Certificate in Responsible Management

New CRM Blog

2011-03-25T10:18:00.001-04:00

This blog is no longer in service and the new blog for the CRM can be found at http://www.gwsbcrm.blogspot.com/.

Environmental Film Festival coming up (March 15-27)

2011-03-05T10:39:00.002-05:00

For full details:

http://www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org/

10 February Business Response to Climate Change

2011-02-01T10:58:00.002-05:00

The Business Response to Climate Change is a student-organized conference that will explore how forward-thinking businesses seize market opportunities for clean technologies. The conference includes three panels, a keynote address, lunch and a networking reception as well as an afternoon career fair featuring representatives from leading energy employers.

The goal of the conference is to inspire the business leaders of tomorrow to think about ways that they can drive tomorrow's energy strategies, and use the power of business to create lasting social and environmental good.

Students can register for the conference at a discount rate.

http://thebusinessreponse.com

The Other Climate Conference

2011-01-07T10:42:00.004-05:00

Driving down Mexico highway 307 en route to the beach over holiday break, I was surprised to learn that the gated, sprawling structure we passed on our right was the site of the Cancun Climate Change Conference, which took place just weeks before in early December.

Glimpsing it brought me back to the morning I cracked open the Economist and read the headline summarizing it: A Sort of Progress. After the disappointment that followed the much-hyped 2009 Copenhagen Summit, it was encouraging to read something suggestive of progress.

The 194 countries in attendance agreed:

· By 2020, to provide $100 billion a year for developing countries as climate assistance.

· To establish a Climate Fund to channel that would channel money through the World Bank.

· To develop a system whereby countries receive rewards for lowering rates of deforestation.

While a step in the right direction in terms of process and international cooperation, several countries, Bolivia foremost among them, opposed the eventual agreement on the grounds that it would do little to slow down global climate change. America, China, and other big polluters are no closer to subjecting themselves to binding emissions targets, nor will they be any time soon. In a controversial move, Japan used the occasion of Cancun to make clear that it will not make a renewed commitment to emissions cuts once the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

It is interesting to follow these events as a business school student. The Cancun negotiations took place on the highest of macro universes, seemingly far removed from the level of the firm. At the same time, any progress or lack thereof on a global scale is bound to affect business, and my career.

My beliefs are such that I view the work of the government and extra-national organizations as crucial insofar as they create the conditions for business to function, and operate on the level needed to address global issues.

That being said, the business student and economics major in me is banking on the private sector to get the job done. If you have the chance, definitely read Steven’s Levitt’s new book, Super Freakonomics. True to his billing, Levitt provides an interesting take on climate change and profiles in a very interesting and accessible manner, some of the wacky private-sector innovations that could save the world!

John Dillman Global MBA, 2012

Toys for Tots and NORAD Santa tracker

2010-12-20T15:20:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the George Washington School of Business' Toys for Tots drive in conjunction with some of DC's finest United States Marine Corps troops and leaders!

Student's teachers and administrators - please know that your contributed toys are now on their way into the hands of local children in need.

Track santa as he works his magic: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

How much control do we have over the economic future?

2010-12-05T20:39:00.004-05:00

4 out of the top 5 economies in 2050 will be formerly developing economies. Who will help shape their growth? Will the growth be sustainable? Equitable?

Intrapreneur versus Entrepreneur by John Dillman

2010-11-30T21:07:00.004-05:00

In determining which business school to attend, I used resources such as Aspen Institute’s Beyond Pinstripes and Net Impact’s annual b-school rankings to narrow down the field. When it came time to make my decision, GW’s involvement with Net Impact and its leadership in weaving ethics, sustainability, and the like into the fabric of the program tipped the balance and here I am today.

After a fast-paced but enjoyable module 1 in which I suffered from the tunnel vision one gets when navigating 6 classes in as many weeks, I was amped to attend the Net Impact Conference in Ann Arbor. Occurring one week after our first set of finals, it presented the perfect opportunity to put academics aside and reconnect with what drew to me to business school in the first place.

I came to GW to become a better problem solver, and the problems I wanted to help solve were the focus of this conference. I set loose goals going in, knowing that the weekend would inspire more questions than provide answers.

Among the many questions swirling through my head when I boarded the plane after a great weekend, there was one that stood out: intrapreneurship or entrepreneurship?

