CESR Undergraduate Stories

Service Learning Ignites Passion, Gratitude for SRE �鶹��Ժ

Sena Kavi — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 17:05:21 +0000

Service Learning Ignites Passion, Gratitude for SRE �鶹��Ժ Sena Kavi Thu, 12/05/2024 - 10:05

Julie Waggoner

Last month, students in the SRE Certificate program at Leeds spent a morning preparing meals for our unhoused neighbors and delivering them, along with other essentials, to people living along Boulder Creek. This event was CESR’s first service-learning opportunity. It was designed to help students see first-hand some of the social challenges that exist in our community. The event also aimed to build connections among business students who care about creating a positive social and environmental impact.

“We were providing sandwiches to people, but the bigger part is talking to people about their stories, or about whatever they want to talk about,” said Laura Lammons (Mktg, SRE ’26), a student who participated in the volunteer opportunity. “So many of these people are ignored and treated as less than human every day. You talk to them and realize how normal they are.”

"Part of what made this experience so eye-opening is how close it is to campus and our students’ day-to-day lives."

Several student volunteers shared that they often run along the Boulder Creek Path next to campus, but they had never spoken to the unhoused people who live there. That familiarity with the area was part of the appeal in choosing this volunteer opportunity, said Sarah Arney, program coordinator at CESR, who organized the event.

“We wanted students to have a transformational experience that might change their perspective,” Arney said. “Serving our unhoused neighbors along Boulder Creek with the Wesley Foundation was a great fit. Part of what made this experience so eye-opening is how close it is to campus and our students’ day-to-day lives. Through conversation, students start to understand that people may end up unhoused for a whole variety of reasons, and that even CU students can struggle with housing or food insecurity.”

Lammons reflected on how the learnings from her classes in the SRE Certificate program helped her to put the experience in context.

“We’re learning to consider how business decisions impact everyone in the community,” Lammons said. “An experience like this makes you think about how business decisions in Boulder could relate to why we don’t have enough housing for everyone who lives here.”

Fostering reflection and critical thinking like that is key to the curriculum at Leeds, and particularly in the classes that make up the SRE Certificate. CESR aims to empower students to create positive change through their business careers by helping them to understand social and environmental challenges and the ways that businesses can be part of the solution, all while driving profits.

“We have tunnel vision often in the business school just focusing on the concepts we’re taught... School isn’t just about learning curriculum; it’s about clarifying and understanding your values as well."

“I believe that developing a better understanding of the challenges we face is critical to igniting a desire for solutions and preparing our students to innovate,” Arney said. “Service-learning projects give students hands-on experience and personal connections that underscore the urgency and potential impact of new solutions.”

Many of the students who participated had volunteered often in high school but found opportunities harder to identify in college. When students arrived, Rev. Ashley Murphy, executive director of the Wesley Foundation at CU Boulder, which hosted the volunteers, shared information and stories about some of the social challenges that exist in Boulder, including that 23% of college students who menstruate struggle to afford menstrual products. She also shared a story about a student volunteer who was unhoused himself.

“The most impactful thing was when we were able to hear statistics about poverty in Boulder,” said Trisha Tyagi (Fin, SRE ’25). “As students we’re in a bubble when it comes to financial security... It really opened my eyes to how much I have that I don’t realize, and how I have a platform that I can utilize to give back to those that are in need.”

Developing an understanding of sustainability and social issues through service learning can be a competitive advantage for students going out into the business world. It also serves to give students a broader perspective, help them discover what they are passionate about, and build connections with other students who share their interests.

“Service learning is important because sustainability is becoming vital for businesses to achieve their goals,” said Tyagi. “We have tunnel vision often in the business school just focusing on the concepts we’re taught. Having more service in our lives broadens our perspective and helps us root in sustainability and social responsibility. It also helps to establish and build our values. School isn’t just about learning curriculum; it’s about clarifying and understanding your values as well. Service learning is a great way to do that.”

“We were providing sandwiches to people, but the bigger part is talking to people about their stories, or about whatever they want to talk about.”

Many of the student volunteers spoke about the ways that interacting with unhoused people expanded their compassion and understanding for the circumstances and stories of others. Tyagi shared that she connected with an unhoused person who shared advice for when she moves to New York for a new job next year based on his time living there. She found it meaningful to see that he was helping her at the same time as she was helping him by giving him a sandwich.

“It was incredible to hear students' stories of meeting our neighbors as they shared 80+ lunches with those living outdoors here in Boulder,” wrote Murphy in an email after the event. “Even more, I am grateful for the critical thinking that students exhibited in reflecting on where and how our unhoused neighbors live, and the ways in which politics, social norms, and other factors affect hunger and homelessness. Our world is in good hands with these future leaders!”

Interested in pursuing the SRE certificate as an undergraduate student? Check out this page.

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Transferable Skills Opened the Door to Leeds Alum’s Sustainability Career

Coco Goldman — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 17:44:15 +0000

Transferable Skills Opened the Door to Leeds Alum’s Sustainability Career Coco Goldman Thu, 10/17/2024 - 11:44

Julie Waggoner

Amy Halvorson (MGMT, ’10) has worked on sustainability for large companies like Cargill and Starbucks for almost a decade. She credits her education from Leeds, including classes like Leadership Challenges (CESR 4000), and the skills she learned in her first job (that was not in sustainability) for laying the foundation for her career.

We recently sat down with Amy to talk about why she’s excited to serve on the CESR Advisory Board, values-based decision-making, and lessons she’s learned along the way.

CESR: How has your education at Leeds shaped your career trajectory so far?

Amy Halvorson: When I think back to my time at Leeds, and in particular because of the CESR courses I took, my main takeaway was around the importance of ethics in business. My experience in Leadership Challenges helped me to more easily identify ethical dilemmas that arise in the workplace and how to use a values-based approach to solve them. Tough situations do come up in my day-to-day work, like they do in anyone’s, and there’s not always a black and white answer. There’s rarely a perfect solution. It’s most important to understand the tradeoffs and how you are going to weigh them. I walked away from Leeds and CESR having a clear sense of this business reality. It’s not straightforward, and there is a role for values in making decisions.

CESR: How have you seen this kind of values-based decision making show up at work?

AH: Everywhere I’ve worked, there have been people I could compare notes and work together with on finding a solution to the ethical dilemma. Not necessarily in a formal setting, but there are some very explicit ways that a company can do this. I’ve worked for values-based organizations where values come up in team meetings and leaders model talking through values in conflict. The leaders that are the most authentic are the ones who are willing to express when they are not 100% sure if a decision was the right one. You still come together and move forward to support the organization, but you can do so being clear eyed about what you will and won’t do. Seeing that from the leader allows everyone to have those conversations more openly.

CESR: What are you most excited about regarding your work with the CESR Advisory Board and your upcoming talk at the Sustainability Bootcamp?

AH: It’s such an honor to be a member of the CESR Advisory Board, especially as a mid-career professional. Preparing the next generation of leaders is a huge priority for me, both personally, because it was not super long ago that I was in school and I remember what it was like, but also to make sure that our organizations have a strong pipeline of talent that can come in and look at situations critically and holistically. One of the things that CESR does really well is to create that holistic, systems thinking about business challenges that bring different perspectives into decision-making. The board is a great opportunity to collaborate with faculty, staff, other business leaders, and ultimately students to move forward that mission.

In terms of the bootcamp, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m planning to share an overview of what’s happening in the environmental sustainability space, which is ever-changing, but always comes back to the core issues of protecting the climate, nature and people. I love these types of events because I learn a lot from the students, from their questions and perspectives. It helps me to check my own biases, which is critical in this type of work.

