Trained MBA students from top business schools can now apply to become a 2010 Climate Corps fellow. The program embeds students in leading companies to develop practical, actionable energy efficiency plans. They spend up to three months identifying and analyzing savings opportunities. Application materials are due no later than 5:00pm PST on Monday, January 11, 2010.
There are an unlimited number of other ways to have a positive impact through your work. Thus, I am thrilled to move on this week to talk about those other ways. I have met a number of people from organizations such as The Gap, Whole Foods and Ford that have told me stories about how being a “tempered radical” in those organizations allowed them to bring about significant sustainability changes and initiatives.
As consumer expectations rise and trust in corporations decline, the need for ethical business practices is greater than ever. Yet in a recession, companies seeking to cut costs will likely postpone important CSR initiatives or cut spending in favor of core business initiatives. But it doesn’t have to be either-or. Companies that consider social and environmental initiatives as potential innovation platforms and brand builders — not expenses — will come out ahead.