Whatever I end up doing after business school, my primary motivation will be solving problems and helping people. How should I express this through my career? Should I go the CSR route and push for change from within an organization? Or should I heed the advice of Gary Hirshberg (founder and CE-YO of Stonyfield Organic) or Majora Carter (economic consultant and environmental justice advocate) who both make convincing arguments for building from the ground up?

Both paths feature excitement, opportunity, advantages, and disadvantages. With CSR and intrapreneurship, there is the opportunity to change well-established organizations. The size of a Wal-Mart or Coca-Cola is such that any change you make will have a far-reaching impact. You learn from people who have been in business a long time and have a chance to develop into a seasoned professional. This is appealing to someone like me who will re-enter the workforce in 2012 with less than 3 years of professional experience on the books. Furthermore, there is something to be said for the notion that the most effective agents of change are those who understand and have lived the system. Only after a year and change at Ashoka’s Youth Venture was I able to push through effective programs in my area.

With entrepreneurship, you avoid the risk of getting sucked into the belly of a slow-moving organization. You avoid the situation of taking a position in marketing or HR when what you really want is to work on sustainability. With entrepreneurship, it is your ship to steer. You can move the ball forward as fast or as slow as you want to, and apply pressure to incumbents who are not altering their behavior fast enough.

There are downsides to this path as well. There is the risk that you fail completely. Even if you are successful and your organization is doing wonderful things, you may have a hard time achieving the scale needed to make a big impact. Is an hour spent working to increase the success of your start-up better than an hour spent working to make Wal-Mart more socially responsible?

Of course, the choice is not simply between entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship, start-up versus incumbent. There are a variety of options in between – established-mid size organizations or start-ups with a couple of years under their belt.

The purpose of this post is not to endorse one path over the other. Rather, it is to share with you my still evolving thought process on a career in effective change making.

John Dillman Global MBA, 2012

"Sirius XM Radio's interview of Honest Tea's TeaEO" by Eliza Roberts

2010-11-25T22:14:00.005-05:00

I had the fortune of attending a live interview at the Sirius XM radio station of the TeaEO of Honest Tea, Seth Goldman. I have always loved Honest Tea as a beverage. My favorite flavor is “Peach Oolalong” “Just a Tad Sweet.” But, Seth's modesty, his passion for using business to bring about positive change, his humor, and his honesty about work/ life balance and the challenges of starting your own company made me love Honest Tea even more.

Seth got the idea to start Honest Tea while sitting in a business class at the Yale School of Management and discussing the beverage business case on Coca-Cola and Pepsi. He realized that there were sweet sodas and watery beverages, but no drinks that were less sweet. After graduating and experimenting in his kitchen in Maryland with thermoses on loan to him and a tea that he said tasted initially like grass, he approached the local Whole foods to tell them about his new concoction.

The next thing he knew, Whole Foods ordered 15,000 bottles as an experiment and Seth and his co-founder, a professor at Yale, had to find a way to manufacture it on a large scale. He and some MBA interns offered samplings at stores throughout the region and by the end of the month it was the best selling tea in all stores. Today, 10 years later, Honest Tea is the best selling beverage within the healthy drinks category and has grown to 60 million in sales. Honest Tea was also the first to offer fair trade tea in 2003 and by March of this year expects all of its teas to be fair trade.

What is his advice to MBA students, or people who want to be just like him? Seth offered two words of wisdom:

1) Do what you really care about. Don’t take a job that you are NOT going to be fired up to go to every day.

2) Once you find what you want to do, go after it like nothing can stop you!

What are his thoughts on Corporate Responsibility? For companies working to implement CSR initiatives, the best approach is not just taking money from high profit margins and distributing it as in-kind donations to a local non-profit, but rather finding a way to make CSR the core of what you do. For Honest Tea, giving back and offering healthy, organic, fair trade beverages to consumers is at the core of what they do. His goal in running Honest Tea is to not just be successful and grow the business, but to try to change the way business operate by demonstrating that organics, healthy foods, and sustainability should be relevant to companies operating within the private sector.

Honest Tea’s corporate culture is all about honesty. The office has absolutely no walls to encourage innovation. There is an experimental kitchen that is filled with random dried fruits shipped in from farmers from all over the world who want to supply to Honest Tea. And my favorite part, the office has a gong. Apparently, the gong is hit whenever the company achieves a sales goal. I love the image of Coca-Cola executives visiting the office upon purchasing 40% of Honest Tea’s shares, yet unable to have a private meeting because of the lack of walls and at the same time trying to make sense of the gong hanging from the office wall and the test kitchen that is the only test kitchen used by Honest Tea to create new products.