"When I look back, most of the best decisions I’ve made both personally and professionally came with a little bit of risk. You have to believe that you will figure it out; you are your own best advocate."

CESR: Tell me about how you got into sustainability, and some of the most important things you learned along that journey.

AH: I’ll be honest; I really lucked out. When I graduated from CU, I didn’t really know how to break into the sustainability field. It was a passion of mine, but I didn’t really know that those careers existed. Sustainability as a job function was just being stood up. My first job out of undergrad was working in workforce and economic development for the State of Colorado. That job taught me two critical skillsets that helped me land my first sustainability job: project management and stakeholder engagement.

After I got my master’s in international business from CU Denver, I wanted to move into the private sector. I was applying all over the country to jobs with any company that aligned with my values. I got a project management job with a big company, and I was fortunate that the projects I was managing and the relationships I was developing were related to sustainability. From there I learned the issues by working on them. I listened to the experts in the room, asked a lot of questions, read up on things later to learn more, sought out mentors, and asked for stretch assignments to help me learn and grow in sustainability.

So that’s how I got here, but in terms of what I learned along the way, there are a few things.

Any job can be a sustainability job. When I started there wasn’t a sustainability job function at my company. We were more of a center of expertise where we had different functions working on sustainability. While I was there it matured, and a global sustainability team was set up. What I learned was sustainability needs people in all disciplines. Any job function that you can think of, there is a need for people from those job functions and those perspectives to work on sustainability.

Your first job likely will not be your dream job, and that’s OK. My first job was not my dream job, but I came away learning so much. I set goals to pick up certain skillsets that benefitted me down the road. I made connections and embraced the different opportunities that job was offering me. Now I see that organizations most want to see that you are making connections and working to transfer skills. They don’t expect you to have the exact same job that’s posted in the job description, but they want you to be able to make those connections.

Taking some calculated risks is important. When I look back, most of the best decisions I’ve made both personally and professionally came with a little bit of risk. You have to believe that you will figure it out; you are your own best advocate. If it feels a little bit uncomfortable, that might be the right decision. You have to lean into that discomfort.

"In terms of values-aligned careers, recognize that wherever you end up, there will be trade-offs. The existence of trade-offs doesn’t make it a bad fit. It just gives you the opportunity to apply your values-based lens."

CESR: What advice do you have for students who want to pursue values-aligned careers?

AH: Do your research but be open to the possibility that you might be biased. In my experience most companies, not all, but most, are trying to do the right thing. Even the ones in “Big XYZ Industry,” be that “Big Oil,” “Big Food,” “Big Ag,” etc. There are good people in those companies trying to help their company do the right thing.

Try to find at least one person in the company outside of the interview panel to have an informal chat with to get a feel for what it’s like to work there. The interview panel is trying to sell you on the company just as much as you are trying to sell yourself, so you’ll get their corporate talking points. If you can find someone outside of that through LinkedIn, a referral or a connection, that informal chat is really valuable.

In terms of values-aligned careers, recognize that wherever you end up, there will be trade-offs. The existence of trade-offs doesn’t make it a bad fit. It just gives you the opportunity to apply your values-based lens. I don’t want students to end up at a company and the first dilemma that pops up they see it as a red flag and try to leave. There are trade-offs no matter where you are and it’s just a question of figuring out how to navigate them.

CESR: Anything you would like to add?

AH: I’m fortunate that I’m a sustainability professional, but it’s important that students don’t limit themselves to one job title and keep an open mind as they’re applying. For your first job, it’s just important to get a good job. It’s important to start working in a professional environment, building your resume, networking, building skillsets. It might not be what you thought you wanted to do. The competition is high for any job. Be really open to learning from any experience that you’re afforded.

Meet experts and alumni like Amy at CESR’s Upcoming Events, including the Sustainability Bootcamp where Amy will be speaking on Nov. 8th.

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SRE Certificate Alum Uses Video Games to Create Social Impact

Erik William Jeffries — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:20:02 +0000

SRE Certificate Alum Uses Video Games to Create Social Impact Erik William J… Thu, 10/03/2024 - 13:20

Julie Waggoner

Zhenghua “Z” Yang (Fin, SRE ’14) is the Founder and CEO of Serenity Forge, a values-driven video game development company based in Boulder. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2020. His games have saved lives, helped kids learn rocket science, and inspired gamers to turn enemies into friends.

We recently sat down with Z to talk about how Leeds and the SRE Certificate (Social Responsibility and Ethics Certificate) have impacted his career, the power of video games to create positive change, and advice for college students figuring out their next step. This interview has been edited for clarity. This article mentions depression, suicide and severe illness.

CESR: How did your time at Leeds, and particularly the SRE Certificate, help in establishing the trajectory of your career so far?

Z Yang: Serenity Forge would not have happened without Leeds. The professors and programs like the SRE Certificate made me think outside the box. That is how I got all of this started.

The most impactful classes for me talked about responsible accounting, communication and leadership. We learned about how companies greenwash and that’s bad, but there are ethical ways to talk about your work in sustainability. We learned how to tell what is being done just for marketing purposes or to drive up share price, versus what is truly giving back.

The Leadership Challenges class really helped me. I remember talking to leaders like Michael Leeds (former President and CEO of CMP Media, Inc.) and Larissa Herda (former CEO of TW Telecom). Being able to speak with these business leaders, learn from their insights, learn from the traumatizing experiences that they’ve had and how they’ve had to deal with them, was very eye-opening for me.

These experiences are the things that have stuck with me over time and now fuel what I do. Very often I think back to what I learned then when I’m making decisions about how to drive the company forward, and how to do the right thing by the stakeholders within the company and outside the company.

"Very often I think back to what I learned [from the SRE Certificate] when I'm making decisions about how to drive the company forward."

says Yang.

CESR: What excites you about video games? What does being a values-driven company mean in this space?

ZY: I am a first-generation immigrant from China. I moved to the U.S. when I was 10 years old, and I’ve lived in Boulder since then. When I was in middle school and high school, I was a big gamer. I didn’t really have a lot of friends. I didn’t really speak English. It was pretty difficult for me to get into American culture. Video games caused a lot of detriment to my life at that time because I was so addicted to them and playing them in an unhealthy way.

At 18 years old I was diagnosed with a severe illness that caused me to be hospitalized for two years. During my first semester of college, I had to go to the ER one night and wound up having to drop out of school and come home. It was a very difficult time. I was going through chemo. Doctors didn’t really know what I had. I was in and out of the hospital. I didn’t really have anyone there for me. I don’t have siblings, my parents were really stressed all the time, and the few friends that I had disappeared. I had to turn to video games again.

I was playing all sorts of games. I was playing single-player games that made me feel like a hero, going out there saving the world, and that made me feel good. I was playing multi-player games where I was able to connect with people from all around the world. I was able to build these friendships where they would check in with me. They would ask how I was doing that day, had I taken my meds, was I getting proper rest, because they cared about my wellbeing. Eventually I was able to meet medical researchers who connected me with some of the world’s best hematologists who gave me crucial advice and treatment that was vital to keeping me alive.

"I started thinking, games like League of Legends, they aren’t designed to help me, but in the end, they saved my life. What if I created video games with the intention to help people, what kind of power could I unlock?"

says Yang.

Two years into this I was able to go back to school, and I came to Leeds. I started thinking, games like League of Legends, they aren’t designed to help me, but in the end, they saved my life. What if I created video games with the intention to help people, what kind of power could I unlock?

I come from a low-income background, so I didn’t have the money to take extra classes. My first year at CU I used the course catalog to find out when the programming classes were taking place, and I would sit in the back and just listen, take notes, and borrow the textbooks from the libraries. That’s how I learned programming. I have always done art, so I just started making my own video games.

