opportunities within companies that prioritize it,” Hayley says. Through the experiential learning component, which she completed in India, Hayley has become more mindful of the impacts of her choices on others and her surroundings. This experiential learning requirement is intended to give students exposure to environments with higher standards, encouraging the combination of business and social responsibility to better everyone.

Want to Learn More About the SRE Certificate?

If the SRE Certificate interests you, visit our website to learn more and apply for the program. Requirements for the certificate can be found here.

Please reach out to cesr@colorado.edu with any questions.

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Who is involved in Impact Investing? Leeds PhD Candidate Jessica Jones seeks to find out

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:41:29 +0000

Who is involved in Impact Investing? Leeds PhD Candidate Jessica Jones seeks to find out Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/29/2019 - 11:41

MollyMacEachen

While investing has historically focused on profits alone, there is a growing shift towards impact investment - a type of socially responsible investment that aims to generate social and environmental impacts in addition to monetary profits. In contrast to charitable giving, impact investing seeks to fund organizations such as non-profits or clean technology with the intent to reclaim profits and reinvest.

Although impact investing is growing and expected to increase, little is known about why and how philanthropic organizations choose to engage in impact investing. In order to answer critical questions regarding the impact investing sector, Leeds PhD candidate Jessica Jones is interested in understanding what organizational factors overcome the barriers of risk, financial acumen, and uncertainty to lead firms to engage in this newer form of allocating capital.

Research Opportunity

In addition to being interesting and important research, this project also provides a research opportunity for undergraduate students. Currently working with two student assistants, the project is developing undergraduate students’ research skills as they work with the data and assist Jessica Jones in her data collection. Keep reading to find out how you can get involved!

A Conversation with Jessica Jones

CESR: How did you get interested in this topic?

Jessica Jones: Working for both the public and private sector, I witnessed the challenge for many enterprises to acquire the appropriate funding for the particular organizational need. For example, a social enterprise may be willing to take a donation of a particular profit even if it meant drifting towards a new product offering because the donor encouraged it. Or, follow on investments only took place for those with high-status connections, leaving behind many entrepreneurs and nonprofits with little access to a funding network. Ultimately, I became interested in how the investor-entrepreneur relationship begins, and how the partnership influences the trajectory of these social organizations.

CESR: What is the problem you are trying to solve?

JJ: Too often investors and investment seekers misalign, which is a potentially life-altering consequence given the types of social and environmental problems investment seekers are solving. I aim to help both investors and entrepreneurs curious about seeking or allocating investment dollars how to a) make themselves available (increase the pipeline) and b) allocate the appropriate capital for the appropriate solution.

CESR: Who does this research benefit?

JJ: My hope is that it will inform both investment seekers and investors- working alongside development organizations, foundations, and communities working together to help allocate money in the most effective way possible. I also intend this research to inform our classrooms as students become more interested in socially-focused organizations, whether it’s working for one, starting one, or investing in one.

CESR: Why is understanding Impact Investing so important?

JJ: The sector is estimated to have a $250 billion market, and over 76% of millennials see investment decisions as a way to express their social, political and environmental values,” (Emma Kennedy, CNN.com). Impact investing is relevant for not only for existing investors and organizations seeking capital, but the youngest generation of individuals growing up to believe what they do matters. Impact investing is likely to become relevant to most individuals in our society in one way or another. Getting a grasp on how we allocate these funds through research may help empower those who see alignment of their money and values.

CESR: Can you tell us about any interesting findings?

JJ: My work is currently focused on private foundations and their rate of adopting impact investing practices. While foundations are set up with the mission of giving to a charitable purpose, only <1% of all foundations actually invest in the same purposes (Lily Foundation, 2004). Impact investment vehicles, such as program-related investments, enable foundations to advance any charitable purpose to any kind of entity. These returns are then recycled out to new charitable purposes, multiplying the impact a foundation can have. My research looks at which foundations are willing to do this kind of investment by examining different characteristics of the foundations’ identity, structure, and personnel. Our hope is to unlock the elements that both enable and constrain foundations from doing this important work.

CESR: Where do you see the future of impact investing?

JJ: I see a world in which every investor has a unique toolkit of investment vehicles that align with each form of capital necessary to support social and environmental change. Right now it’s as if everyone only uses a hammer and expects the output to look the same- but there are many powerful and versatile tools that may be more appropriate in certain contexts. My hope is that the wide spectrum of capital covers the wide spectrum of needs for solving social and environmental issues.

CESR: How can we get involved with your research?

JJ: This is a long-term effort! We are always looking for more students with an interest to get involved in the research- data collection, interviews, analysis, etc.

Want to get involved? Jessica is looking for new research assistants to continue helping her with this project! Contact Jess.Jones@colorado.edu for more information!

Interested in getting involved with research as an undergraduate? See more opportunities here!

Stay up to date with the latest research! Sign up to receive CESR’s newsletter for the latest research, job opportunities, sustainable business news, and more!

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