Impact MBA: Corporate Sustainability

The Impact MBA, Corporate Sustainability track at CSU’s College of Business teaches the science behind sustainability and the analytical skills to drive change within an organization by presenting the business case for sustainability projects, linking profit and purpose.

In this interdisciplinary track, you’ll learn actionable ways to identify opportunities and develop the financial arguments for environmental projects – such as reducing carbon emissions or increasing efficiencies in the supply chain. Immersive and career-enhancing, this option builds on a wide variety of professional and academic backgrounds.

Course electives give you the latest specialized knowledge and skills in sustainable business, life cycle assessment accounting, climate change, and greenhouse gas management.

“Sustainability has emerged from the shadows to be considered part and parcel of corporate success. Indeed, for many of the world’s largest companies, sustainability is now seen as key to minimizing risk, increasing resilience, enhancing competitiveness and unlocking new opportunities.”
– Greenbiz State of Green Business Report 2021

Summer Fellowship

After a year of coursework, you'll join an organization to either work on a team or as an individual to complete environmental projects and sustainability initiatives. During the fellowship, you'll gain professional experience in the field of sustainability and apply coursework and analytical skills to improve and develop sustainable projects.

While business skills are inherent with an MBA, the scientific understanding to lead sustainable projects is unique to the interdisciplinary courses you’ll take through your electives.

The ultimate goal of the Impact MBA, Corporate Sustainability track is to prepare you have an impact within an organization, and help lead the way to a sustainable future.

Featured fellowships

The Impact MBA program is excited to pair students with some of the most innovative businesses in Colorado and beyond for fellowships. To provide a sense of what types of projects they’ll be working on, we highlighted five partner organizations where students will be helping contribute to key corporate sustainability initiatives. Fellowships like these provide our students with hands-on experience and the opportunity to make a difference by utilizing the skills they’re learning in the classroom.

Lightning eMotors

As electric vehicles command more space in the automobile market, Lightning eMotors is taking a unique approach. Rather than developing new vehicles, Lightning is offering fleet managers the tools to convert their gas and diesel vehicles into electric-powered vehicles. Lightning’s products lower fleet operating costs and increase safety, all while supporting the environment.

Learn more about the fellowship

In this fellowship with Lightning eMotors, students will explore viable industry partners for the business while researching competitors and evaluating the market. Using their skills from the program along with their research, the students will develop a roadmap for Lightning’s products with the end goal of enhancing the company’s position in the market.

"I am passionate about people, the planet and making profits, and this program provides me with the skills to affect the corporate world for the better." - Read about Sarah's fellowship with Lightning eMotors

Leprino Foods

As the world’s top mozzarella cheese producer, Leprino Foods believes that corporate sustainability can create value for all of its stakeholders. Through its Global Responsibility Initiative, Leprino makes sustainability a priority and promotes a better future for its customers and community stakeholders.

Learn more about the fellowship

Leprino’s Global Responsibility Initiative includes five key focus areas: products, supply chain, people, the environment and community. The goal of the Impact MBA fellowship is to develop an internal true cost accounting methodology for water and energy use in Leprino’s manufacturing processes. This system can then be applied to return-on-investment calculations for sustainability projects and reporting to support future project development. As part of the fellowship, the student will work with Leprino’s engineering and accounting departments.

"I love thinking about the way human processes interact with natural systems, and then from there thinking about ways we can minimize impact on the natural world." - Read about Dylan's fellowship with Leprino Foods

Montanya Distillers

The only thing that Montanya Distillers is more dedicated to than its rum is the planet and its community. The distillery places environmental and social responsibility at the front of its operations. They believe that businesses have a say in how the world works and how it can address critical challenges like climate change and racial injustice. It’s values like these that help Montanya Distillers develop creative solutions to help improve its business and the planet.

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Montanya Distillers has a variety of environmental policies it needs to comply with. Throughout the fellowship, the student will measure the environmental impact of the distillery, track compliance with key policies, and identify new ways to incentivize employees to support organization-wide goals. Through an audit of the distillery’s offices, production spaces and bar and restaurant, the student will design a new process to help the distillery carry out the policies, as well as identify new positions to help ongoing compliance.

"I am eager to learn firsthand how corporate social and environmental responsibility can be the foundational heartbeat for all businesses in the future." - Read about Meredith's fellowship with Montanya Distillers

City of Fort Collins

A quick trip through Fort Collins will show any visitor how much the city admires its outdoor spaces and natural resources. Sustainability is woven into the City’s strategy and stewardship is one of its core values. A variety of City services and departments help to uphold high standards in six key areas: water, land, air/climate, resilience, zero waste and employee engagement.

Learn more about the fellowship

The City of Fort Collins and its Environmental Services Department (ESD) are working with an Impact MBA student to help achieve multiple sustainability goals. The ESD supports the implementation of the City’s Our Climate Future Plan, Municipal Sustainability and Adaptation Plan and other community environmental objectives. In this position, the student supports existing projects and programs through researching best practices and providing recommendations, supporting project management and fostering a culture of sustainability within the City organization.

PepsiCo

As a leader in the beverage industry, PepsiCo has made sustainability a business imperative. Thanks to its global standing, extensive network of suppliers and dedication to sustainability, PepsiCo is well-positioned to influence the competitive landscape of the food and beverage industry. The company is driving scientific innovation, elevating indigenous approaches to regeneration, and promoting equity across its supply chain to become a leader in sustainability.

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Defining and identifying new sustainability measures is a multifaceted process. Through a combination of working with stakeholders, reviewing existing sustainable measures, research and presenting new solutions, an Impact MBA student will develop a way to measure the efficacy of the company’s nature-based emission reduction efforts. The student will work with PepsiCo to assess the company’s current net-zero strategies and identify nature-based carbon removal projects that can be applied to PepsiCo’s business units.

Support a Summer Fellowship

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword. It’s increasingly becoming a necessity for businesses of every size. You can prepare your business for a more sustainable future by supporting a summer fellowship with our Impact MBA program.

Supporting a summer fellowship can leave a lasting impact on your business. By hosting an Impact MBA student, you can leverage their skills, training and passion to explore new ways in improving your operations, develop sustainable goods or pursue innovative projects.

Host a Summer Fellowship

Interdisciplinary perspectives

To address the most pressing challenges in your community, state or even around the world, you’ll need an interdisciplinary perspective. That’s why the Impact MBA’s Corporate Sustainability track engages experts in greenhouse gas accounting, water, climate change, and sustainability to teach and share best practices. This knowledge is then applied during your fellowship to create sustainability plans for organizations that can be implemented to create financial savings and environmental impact.

Your electives for this track engage experts outside of the College of Business and across the Colorado State University campus. Those additional key CSU units involved include:

School of Global Environmental Sustainability	Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Philosophy Department	CSU Water Center