Sustainable Business Spotlight
BY: SNEHA DEEPAK
Degrees in business-related fields can be applied to a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional careers. An industry that is becoming increasingly relevant given recent global environmental challenges and the growing awareness around corporate responsibility is the sustainable business industry. As illustrated by a study from IBM, the importance of sustainability is two-fold with 80% of consumers and 71% of employees and employment seekers indicating that sustainable companies are more attractive to them. Additionally, a survey from Research Insights found that 55% of consumers say environmental responsibility is very or extremely important to them when choosing a brand, highlighting the increasing acknowledgement of sustainability’s importance.
The sustainable business industry encompasses a wide range of sectors ranging from renewable energy to sustainable fashion, all focused on integrating sustainable practices into business operations, supply chains, and strategies. This industry focuses on social responsibility to create long-term value for stakeholders while minimizing negative impacts on the planet. There are several companies across industries that fall within the sustainability business space, some of which include Tesla, Patagonia, and Estée Lauder. Common careers within sustainable business include sustainability consulting, renewable energy analysts, and supply chain sustainability specialists, however, there are a wide variety of other careers that also involve sustainable business.
To continue learning more about this industry and keep up with relevant news, make sure to do some research and keep up with specific sectors that interest you! You can also check out websites like GreenBiz and Sustainable Brands, which highlight important news and emerging trends within the industry.
Additionally, Stern also offers a variety of resources to continue exploring the sustainable business space. The Sustainable Business Concentration at Stern focuses on how embedding sustainability into business strategy can benefit financial performance and management practices. Check out this link to learn more about the concentration and interesting courses that relate to the field.
Outside of classes, programs like Social Impact Fellows emphasize the importance of societal impact by providing students with the opportunity to design their own sustainability projects, engage in dialogue with industry professionals, and debate relevant industry news. Clubs such as Net Impact also offer programs involving workshops, projects, industry panels, and career events for students to gain more exposure to the space and connect with professionals within the industry. In addition, the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business also has great resources ranging from research opportunities to various publications and case studies that can help students better understand the industry and career paths within the space!