The summer after my first year of college, I created a non-fictional game that was based on the trauma that I had been through with my illness. I put it out there online for free just to see who was going to resonate with it. About a month after I put the game out there, I got an email from a kid in Spain who had been struggling with depression. He had been planning to take his own life, but he found my game online and after playing it he felt so inspired that he decided to stop his plans and enroll in video game design school so that he could share his story in the same way.

That was my first year at CU. I didn’t make a million dollars over night, but I saved someone’s life, so I thought that maybe I was onto something. I kept working on the company. By the time I graduated from college I already had six full-time employees working out of a basement. This is our 10-year anniversary. Now we have 40 employees, mostly in Colorado, some remote, and a new office that we just opened in Budapest, Hungary.

CESR: How do you think about social impact and sustainability as they relate to your business?

ZY: There was a quote that I learned from John Mackey, the Whole Foods founder, that really stuck with me. “Just as people cannot live without eating, so a business cannot live without profits. But most people don’t live to eat, and neither must businesses live just to make profits.”

That quote is so simple, but also so easily forgotten in the corporate world we live in today. Probably 99% of companies out there don’t have any concept of the fact that we’re out here to do something more than make money. At Leeds, we learned about the Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit. That’s the kind of mindset that permeates Serenity Forge.

The game industry is very much a money-driven space. It is a gigantic industry with big players out there designing games for your phone that will trick you into spending more and more money for another turn or whatever it is. However, we came out of the gate saying that’s not how we do things. We’re going to do things very differently. We think about sustainability and social impact. We think about games that are going to be able to change people and make the world a better place.

As a result over the past 10 years, people have wondered about this philosophy and that distinct approach has created a ton of fans around the world. We’ve created games that are raising awareness for mental health, war, and trauma. Games that make social commentary on family abuse or child abuse. These are topics that we’re talking about constantly, and our games are showing people through real and fictional stories how the world can be bad, but also how it can be better. A lot of the things I learned in school really resonate through Serenity Forge.

Our company mission is that we create meaningful and emotionally impactful experiences that challenge what we think. Anything we do has to be meaningful. It has to make the world a better place. It has to do something that pushes the world forward. And if it’s not that, then we won’t look at it no matter how much money it might make.

"Why not take some of the things that you learn from the SRE Certificate about values-driven decision making and apply them to yourself? What are the things that you care about, that really define who you are? And then think about what you are doing every day to achieve those goals."

says Yang.

CESR: What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered as a founder, particularly of a company that’s so focused on values?

ZY: Now that we’re 10 years into the business, one of the things I’m noticing is really difficult is sticking with your values. The world is changing so fast nowadays. In this industry, you see technology pop up left and right and with each new technology you have to decide if you want to capitalize on it or not. Every step of the way it’s almost like the forces of the universe are testing you to see, “Are you sticking by your guns, or are you just here to make a quick buck?” All the time you see companies that are throwing money at new technologies, which can have big upsides and big downsides.

The founding fathers of Wells Fargo had a unique perspective relative to company values and technology, and that is that technology should never be the goal of what you do, rather technology should be a tool that helps you to achieve your goals. And that’s why we take our company mission statement so seriously. We look at whether any new technology fits with our goals of creating meaningful, emotionally impactful experiences and making the world a better place, and that’s how we decide whether or not to invest.

CESR: What advice do you have for current students looking for the right path for them after graduation?

ZY: I have two stories I share when asked about this topic.

The first story is about Shigeru Miyamoto, who was the creator of Mario. He met Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo, when he was 32 years old, and Yamauchi was 50. Yamauchi was owning the company from when he was 18 until he was 50 years old before he even met the creator of Mario. The way that I think about it is that someone like Miyamoto essentially messed around doing whatever for 10 years after graduating college before becoming the grandfather of a multi-billion industry that generated so much difference in our society.

When I was in college and when I talk to college students now, one of the common themes that I see is that there’s all this focus on a roadmap to a specific kind of job seeking stability, a Big 4 firm or something like that. But very commonly what I’ve found in my friend groups from Leeds, is that once you actually get into those positions, many people realize it’s not a good fit for them, and then they go through a huge revelation in their mid-to-late twenties where they’re directionless before they’re able to find their real calling again.

A lot of times, I wonder what is the right way to approach your own career. I’m not trying to say that working for a Big 4 firm is bad. I have friends who work for those companies and love it. What I’m saying is, why not take some of the things that you learn from the SRE Certificate about values-driven decision making and apply them to yourself? What are the things that you care about, that really define who you are? And then think about what you are doing every day to achieve those goals. Are you doing what you’re doing because your mom told you to do it, or because it’s on your roadmap to achieve your ultimate goal in life? I think that taking some time to examine those choices for yourself is going to yield better, healthier, happier results for you to go out there and achieve something great.

"Don’t be afraid to think big. Don’t be afraid to think about doing good for society, because you are already in the position to be able to do it."

says Yang.

The second story is about when I interned with the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. That was my dream job at the time. I realized that the Fed made all the economic decisions, and I wanted to understand how it worked. My time at the Fed was great. It had great benefits, and I really liked the work, too. For me, even if Serenity Forge didn’t exist and I had just stayed there, I would probably be happy. However, what changed my life was at one point we were invited to have lunch with then Chairman of the Fed, Dr. Ben Bernanke. That was very interesting because during the time I asked him what advice he had for kids like us coming out of college.

What he said was, if you think about it, a lot of people in the world are really unfortunate. People in rural Africa and China, these are people who have to spend hours every day just trying to get water and food for their families to survive. If you are one of the few people in the world who is able to choose what you want to do with your time, rather than be forced to do what you have to do to survive, then you have the ability to make a difference. That freedom of choice is what you need to find true happiness, and to change the world.

That moment is when I recognized my privilege as someone who is speaking English and living in America. I realized that if I wanted to create something that I wanted to see in the world, I was in the position to do that. That’s when I made the decision to leave the Fed and start Serenity Forge.

That is probably one of those things that college kids need to hear more. Life is not just about all the stuff that’s in front of you. You really can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it. Anyone who is attending school at CU Boulder is already in the top 1-2% of human civilization in terms of luck and privilege. So why not use that position and privilege to go out and do something good for the world?

So that’s my closing advice to college students: Don’t be afraid to think big. Don’t be afraid to think about doing good for society, because you are already in the position to be able to do it, way more than 99% of the people out there in the world.

_______________________

Learn more about upcoming sustainability and social impact events, as well as the SRE Certificate.

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Sustainability Comes Full Circle for SRE Certificate Alum

Srishti Sharma — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:10:59 +0000

Sustainability Comes Full Circle for SRE Certificate Alum Srishti Sharma Wed, 08/14/2024 - 12:10

Julie Waggoner

Sarah Reice (Fin, SRE'18) is the Sustainability Manager for Anthropologie and was named to the 2024 GreenBiz 30 Under 30 list. We recently spoke with her about how the Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate shaped her career, what qualities make sustainability professionals successful, and how her proudest achievement so far links back to her learnings from Leeds.

CESR: How did your time at Leeds help in establishing the foundations for your career?

Sarah Reice: As I look back at how I ended up in this field, I can attribute all my ambition, success and trajectory to my time at Leeds. I’m in a unique position where I’m working in a science-oriented field, but I don’t have a science background.

Through my education at Leeds, I was able to get creative when it came to a finance career. My professors gave me confidence in the fact that I didn’t need to stick to a banking or financial institutions pathway. With the SRE Certificate I was challenged to envision a career that created value and aligned with my own, and approach business in a way that could be beneficial to the world. That’s kind of the Boulder way. That love and engagement with the environment was something I felt outside the classroom, too. So many of my fellow alumni are taking a similarly forward-thinking approach to business, and I don’t think that is a coincidence. I feel a lot of pride that not only myself, but my peers are challenging businesses to operate differently, and I really believe we owe that mindset to our time at Leeds.