What kind of impact will Coca-Cola’s outright purchase of the company within the next year or so have on Honest Tea? Seth explained that he expects some cross-fertilization to take place between the companies. He was invited to attend a sustainability brainstorming session in Atlanta recently and hopes to be able to influence sustainability initiatives taken on by Coca-Cola. The most positive outcome is that Honest Tea will be able to take advantage of Coca-Cola’s distribution network. I will not only be able to purchase my Peach Oolalong at the stores in the DC metro area, but at truck stops, convenience stores, and everywhere else where Coca-Cola delivers at present. With Honest Tea’s new distribution capabilities, Honest Tea will be able to increase its sales and in turn increase purchases from fair trade suppliers, thus supporting the fair trade and organics movement throughout the US and the rest of the world. Furthermore, more US consumers will have an option to by a healthier alternative to soda and purchase the drink at a lower cost than other organic beverages.

But, what will happen to Honest Tea in the coming years? Will Honest Tea be able to maintain its corporate culture (and the gong in the Bethesda, Maryland office)? I hope so. The key now is for Honest Tea to demonstrate to Coca-Cola that the culture, employees and the way it operates today brings value to the company and to the delicious tea products that end up on the shelves of retail stores today.

Eliza Roberts Globa MBA, 2011

"The Fossil Fuel Alternative Energy Imperative Chapter 1" by Andrew Seal

2010-11-22T17:55:00.001-05:00

Algeria, Angola, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela. What do these countries have in common?

The list includes several countries that are described by the US State Department as having “long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable.” The list includes countries that either languish at the bottom of or don’t even qualify for the Human Development Index. But most of all, this list constitutes the top 10 (83%) of all U.S. crude oil imports.

Oil is a destabilizing, and strategic, natural resource. It both props up totalitarian regimes and shapes U.S. foreign policy. The Strait of Hormuz is a perfect example of this. Located between Oman and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. According to the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration “Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint due to its daily oil flow of … roughly 40 percent of all seaborne traded oil.” Stationed immediately nearby is the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which also serves as the headquarters of the Naval Component Command of US CENTCOM and is responsible for all naval combat operations in the Mid-East region.

While examples of this kind abound, the US has done little to wean itself from the Oligopolistic oil market, which is overwhelmingly dominated by OPEC (over half the above countries in the top 10 are OPEC member nations.) The strategic importance of and our addiction to this natural resource supports oppressive regimes and sends our fighting men and women to areas of the world they would not need be otherwise. We need to change this.

Start by walking and riding a bike, or use public transit whenever possible. If personal vehicle use is unavoidable in the short term, ensure that you carpool as often as possible, maintain your vehicle and properly inflate and rotate your tires. Electric vehicles are now becoming widely available for purchase at a variety of dealerships. As the world’s leading consumer of oil (approximately 20million barrels a day), we have a tremendous opportunity to create change.

Shifting the oil demand curve will lower prices and we can use that change in price to subsidize electronic vehicle and renewable energy infrastructure that will further foster decreased fuel prices and increase our leverage over the OPEC cartel while fostering the growth of American green jobs.

Decreasing demand for oil is the right thing to do and it’s the smart thing to do.

Sources:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/world_oil_transit_chokepoints/Hormuz.html

http://www.eia.doe.gov/country/index.cfm?view=consumption

Andrew Seal Global MBA, 2012

Certificate in Responsible Management Open House!

2010-09-23T15:12:00.002-04:00

Interested to learn more about the Certificate in Responsible Management? Attend the open house on Tuesday, September 28 from 6-7:30pm in Duques room 520.

If you can't attend the event but want to learn more, feel free to email Eliza Roberts at ebr@gwmail.gwu.edu or Professor John Forrer at jforrer@gwu.edu

"Climate Corps 2010: Inside the Energy Efficiency Cubicle" by Jeremy Dommu

2010-09-22T11:50:00.003-04:00

I generally don’t like cubicles. Before I started my MBA at the George Washington University, I spent five years working at a cubicle. When I left my job in public accounting, I was relieved at the thought of abolishing cubicles from my life forever. But now as a 2010 EDF Climate Corps fellow at PHH Arval, I have never been so proud to have my very own cubicle. In fact, I don’t even call it a cubicle – this is now my workstation. I’ve even decorated it with EDF and Net Impact signs. I think the reason for my renewed enthusiasm for office life is that I have never felt more passionate about my work.

