At ClimateCAP, Scheller College of Business MBA students and staff learned why climate change is a game changer for the global economy. The summit for MBA students, now in its fifth year, prepares tomorrow’s business leaders to understand and respond to the climate challenge. This year’s conference on climate, capital, and business was held February 9-10 at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. The event brought together over 400 MBA students, business leaders, and experts to address climate challenges and how businesses are working towards carbon reduction. Thirteen MBA students and one educator from Scheller attended. The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business provided small grants to 11 Scheller College of Business MBA students to cover most of their conference and travel expenses. Students and staff shared their experiences:
Climate Change as Economic Game Changer at the Heart of MBA Summit
Scheller College MBA students attend ClimateCAP.
“Climate change is an unprecedented disruptor. In response, the scale of sustainability solutions must be immense. This was abundantly clear at the ClimateCAP summit, where speakers covered everything from onshoring renewable energy supply chains to resilience of the built environment. My favorite session was the hands-on ESG data workshop. The workshop included insights into ESG investing and involved three interactive activities: analyzing ESG data, evaluating exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and designing an ESG portfolio. It was eye-opening to review ESG data for major companies and learn about the criteria for an ESG fund.
“It was also an amazing experience to meet so many like-minded MBAs. As a ClimateCAP fellow, I’ll be working on a climate-related research project throughout 2024. It was a highlight to meet the other 11 fellows who flew in from around the globe to share their project ideas. The diversity of solutions and research topics from our fellowship cohort was inspiring and speaks to the depth and breadth of expertise needed to solve the climate crisis.”
“ClimateCAP was a great educational experience that further solidified my enthusiasm for pursuing a career centered on sustainability. I came to the Scheller MBA program with the specific goal of shifting my professional trajectory toward sustainability. Therefore, it was a pleasure to connect with so many MBA candidates from programs around the United States who have the same focus. Additionally, it was a real privilege to hear diverse perspectives from industry leaders on how sustainability is impacting business strategies, innovative technologies, and emerging opportunities. Lastly, it was encouraging to connect and get face time with so many professionals who happily shared their stories of how they were able to create careers in sustainability.”
“ClimateCAP provided a great opportunity to meet other MBA students who are passionate about the environment and social responsibility. I learned so much about the renewable energy, mining, and industrial manufacturing industries. I also heard about new technologies that are disrupting the market and redefining business models. The Ross team did a great job planning all the social events, keynote speaker series, and breakout sessions. I particularly enjoyed the Saturday morning keynote by the founder of BlocPower. So far, one of my favorite MBA experiences!”
“ClimateCAP provided me with a comprehensive educational experience, not only through the events but also through the variety of experiences that peers and industry professionals brought to networking discussions. ClimateCAP introduced me to new technologies, the barriers associated with them, and career opportunities in the sustainability field. The conference offered great insights on how to further engage students in our student-led organizations and encouraged me to think about making an impact at a local level. I am extremely thankful for the support from the Center and Net Impact that enabled this invaluable learning opportunity. I will carry the lessons I learned throughout my career.”
“I really enjoyed the whirlwind experience that was ClimateCAP! As the Center’s program manager, I’m often the ‘behind-the-scenes’ person pulling together this type of programming for stakeholders. Therefore, I appreciated being able to sit in the room as an attendee alongside other passionate individuals and to immerse myself in learning more about business’s role in climate action. One of the speakers whose words really stuck with me was Fawn Sharp [president of the National Congress of American Indians from 2019-2023], who fights for Indigenous Peoples – both nationally and globally. She reminded us how resource-smart and holistic Indigenous People are and what an asset they can be in combating global warming. Her impassioned talk really brought home to me how we are all in this together and how much we need to work together.
“In general, meeting other educators, talking to students, and getting out of my space reminded me why I am excited to work in this area and at the Center!”