"With the SRE Certificate I was challenged to envision a career that created value and aligned with my own, and approach business in a way that could be beneficial to the world."

- says Sarah Reice

CESR: Could you speak a bit more about the 2024 GreenBiz 30 Under 30 honor that you recently received? What does it mean for you and your career?

SR: I connected with Lauren Kotze (Fin, SRE ’16) (who was in the 2023 GreenBiz 30 Under 30) last year after she was a recipient, and our conversation left me feeling eager to pursue the recognition too. Having this encouragement to engage with the designation from another woman in the industry was important, because this work is often referred to as the “wild wild west”. The landscape is vast, there isn’t a clear direction, and the opportunities are endless. That’s why networking is especially valuable in this industry, and I’ve been lucky to connect with a ton of women doing similar work who are always ready to uplift you and help you find your footing.

After completing my first year with Anthropologie and looking back at what we were able to bring to life, I felt like I was ready to showcase my work outside of my existing network, like I really had something I could stand behind and be proud of. That’s why this recognition has a lot of personal value to me. It affirms that the impact we’re creating is there, and we are taking steps forward. Creating long-lasting change is hard, and to do so in an authentic way takes a lot of time. This designation gives me confidence that even though our change may not be viewed as flashy as or as quick to action as other companies, it is there, it’s meaningful, and it’s rooted in authenticity. That authenticity piece is critical to achieving success in this sphere.

CESR: What are some of your favorite projects in your job at Anthropologie? How do they relate to big trends in the fashion industry related to sustainability?

SR: My favorite project has been launching our regenerative agriculture work. This year, we really leaned into regenerative agriculture, and regenerative cotton to be more specific, as a key innovation in our sustainable fiber mix. What has been great is seeing the 360-degree way we approach the topic.

We started off in April of this year by launching our first line of regenerative cotton basics, and we did this in tandem with a new partnership with Kiss the Ground, a non-profit committed to regenerative agriculture, who we donated 100K too as well.

Our regenerative cotton line was done with basics because we wanted to make sure we were creating sustainable innovation in pieces that would outlive trend cycles, styles that would stay in your closet for years to come. This was really important to us as a team.

Partnership was equally as important, because we wanted to be sure we were also uplifting the leading voices in this area. Kiss the Ground stood out to us because they approach regenerative agriculture in a creative way, and creativity really resonates with our customers. Once we saw their work, we knew they were the right fit for our new journey towards regeneration.

Beyond product and partnership, we also recognized that there is a huge gap in knowledge across our organization, our customers, and the population in general related to regenerative agriculture. To address this, we also created custom experiences geared towards education. For customers, this was in-store workshops, and for employees this was volunteer opportunities. It’s been inspiring to bring these experiences to life and introduce our community to something new. Education is so important!

What adds a more special layer to all of this is that I learned about regenerative agriculture at Leeds, and I’ve always been amazed by it. It’s a sustainability topic that I would come back to time and time again as something I hope to be involved in one day. Being able to bring it to life at Anthropologie almost a decade later has felt so full circle.

CESR: Could you speak a bit more about the 2024 GreenBiz 30 Under 30 honor that you recently received? What does it mean for you and your career?

CESR: What are some of your favorite projects in your job at Anthropologie? How do they relate to big trends in the fashion industry related to sustainability?

"Credibility is everything in this industry and being willing to say, 'I don’t know. Let me get back to you,' builds that trust and shows you have a growth mindset. In a field where change is constant, this skill is underrated."

- says Sarah Reice

CESR: What are some of the attributes of a successful sustainability professional?

SR: A few qualities come to mind. There is a real need to build trust internally and externally when you work in sustainability, so the first quality is the ability and confidence to say, “I don’t know.” Credibility is everything in this industry and being willing to say, “I don’t know. Let me get back to you,” builds that trust and shows you have a growth mindset. In a field where change is constant, this skill is underrated.

There’s also a ton of power in flexibility and resilience. Those two go hand-in-hand. You have to be resilient to challenges that will inevitably come your way, and flexible in your approach to solving them. It isn’t unheard of to be faced with data or budget challenges, but if you approach these with resiliency and flexibility in mind, you’ll find more wins than you expect.

The third thing is the ability to have boundaries with your work and take care of yourself. We are trying to solve complex problems often with limited resources. The people who have success are the people who can take breaks and make sure they’re still filling up their cup. It’s easy to make this work your identity, too, because it often aligns closely with our values, who we are as people. That’s another reason why boundaries and self-care are critical in this space.

CESR: What advice do you have for students who want to work in sustainability?

SR: I’m lucky to have a position that is fully dedicated to sustainability, though it took a few years to get here. I can feel for students who aren’t seeing the perfect job opening right at graduation.

But sustainability is a highly collaborative field. This work requires internal expertise within functions that may not have “sustainability” in their job title. When applying to jobs, think about the areas of the business that may work directly with the sustainability leads. This is how you can start to integrate this work into a more traditional function and gain the expertise necessary to make the pivot one day. Chances are that sustainability is showing up in these more traditional roles more often than you think!

CESR: Is there anything you would like to add?

SR: I have to use this time to give the Leeds faculty a huge shout out, especially Birdie! She’s a big reason why I landed my first gig in the ESG space when I joined B Lab way back when.

I want to encourage the students at Leeds to find ways to connect with the professors that inspire them. Whether it be attending office hours, staying after class to chat, or joining a club that their favorite faculty member sponsors. I’ve seen time and time again how my connections from Leeds have positively influenced my career, and it’s not everyday you are surrounded by staff who are equally as capable as they are willing to help you navigate this space.

Learn more about the SRE Certificate and Sustainable Business Club (formerly CESR Fellows). Revisit our past conversation with Sarah Reice about her work in sustainability standards at B Lab.

Sarah will be talking with current SRE and SRS students about careers in sustainability on Oct. 9th. Email cesr@colorado.edu for more information.

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Sustainable Business in Paris

kara7843 — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:02:51 +0000

Sustainable Business in Paris kara7843 Tue, 07/09/2024 - 14:02

Before I joined Leeds, I was a high school teacher. Whenever I told people my profession, they looked at me like I was missing some brain cells — you willingly hang out with teenagers!? Yep! I have always loved spending time with young people. I’ve led ski trips, adventure camps, even a just-as-the-world-was-shutting-down trip to NYC in March 2020. So, when the opportunity came to chaperone a First Year Global Experience (FGX) trip my hand was immediately up. International travel with 28 first-year students? Yes, please!

CESR has given me a lot of great opportunities since I joined last August. I’ve met fascinating business leaders and worked with some of the best student minds at Leeds through our Social Responsibility and Ethics Certificate and our MBA Pathways. CESR hosts skills workshops, sources consulting projects for courses, and helps students make connections between their business acumen and their values regarding social impact and sustainability. It is a unique and wonderful place to work at Leeds, but traveling on an FGX trip isn’t part of the job description. However, since a third of Leeds first-year students participate in FGX and it is one of the best experiential offerings at Leeds, my team gave me the green light to apply. Lucky for me I got a spot on a trip to Paris.