As an EDF Climate Corps fellow, I am responsible for making the business case for sustainability. I’m helping my host company, PHH Arval, simultaneously improve its bottom line while increasing environmental performance. This win-win situation is created by recommending projects that reduce energy usage and in turn lower utility bills in a commercial office building while cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

PHH takes sustainability seriously. Their award-winning PHH GreenFleet program, for example, works with many of today’s leading transportation companies to encourage less fuel consumption, more efficient driving and the improvement of fuel economy for fleets. PHH also practices what it preaches. Through the dedication of an environmentally conscious facilities department and the commitment of a voluntary Green Team, PHH has already reduced electricity consumption by 20 percent in the past 5 years, obtained an EnergyStar rating that puts it in the top 25 percent of all office buildings in its class and is well on its way to meeting its Environmental Protection Agecny Climate Leaders goal.

Even for such an environmentally responsible organization, I am finding that significant opportunities for lowering energy consumption still remain in all the primary areas of the office building. As I learned during EDF’s week-long Climate Corps training, “low-hanging fruit always grows back.” So, even for the most environmentally conscious organizations, a renewed look at energy consumption is bound to turn up new opportunities to save money as technology changes, cost barriers drop and new standards, regulations and incentives are offered.

After noting that an above-average amount of electricity usage at PHH is attributed to lighting, I’ve been analyzing several projects that I hope will reduce lighting costs:

The installation of occupancy sensors in closed spaces
Daylight harvesting to take advantage of the natural light that flows in through the wall-to-wall windows
A review of nighttime and weekend lighting policies

I’m also reviewing the HVAC system and believe that the heating and cooling loads can be reduced through improvements to insulation, air sealing and window film. Computer Power Management software can also be installed to minimize energy waste from office equipment, and Vending Misers can be installed on all vending machines in the building.

Furthermore, I’ve been thinking about data centers. EDF organizes weekly expert calls by leaders in energy efficiency. On one of those calls, Don Beaty, a lead consultant for datacom facilities and designer for all Google data centers worldwide, explained that there is absolutely no reason for data centers to be cooled to a frigid 68 degrees or lower. Instead, ASHRAE environmental specifications allow for the intake temperature to be set as high as 80 degrees without risk to equipment and without impacting performance. Before the call took place, I reserved a conference room and invited the IT managers from PHH to attend. The message about temperatures in data centers immediately reached its intended audience from a very credible source. Now, I’m working with the energy-conscious IT department to increase the temperature in the data centers at PHH. I am currently working on quantifying the savings from this increase; which I believe will be substantial.

As this example illustrates, energy efficiency is easy money and good business. While there is no upfront cost of increasing the temperature set-point in a data center, some of the other projects I am considering do require an initial investment. Yet, by analyzing these projects from a financial perspective, just like a company does with any other investment they make, I am finding that these projects are smart business ventures with high returns, low risk and quick pay-backs. So, as a business student and environmentalist, I’m proud to sit at the energy efficiency cubicle, formed by the benefits these projects have on the environment, energy usage and to a company’s bottom line.

*Jeremy Dommu is a 2010 EDF Climate Corps Fellow at PHH Arval. This content is also posted on the Environmental Defense Fund Innovation Exchange Blog and Greenbiz.com. Further coverage of the Climate Corps program is available at GreenBiz.com/edfclimatecorps.

Volunteer Opportunity--Tubman Elementary

2010-08-30T11:34:00.002-04:00

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, email: albarr@gmail.com or click on the link below.

Working together, we have made a significant impact. Through the hard work of volunteers, teachers, and students, the percentage of Tubman students proficient in reading increased for the second year in a row (while the average DC elementary school actually moved backwards on this measure). In addition, DC-CAS results indicate that Tubman students who participated in Reading All-Stars last year were twice as likely to become proficient in reading as their peers who did not participate. So our involvement truly made a difference.

However, there is still so much work left to do. There are still far too many kids – both at Tubman and across the city – that cannot read at grade level. So we’ll be back at Tubman this fall, working harder than ever, to help every student there reach proficiency in reading. It’s a huge challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to make a huge difference. Can you volunteer this fall to make sure every Tubman student that needs help receives it? Get details and sign up now by clicking here. We're making progress. We can't stop now.

"The Seoul of Business School" by Jeremy Dommu

2010-07-01T07:29:00.000-04:00

It's 11 a.m. on May 20 in Seoul, South Korea, and 10 students from the George Washington University MBA, including myself, are frantically scrambling to put the finishing touches on a presentation we are scheduled to deliver in three hours. We worked for seven weeks back home in Washington, D.C., researching the wind turbine business and had already spent two weeks in South Korea consulting with Hyosung to develop a strategy to expand its turbine manufacturing business in Korea, Latin America, and the U.S. With just hours until two senior vice-presidents of the wind business are scheduled to arrive at our hotel's conference room, we are still tweaking PowerPoint slides and fine-tuning our oral delivery of slide content.

This is the culmination of my first year in GW's Global MBA program, and like the year that has just preceded it, it's ending with a flurry of activity and a rapid coordination of efforts. Armed with the tools of finance, supply chain management, business strategy, international management, business communications, macroeconomics, and marketing—all part of our recently completed first-year core classes—our team works together seamlessly to add the finishing touches to aid in the delivery of a set of recommendations we hope can help Hyosung achieve its goal of becoming one of the top 10 global providers of wind energy solutions by 2017.

For me, the opportunity to consult in an international setting was one of the driving forces in my decision to attend GW. This residency was more than just a field trip after a 14-hour flight. It was a consulting engagement at its heart and a good opportunity to employ the business skills we have developed over the past year. I chose the trip to Korea over other trip options to India, Sweden, Serbia, and Mexico, because its focus on the intersection of business and public policy and the development of renewable energy resources so closely aligns with my career goals. While my excitement grew as the trip approached, my wildest expectations couldn't have prepared me for the learning experience, networking opportunities, and sheer enjoyment I was so fortunate to get during GW's international residency project in Seoul.

FROM WIND TURBINES TO CHICKEN FEET

The focus of our trip was exploring South Korea's green growth strategy. Korea has pledged to stimulate its economy through the development of green technologies and innovation. Twenty GW students were on the trip, divided in two teams. While 10 of us worked with Hyosung on wind turbines, the other 10 consulted with SK Energy on the development of lithium ion batteries, which will be used to power a new fleet of electric vehicles worldwide.

Both of these projects provided ample opportunities to apply practical MBA skills to new industries. But beyond the education, this trip was an amazingly good time characterized by karaoke nights, Korean baseball, sleep dancing (what happens at 6 a.m. at the club when your mind and body shut down on the dance floor), chicken feet, and more soju than I care to remember. Shepherded down the streets of Seoul by our faithful TA and patient guide, Sungha, all 20 GW MBAs made the most of this incredible opportunity, and I believe all of us are significantly better off after this experience.

I think what truly made the trip such a success was the leadership of our professor and guide, Danny Leipziger. Simply put, Leipziger is a rock star in Korea. He joined GW's MBA faculty in 1997 after a long career at the World Bank, where he led the bank's first economic recovery loan to South Korea after the Asian financial crisis. While we were in South Korea, Leipziger set up a series of meetings with various officials, economists, assemblymen, business leaders, and media personnel. The meetings complemented the work we were doing with our client companies as they worked to respond to the public policy push for green innovations.

GW has a significant network of more than 800 alumni in Korea. Several of these alumni stepped forward to act as our gracious and extremely generous hosts. The success of these individuals and their insights into the Korean business culture served as both inspiration and education when they hosted a 20-course traditional Korean meal, a night reminiscent of D.C. power dining at a Western-style steak house, and topped it off with VIP entrance and table service at one of Seoul's hottest nightclubs. This friendliness will not soon be forgotten, and my classmates and I look forward to continuing to build on the relationships and networks we developed on our trip.

This trip demonstrated the value of an MBA, as I was able to apply the skills I have acquired over the past year. I have become a better communicator and team player, and I'm better versed in the multiple functional areas of business that are required to become a leader in management and a fine strategist to others. The trip exemplified the Seoul—err, soul—of business school, which I would characterize as the combined application of existing knowledge while simultaneously obtaining experience in new subject matters.

Personally, I am broadening my knowledge of the energy industry as I prepare to become a champion for demonstrating the financial value that can be derived when businesses embrace environmental sustainability. Going to Seoul was the perfect capstone to an incredible first year of business school. After our two distinguished guests departed following our presentation, I can look back now with confidence that we provided them with several viable strategies and ideas that I hope will help them grow as much as we have during this incredible experience.