Off I went in May with one faculty, two staff, and a few dozen students to learn about global business in one of the most global cities in the world. Of course, I wanted to use the opportunity to connect with students about how important it is to understand sustainability in the context of the business world. What I did not realize was that Paris was going to do the talking for me. Our FGX class had been on entrepreneurship in France, but almost all of the businesses we visited in France spoke about climate change first and foremost and how sustainability was integral to their business model. Little known to most people, Europe is warming much faster than the global average. Drought, short freezing periods, and heat have had destructive impacts. In 2003, nearly 15,000 people died in France during a brutal two-week heat wave and since 2020, Europe has recorded the three hottest summers on record. Europe has always taken climate change seriously in comparison to America, but they are scrambling to find solutions and adaptations now. People’s lives and livelihoods depend on it.

We learned about this most clearly from Picard, the largest producer of frozen foods in Europe. Imagine if Trader Joe’s only sold frozen food and they had a storefront every few blocks in New York City. That would be Picard in Paris. The company markets to working people on a budget looking for a convenient and relatively healthy meal. (I would add quality taste to that list as well. I had more than a few Picard croissants and they were good!) The company was started in 1906 and operates globally. However, the whole business plan falters under the weight of climate change. Mitigating their climate impact and pursuing adaptative methods is the company’s most pressing imperative. The Director of International Business Development and Partnerships, Anabel Soares, reminded students that these efforts were not just niceties— drought can impose crop failure or a few rolling blackouts from extreme heat can take out a season’s worth of frozen food.

Little known to most people, Europe is warming much faster than the global average. Drought, short freezing periods, and heat have had destructive impacts. In 2003, nearly 15,000 people died in France during a brutal two-week heat wave and since 2020, Europe has recorded the three hottest summers on record. Europe has always taken climate change seriously in comparison to America, but they are scrambling to find solutions and adaptations now. People’s lives and livelihoods depend on it.

Next, we went EcoAlf, a sustainable fashion brand with a store in the very upscale shopping district of le Marais. I cringe at the words sustainable and fashion together given a recent study suggesting that the industry is responsible for 10% of total global carbon emissions. But let’s be honest, I love a good piece of clothing as much as anyone, so I was eager to hear their story. One of EcoAlf’s programs, Upcycling the Ocean, works with fishers to recycle marine plastics and reuse it in products like polyester yarn. EcoAlf clothes and shoes are made from pineapple leaves, used tires, and fishing nets, amongst other items. Small potatoes but I was happy to see high fashion giving a nod to the circular economy.

Nature Urbaine, an impressive rooftop farm in the middle of Paris, was another business we visited where the victories feel small but still quite notable. The farm employs vertical farming and hydroponic techniques to produce an abundant harvest for local restaurants at only a fraction of the space and water usage of traditional farming. Additionally, green roofs reduce solar gain during heat waves and there is an effort to deploy more in Paris, a city with surprisingly low tree cover.

On our final business day in Paris, we visited EcoVadis, a sustainability ratings startup. Launched in 2007, EcoVadis assesses companies all over the world on metrics such as resource conservation and emission reductions, fair trade and fair wage practices, and instances of corruption or inept governance. Nicole Sherwin, a CU alum, is their Chief Impact Officer and was our guide for the day, helping students understand the impact of a rating and why a company may take this on even in a voluntary market. The EU has strong requirements on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) disclosures and EcoVadis has worked hard to implement standards for the industry. Many of the students were struck by how successful the company has been too—recently receiving a unicorn valuation in their last round of funding.

In France, companies were aware that there is no sunlight between the bottom line and sustainability, something I’ve always known to be true, but it was great to be there when a bunch of young minds had that ‘aha’ moment. As one student wrote me and said, “We saw many different businesses revolving around sustainability . . . this being a main goal for big brands and big operations was something that was impressive and made me realize this is a direction that many businesses are taking in today’s world.” I couldn’t agree more. Thank you to Leeds, and Paris for giving us this hopeful glimpse of the future.

__________________

Katherine Ratledge is the Program Manager at the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility. She joined CESR in August 2023.

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The 2024 Impact Business Buff Award Winners

jago4982 — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:58:16 +0000

The 2024 Impact Business Buff Award Winners jago4982 Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:58

Jacob Gorovoy

For the third year running, CESR has announced the 2024 winners of the Impact Business Buff Awards, a student and faculty driven award that recognizes the members of the Leeds community who inspire excellence in sustainability and social responsibility. Leeds students have nominated all award winners, and we want to congratulate all nominees. The winners of the 2024 award are:

Faculty: Joshua Nunziato (Undergraduate), Dejun “Tony” Kong (Graduate)
Graduating Student: Gabriel Cervantes (Undergraduate), Steven Winterbach (Undergraduate), Mary Boling (Graduate)
Rising Star Student: Natalie Bovie (Undergraduate), Emma Ritson (Graduate)

Congratulations to all our winners! Each of these students and faculty members have dedicated themselves to making lasting change and a positive impact within Leeds and sustainability. We had the opportunity to speak to the award recipients regarding what this award means to them and how CESR has helped them in their sustainability journey.

CESR: What lasting impact do you believe you have made in the Leeds Community?

Steven Winterbach: I've never held back from bringing my unique perspectives and experiences into class discussions. As a non-traditional student, I leveraged my life experiences to expand classroom discussions, aiming to encourage others to challenge the status quo and take into account diverse viewpoints. I believe that my impact I leave is one of empowerment - helping to empower my classmates to see themselves as a catalyst for positive change and the curiosity and drive to make a meaningful impact in this world. Don't accept mediocre, instead set audacious goals and set out with intent to achieve them.

Mary Boling: I hope I have helped students explore their interests and navigate the opportunities at Leeds in the same ways others have helped me. I really value supporting others in achieving their goals and helping them navigate a new job market or industry. Having this recognition tells me that the way I am showing up within the Leeds community is aligned to those values, which means a lot.

Dejun “Tony” Kong: I truly believe that people make the place. Caring people make the place caring. A caring place is a sustainable one. I’m grateful for being part of the Leeds community since 2022, and for the support and recognition I have received from this amazing community. I care about people – faculty colleagues, staff members, students, and other stakeholders – and about our systems – human system, sociocultural system, educational system, and environmental system. With such beliefs and values, I try to make a positive impact on the people and culture of the Leeds community and encourage students and others to contribute to the sustainability and social responsibility of our Leeds School, their own organizations (if they are employed and business owners), and the society.

CESR: What does winning this award mean for you?

Joshua Nunziato: Acknowledgment (both giving it and getting it) is a really important part of human life. It feels good—and I’m deeply grateful—to be acknowledged for my teaching. It also reminds me what a privilege it is to have the students I have.

Steven Winterbach: Winning this award means a lot. It's not just about a recognition of my impact but also the gratitude I feel for being able to make a difference in others. Going to university was a big decision, one that required putting my career on hold and navigating my growing family. This student led award is a validation of those sacrifices and confirmation that pursuing my strong passion for social responsibility & sustainability was worth it.

Emma Ritson: Receiving the Impact Buff Award is a tremendous honor for me, symbolizing the culmination of two years’ worth of dedicated effort in helping to enhance CESR and its associated initiatives. Throughout my journey, I've been privileged to collaborate closely with CESR's exceptional staff and fellow students, absorbing invaluable lessons along the way.

CESR: How have you been involved with CESR and sustainability at Leeds?

Joshua Nunziato: I teach ethical leadership and sustainability within Leeds’ Social Responsibility and Sustainability division. It’s fun to work with student populations from our Executive MBAs to our traditional MBAs to our advanced undergraduates. Each group brings a distinctive lens, a different set of questions, and a unique slice of professional life into the classroom. As for my research, it examines how human goods like intimacy, respect, trust, and solidarity get enabled (or disenabled) by marketplace exchanges that cannot directly transact them. I have published in top academic journals and have a robust pipeline of forthcoming work under review or currently in preparation for outlets like Administrative Science Quarterly and Journal of Consumer Research.

Gabriel Cervantes: Before my freshman year, the late Prof. Mark Meaney gave a lecture at the EXCEL Summer Bridge Program regarding ethics in business, which inspired me to declare my first emphasis to be Sustainability my very first semester. I've gone to every workshop I could and read almost everything in the CESR newsletter that comes out if you'll believe it. Most of all, I try my hardest to stay engaged with the CESR faculty. These are leaders who were our age at one point thinking "there has to be a better, more ethical way to conduct business," so gaining insight from them has been invaluable to me.

Emma Ritson: My involvement with CESR and sustainability initiatives at Leeds has been multifaceted. Serving as Vice President and later President of Judge Relations for the Net Impact Case Competition, I navigated the complexities of implementing significant changes, a journey that was both challenging and rewarding. I have actively participated in CESR treks, networking events, and conferences, broadening my professional network within and beyond CU. These experiences have not only enriched my understanding of sustainability but have also cultivated a dynamic network of professionals with whom I intend to collaborate for years to come.

Natalie Bovie: I’ve been involved with CESR since my first few days on campus when I met the seniors at the time promoting CESR Fellows. Since then, I’ve had nothing but excitement about all things CESR and sustainability related. Through being a Fellow my first semester, to the Director of Curriculum, to now the Co-President of CESR Fellows it’s been such a fun time. It’s very super interesting to be a part of an extracurricular group while taking my classes for the SRE Certificate, since I feel I’m getting both an academic and informal perspective of what it means to be involved in suitability in business. Sustainability has shaped my CU, Leeds, CESR and even abroad track so far and everything about it has been extremely insightful and I’m constantly eager to learn more.

CESR: How have CESR and the Leeds community supported you?

Gabriel Cervantes: I want to genuinely thank the amazing people that have helped me and empowered me in the CESR community. From Dr. Nunziatio to Terri Walters, Lorna Christoff, Caleb Batts, Erin Miller, and Abby Lowrey and so many other amazing members of the CESR community I wish I could name that I have had the absolute honor of receiving insight from. CESR has provided me with knowledge and a platform for me to be able to inquire about what I believe are central issues to myself, my family, and my community. I truly hold the faculty, community members and my fellow students in such high regard for caring about more than what we used to.

Mary Boling: CESR and the Leeds community have supported me both on and off campus to take advantage of opportunities that would help me successfully pivot into the clean energy space. CESR hosted workshops for carbon accounting and green finance in addition to bringing speakers onto campus. When opportunities presented themselves outside of Boulder that would further my learning, both CESR and the broader Leeds community helped me secure funding to make those opportunities a possibility. In addition to these opportunities, this community has helped me navigate different career paths and networking opportunities based on my interests and skill set. I am someone who likes to talk through things with others and I have always found someone at Leeds who is willing to talk to me, which I have really appreciated.

Dejun “Tony” Kong: I’m honored to be a CESR Faculty Affiliate, supporting CESR mission and activities. CESR has supported my work in various ways (e.g., funding, promotion of me and my work), and so has the Leeds School. As a minority faculty member, I greatly appreciate the support and encouragement. I love the fact that CESR has good leadership who promotes inclusion and equity (evidenced by the diverse backgrounds of CESR Faculty Affiliates), which is very important to me. Likewise, the Leeds School, under the leadership of Dean Khatri, promotes a culture of care, which has a positive impact on me and others and makes me want to stay in this place and contribute to its development. I’m excited about the future of CESR and the Leeds community. With my research insights on people’s prosocial and caring behaviors, I will continue contributing to CESR and the Leeds community.

Natalie Bovie: The CESR and Leeds community have been nothing but supportive over my last three years here. The current and previous CESR program managers Katherine Ratledge and Taylor Dewitt have helped CESR Fellows so much in what it is today. Their connections to potential speakers, their ideas for club growth and their constant optimism have made them such great women to work with as well as amazing role models. They have helped us bring in speakers from such cool companies including: Protect Our Winters, HelloFresh, Mountain Hardware, and many others. CESR Fellows wouldn’t be possible without our active members and attendees and it’s awesome to see the community excited about all the different paths of what sustainability can look like in a career.

These incredible individuals at Leeds are paving the way for sustainable business and responsible operations. Thank you for making the impact that you have at the Leeds School of Business!

Learn more about some of the previous Impact Business Buff Award Winners - Shiao June Yuan, Anna Reves, Lorna Christoff.

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A Long-Term Approach to Sustainable Business: Lauren Kotze

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:15:16 +0000

A Long-Term Approach to Sustainable Business: Lauren Kotze Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/19/2024 - 09:15

Jacob Gorovoy

Featured on the 2023 edition of GreenBiz’s 30 under 30 list is Leeds School of Business alum and Sustainability Manager for The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, Lauren Morrell Kotze. GreenBiz, a prominent media and events platform that emphasizes the intersection between sustainability and business, generates this yearly list to recognize the world’s brightest sustainability leaders and business minds. Kotze, co-founder of the CESR’s Fellows Program and recipient of the SRE (Social Responsibility and Ethics) Certificate during her time at Leeds, has been recognized for her social and environmental impact as part of the sustainability team at The Cheesecake Factory.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Kotze following her GreenBiz honoree achievement, where she shared what this award means to her, how her time at Leeds helped her in securing a career, and her thoughts on sustainable operation in a modern business environment.

CESR: Could you speak a bit more about the 2023 GreenBiz 30 under 30 honor that you recently received? What does it mean for you and your career?

Lauren Kotze: GreenBiz is an important organization in the corporate sustainability community in terms of its role as a convener for this community, and they have issued the 30 under 30 award for the last eight years. I was inspired to apply when I saw a colleague recognized on the 30 under 30 list the previous year. It suddenly felt more achievable. When you can see a friend represented on this sort of list rather than just a random face, big things suddenly feel more achievable.

As for what it means to me, it is definitely something I am honored to receive. It is especially fulfilling that my childhood passion has not only become a career but that my achievements in this field are seen as significant and worthy of recognition.

"I always reminded myself not to settle - you have to believe that out there, there’s an internship or opportunity that will excite you and challenge you."

-says Lauren Kotze

CESR: As a Leeds School of Business alum, how did your time at the business school help in establishing foundations for your career? What effect did receiving the SRE (Social Responsibility Enterprise) Certificate have on your career as well?

Lauren Kotze: I came to Leeds already passionate about finding a career in the intersection of business and the environment, though I wasn’t sure exactly what that would mean. At that time, outside of the SRE program, my Leeds peers were understandably not focused on this niche nexus. Honestly, it made things a bit lonely, but at the same time, being in a rigorous academic environment focused on business allowed me to learn the language and rhetoric of business and start to understand what might motivate a corporation to take various actions. I have since been able to leverage this business acumen to create cases that justified why environmental systems needed to be protected as a part of basic business operations.

When I was a student, the SRE certificate program was an intellectual oasis. I’ll never forget the bookshelf in the back of the CESR office… I asked if I could borrow a few books, and I ended up taking an entire shelf back to my apartment! CESR classes and extracurricular opportunities gave me the confidence that I was combining sustainability and business thinking in a way that made sense, that others agreed with, and that had real traction; as well as a community of people who were thinking the same way and were exploring similar things; with whom I could learn and grow.

CESR: From your undergraduate experiences dealing with sustainability, you were able to land a position with The Cheesecake Factory. What recommendations do you have for students looking for internships that are the right fit and will help them in the long term?

Lauren Kotze: My advice is do not settle. Even back when I was scrambling to find even one or two opportunities that were loosely related to what I wanted to do, I always reminded myself not to settle - you have to believe that out there, there’s an internship or opportunity that will excite you and challenge you. That compass of not settling will push you to find an opportunity that is aligned with your passions. In a world where there are so many opportunities, you must have high standards for yourself in terms of what you are willing to spend your time on. Make the most of your experiences and do not waste your time. Of course, do not leave yourself without any internship at all. Aim to find something that you truly love, and if you stumble along the way, hopefully, it was a learning experience and maybe an opportunity to identify a skill set or job responsibility that you would rather never have to do again – that’s important insight too!

"The word “balance” assumes that sustainability programs are a net cost. Some may be, but if you’re creative, many can and should be profitable."

-says Lauren Kotze

CESR: What has been your favorite aspect of working with a corporation like The Cheesecake Factory?

Lauren Kotze: My favorite aspect of working at The Cheesecake Factory is the variety of my job. This is a space that is constantly evolving, and working with a company that has such a mature and comprehensive approach to sustainability, I have the opportunity to learn something new every day. Within the same day, it’s not uncommon that I will spend time exploring new procurement opportunities for clean energy, working with our supply partners to implement integrated pest management, creating a new staff training program for our restaurants, or working with our facilities teams to collect and analyze data to ensure we are making progress towards our climate goals.

For each project, there is a whole new lexicon to learn, group of stakeholders to understand, and business objectives to balance. I enjoy the challenge of going from knowing very little about a particular topic to becoming as much of a subject matter expert as I can be in a short amount of time. Sometimes that short learning curve is stressful, but it also allows us to build business solutions in real time. Some companies have team members focus on a singular area - climate, sustainable sourcing, reporting, energy management, and so on. I enjoy that as part of the larger sustainability team at The Cheesecake Factory, I get to do a little bit of everything.

CESR: How do you find the balance between sustainability and profitability in your work?

Lauren Kotze: The word “balance” assumes that sustainability programs are a net cost. Some may be, but if you’re creative, many can and should be profitable. Try to balance having financially profitable projects that build up budget (or a case for a budget) to fund projects that are high value in other ways. Look for projects that bring significant value to the company. It’s not a new concept for a department to create value that isn’t directly tied to revenue; whether that’s brand value, new market access, operational insights, risk mitigation, stakeholder engagement, the opportunities within the overlapping Venn diagram of “good for the world” and “good for the company” are endless.

"If you get a 'no' in any scenario, it just means you need to get more creative. Sustainability is changing every day and with that, so are the qualifications for a viable program."

-says Lauren Kotze

CESR: What have been some of the coolest projects you have worked on as a sustainability consultant?

Lauren Kotze: I enjoyed working on Petcurean’s (premium pet food brand) sustainability governance model. I assisted with the design and implementation of a framework for integrating sustainability into their day-to-day operations. (Fun fact: several of the ideas I offered throughout that engagement, I learned through CESR curriculum). I enjoy finding ways we can structure a sustainability program to make it seamlessly integrated into the company's daily operations, rather than being something you have to opt into and climb uphill for. These projects are incredibly fulfilling – and even fun - because the impact carries on forever simply as the baseline model for that business.

CESR: What is some advice that you would give students who hope to be sustainable business leaders such as yourself?

Lauren Kotze: If you get a “no” in any scenario, it just means you need to get more creative. Sustainability is changing every day and with that, so are the qualifications for a viable program. Continue to explore the changing factors while also learning more about the metrics on which your program is judged. Continue to evolve your ask until it is the ideal solution for the business. Any “no” you get is just an invitation to get a little more creative to eventually get to a “yes”.

As Kotze touches on, achieving sustainable business practices is a complex, ever-changing process that does not occur overnight or in a vacuum. The projects that Kotze has had the opportunity to work on as a part of the larger sustainability team at The Cheesecake Factory continue to advance the organization’s efforts to create a more sustainable operation that gives equal merit to business outcomes and environmental sustainability.

Learn more about the SRE Program here, and read other sustainability stories on the CESR Blog.

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Speaking the Language of Business to Drive Impactful Change

Anonymous — Mon, 01 May 2023 18:11:39 +0000

Speaking the Language of Business to Drive Impactful Change Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/01/2023 - 12:11

Noa Greene

Lorna Christoff, Undergraduate Faculty Impact Business Buff Award Winner

Lorna Christoff (Intl Bus ‘98), assistant teaching professor in the Social Responsibility and Sustainability Division, is one of this year’s Impact Business Buff Teaching Award winners. Christoff was nominated and selected by her students in the Class of ‘23 because she has made a difference in how they look at using business to make the world better. Throughout her 16 years at Leeds so far, she has made an impact on her students and been impacted by their strong desire to make the world a more just place.

Early in her career, Christoff felt alone in her desire to drive impact and positive change through business. Many people were trying to change the world…but not through business. Now, she is amazed by the social consciousness that resides within those who will be leading the future of business.

CESR 4000: Leadership Challenges focuses on values and leadership at all levels of an organization. High-level executive guest speakers share stories about critical business dilemmas faced in their careers and evaluate student-prepared responses to an ethical dilemma they present.

CESR was able to sit down with Christoff and gain insight into her experiences, achievements, and hopes for the future.

CESR: Over the years, a common theme I have heard from teachers is that they too learn from their students. I am curious, what do you feel you have learned from the students here at Leeds?

Lorna Christoff: The biggest thing is how wonderful it is to learn how much students care about people and subjects well outside of themselves.

“I like to arm all my students, for any company, even the most investor-forward or shareholder-focused companies,"

- says Christoff

CESR: What is your favorite example of an executive who has come to talk with Leadership Challenges and what your students took away from that speaker?

LC: They all provide such great learning opportunities. Over the years, I have had the ‘glorious problem’ of having female-heavy classes; and this is a testament to the Office of Diversity Affairs’ recruiting of more diverse students. With this group, I see Jane Miller (CEO of Rudi’s Rocky Mountain Bakery and many other natural food companies, and former executive at large CPG companies) as someone who is very relatable for the students. All of her ‘non-traditional’ experiences, from being the first woman to earn an executive position in a company, to finding her voice in male-dominated spaces, move students and allow many to feel seen, heard, and known.

“If you only speak the language of social impact, you will lose attention and credibility. Collaborate. Find value in others' perspectives,”

- says Christoff

CESR: Your class, Leadership Challenges, is a perfect example of bringing real-world examples into the classroom. What do you hope students take away from this experiential learning?

LC: When I teach it is always with an eye to giving the students the tools and language to talk about how doing things that are for environmental or social benefit, while being profitable, contributes to long-term shareholder wealth. I like to arm all my students, for any company, even the most investor-forward or shareholder-focused companies. Even there, the better they can make the business case for impact and serving other stakeholders’ needs, the better their case for changing minds.

CESR: What advice do you have for the students who want to make an impact, and leave this world better than they found it?

LC: You have to speak the language of business. You have to constantly find the links to profitability so that you have a real chance of persuading people to take actions that they would not otherwise. If you only speak the language of social impact, you will lose attention and credibility. Collaborate. Find value in others' perspectives.

Learn more about sustainable business students and opportunities from Leeds and CESR by reading more of our Undergraduate Stories articles.

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Shattering Stereotypes and Pursuing Passions: Reflections of an Impact Business Buff

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:34:06 +0000

Shattering Stereotypes and Pursuing Passions: Reflections of an Impact Business Buff Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/26/2023 - 15:34

Sena Kavi

Shiao June Yuan, Undergraduate Impact Business Buff Award Winner

June Yuan (Fin., Ops. Mgmt., SRE ‘23) is one of this year’s Impact Business Buff Award winners. Her peers nominated and selected Yuan because her leadership inspires a commitment to ethics and sustainability in others. During her time at the Leeds School of Business, Yuan became a Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program Ambassador and completed the Social Responsibility and Ethics Certificate. CESR recently sat down with her to reflect on her experiences.

CESR: Reflecting back to the beginning of your undergraduate years, tell me about why you chose to study at the Leeds School of Business.

June: Besides loving the big campus and environment at CU Boulder, the reason why I chose to come to Leeds was because it is still a developing business school with so many opportunities for all students. The school does not have a narrow focus that ushers the students into consulting and investment banking; with CESR, Real Estate, and other programs, there are so many options to explore during your time here.

Another aspect of the school that I love and influenced my decision to come here is the student community at Leeds. The students form a collaborative environment rather than a competitive one. If you are competing, you are competing together.

"I think it is really important that you take advantage of any opportunity that interests you earlier rather than later,"

- says June Yuan

CESR: Tell me about your experience with the SRE Certificate and how you feel it has prepared you to be successful in your career?

June: The SRE Certificate helped me shatter any stereotypes that I had about emerging markets and it helped me boost my creativity by considering different perspectives to solve ethical dilemmas as a business leader.

One of the first classes that I took for the certificate was CESR 4005 “Business Solutions for the Developing World” with Dr. Stacy Edgar. Going in, I thought that no one could do business in developing markets, which is completely untrue, but the big question is: how do we enter these markets in a more sustainable and ethical way? Dr. Edgar did an amazing job of talking to us about the large amount of market opportunity that is overlooked in developing markets. However, you still have to be cautious when taking advantage of those opportunities. The business world that we operate in right now is super saturated – with big corporations like P&G and Unilever – and everyone has different answers as to how ethical their business is. Emerging markets are a breath of fresh air that allows you to root for the underdog. They can make tailored solutions that address sustainability and social needs while maintaining successful business.

Another class that I took was CESR 4130 “Sustainable Operations” with Professor Joe Dobrow. I always thought that being sustainability minded was not something that I could do easily, but the course gave a very intensive overview of everything you need to and should know about sustainability in order to conduct more “green business.” Gaining the perspective of being green and the history of people trying to be green was really insightful.

I also took the CESR 4000 “Leadership Challenges” course. We had a case competition every two weeks, helping me learn more about working within a quick timeline and with different groups of people each time. We worked to solve ethical dilemmas, and it was always nice to have multiple different perspectives on how to approach ethical issues.

"The SRE Certificate helped me shatter any stereotypes that I had about emerging markets and it helped me boost my creativity by considering different perspectives to solve ethical dilemmas as a business leader,"

- says June Yuan

CESR: Why is sustainability and ESG education important for business students?

June: The first reason is more obvious and external. As we look at the current business world, there are many environmental issues that need to be addressed. Some people do this the wrong way, by just greenwashing or slapping on a label to meet market standards and consider it “good enough.” There is a demand for students who have a sustainable mindset but are also innovative and can maintain profitability. ESG and sustainability education in business schools is really important to give us the tools so that we can make being green profitable rather than just a “fad.”

The second reason comes from a more internal need. Our generation sees the effects of not being sustainability minded and how we have to deal with the consequences that are looming over us. Sure, there is a market demand for individuals that have sustainability and ESG education, but taking advantage of such educational opportunities can also benefit everyone in the future. For us, it is important to know how we can start learning about it now.

CESR: What are some of your favorite things about being at Leeds that you will miss?

June: I enjoy doing case competitions and engagements. I think that’s because I am a true LCGer (Leeds Consulting Group) at heart, in the sense that I love teamwork and having a little bit of a competitive edge that will push me. I love it, whether it’s a six-month-long engagement working with project clients through LCG or a three-week-long case competition. My second one is a little cheesy, but I will miss the people. I genuinely enjoyed getting to know so many people who are so passionate about different things. I feel dumb around them sometimes, but that is a good thing! It pushes me to learn more about them and their interests. Even with people that I am a little apprehensive about at first, it pushes me to get to know them a little more. Since it is such a small business school, I feel like I have had at least one class with most of the people here, and I have been able to connect with a good number of them.

"There is a demand for students who have a sustainable mindset but are also innovative and can maintain profitability,"

- says June Yuan

CESR: As a graduating senior, what advice do you have for current and future business Buffs?

June: I think it is really important that you take advantage of any opportunity that interests you earlier rather than later. That’s not to say that it’s impossible to get involved later on; I wasn’t involved with the Daniels Ethics Fund until my junior year, but I wish I became involved in it earlier. Oftentimes it’s really uncomfortable to start something new because you might not know anyone, or you might show up to a club as a second-year student with no one that you know. Just take the risk, because the worst thing that will happen is that you won’t like it.

That being said, I joined way too many clubs my freshman year. I didn’t really have a specific passion area at that time. Do what makes you passionate, and don’t do something just for your resume. That way, you can fully put your heart into it and see where it leads you.

Following graduation, June plans to spend the summer traveling internationally before starting as a Business Technology Solutions Analyst at Deloitte. She hopes to continue pursuing her passions in baking, dreaming of eventually attending pastry school.

Learn more about sustainable business students and opportunities from Leeds and CESR by reading more of our Undergraduate Stories articles.

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Student Voices: DEI is the Future of Business

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:15:07 +0000

Student Voices: DEI is the Future of Business Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:15

Sena Kavi

Sena Kavi (Mktg., '26) is a CESR Student worker who wrote this piece to illustrate her own experience with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI & B), and how, based on her personal story, she views it as a powerful tool in the business world.

I am the child of immigrant parents.

I am a woman.

I am Muslim.

Along with all of that, I am an aspiring business professional.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a topic that is continuously bounced around in conversations surrounding the educational and professional sphere. For me, a safe work and educational environment is one that recognizes the intersectional identities of me and my peers, one that supports all of our experiences.

My parents came to the United States from Turkey searching for what is often called “The American Dream:” success and educational opportunities. They raised my sister and me to be proud of our Turkishness, faith, and background. Consequently, growing up in Boulder County, I have not been a stranger to feeling like the odd one out. Some of my earliest memories at school are of my classmates ridiculing me for stumbling through my limited English.

Diversity helps challenge stereotypes, improve communication skills, and empower students to feel like leaders,

- says Sena Kavi

At only five years old, I was left feeling inadequate, powerless, and alone. It is like a dark abyss: once someone is pushed into feeling those things, it can be incredibly difficult to climb out.

Having a work and school environment that uplifts and supports different abilities, identities, and backgrounds can have a tremendous positive impact on the morale and mental health of those within them.

The positive impacts of diversity in the workplace and in school are proven. A study done by Boston Consulting Group showed that diverse workforces are up to 19% more productive. In colleges and other educational settings, diversity helps challenge stereotypes, improve communication skills, and empower students to feel like leaders. However, simply acknowledging the benefits of DEI is not enough; companies and schools must find ways to enact resources to help students and employees in overcoming barriers. An excellent example in the educational realm is the Diverse Scholars Program for undergraduate students in the Leeds School of Business.

- says Sena Kavi

DEI is crucial. It is undeniable that our history is full of countless instances of individuals being denied equitable opportunities and inclusive environments. Yet, issues of equity and diversity are not just a story of our past. Generations of inequity have allowed realities such as the gender gap and racial and socioeconomic inequalities to ingrain themselves in the roots of the business world.
Although businesses have made incredible strides in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion in recent years, there is still a long way to go. There has been an observable slow down in the area of DEI within companies this year. With a looming recession, many companies such as Twitter are making major cuts to their DEI teams and initiatives.

I am grateful to be a part of a current generation full of young people and future professionals who are not afraid to speak up about their hopes and demands, and I am confident that a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society is not far from our reach.

Inclusive excellence is an important focus area for Leeds and for CU Boulder. Discover more stories about DEI at Leeds.

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