Jeremy Dommu Global MBA, 2011

*This is taken from his Businessweek Blog

"The Right to Water" by Eliza Roberts

2010-06-30T11:39:00.003-04:00

“Access to safe water is a fundamental human need and therefore a basic human right.” ~Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General

Water may be regarded as a basic human right. Yet, today more than 1 in 6 people in the world don’t have access to safe drinking water. According to a recent World Health Organization Assessment, more than 5 million human beings die each year from illnesses linked to unsafe drinking water; one-third of these deaths are in India alone.

India currently has the second largest population in the world with 1,182,783,000 people. As the population continues to increase and as more Indians move into the middle class thus consuming more water on a day-to-day basis, water consumption is going to increase at an alarming rate.

Many arid regions of India depend heavily on groundwater for farming and basic survival. Some 85% of the population depends on groundwater for their water supply. Yet, between 1947 and 2000, access to groundwater per capita decreased from 5,150 cubic meters to 2,200 cubic meters. With increasing populations in India, it is expected that by 2017, there will be a further decline of per capita availability of groundwater to 1,600 cubic meters.

If that doesn’t sound alarming enough, try this.. Glaciers and snow in the Himalayas are a primary source of water for rivers throughout the country. Yet, with climate change this important source is melting quickly and is expected to decrease dramatically in the coming years. Climate change is also expected to alter the monsoon patterns, which may leave many farmers with arid non-farmable land.

In addition to concerns about the supply of water in India, there are a number of problems surrounding the quality and cleanliness of the water that is available. Many of the rivers have been mismanaged, overused, and polluted. The Ganges, for example, the holiest river in India is also the most polluted river in the world. Approximately 90 million liters of sewage are dumped in the river everyday.

In India, 70 to 80% of illnesses are related to water contamination or poor sanitation and cases of these illnesses are on the rise. Those afflicted face a number of challenges, including inability to work and high medical bills. These effects can be particularly debilitating and costly for those without the resources to afford medical bills and make up for lost days at work making it more of a challenge for them to escape from poverty.

Despite the daunting information and statistics that I have layed out, there are ways to address these problems and minimize their impacts in the future. Many development organizations, governments worldwide, NGOs and the Indian government are investing money into water and sanitation projects to try to deal with water issues throughout the country. Many of these projects have been successful, but there are still too many people throughout the country without access to safe water, toilets and sanitation.

There needs to be more of a focus throughout India and the world on the importance water. It is often not until resources become depleted that people begin to recognize their value. As water sources become more polluted and depleted, I can only hope that people will begin to recognize its importance and pool together greater resources to address the challenges that lay ahead.
As water challenges are addressed, it is important to recognize that solutions cannot simply come from one sector. Non-profits alone, for example, cannot address these challenges throughout the country. There needs to be a multi-pronged approach with funding and development from NGOs and governmental entities both in India and throughout the world; corporations that see the value in investing in innovative water technologies that reach both the elite, as well as the poor; Microfinance Institutions that provide loans for the purchase of health care, water filters and other technologies; government policies that work to conserve and protect water sources, as well as effective implementation of these policies at the state and local level; citizens throughout the world who conduct research and pilot projects to find innovative, cost-effective solutions to address the challenges ahead; and citizens on the ground who implement grassroots advocacy campaigns to conserve and protect their water.

Eliza Roberts Global MBA, 2011

*This is taken from Eliza's wordpress blog

"Football for Hope: Strategic CSR in Action" by Kristina Brzezinski

2010-06-29T06:59:00.005-04:00

Fifa and streetfootballworld founded the Football for Hope Movement to use football (soccer in the States) as a tool to address issues such as health, education, gender equality, peace building, the environment, and HIV/AIDS.

My class had the privilege of visiting the first Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha Township outside of Cape Town (see photo below). The centre uses football as a tool to attract youth ages 10-16 to the centre, and then invites them to join educational programs as well. While the centre does have about seven staff, it is mostly run by volunteers from the township.

In addition to various educational programs run by different nonprofit partners, the youth are also taught leadership skills, so they can address and solve problems in their communities. Volunteers are also able to gain much needed skills and after so many volunteer hours they can also gain access to training opportunities; for example, a 42-year-old woman got her driver’s license for the first time.

There are a number of 2010 World Cup sponsors, but Yingli Solar stands out for providing solar panels to each of the 20 centers around Africa (including the five in South Africa) as this method of support helps the centers and the environment long-term, while also aligning with Yingli Solar’s business strategy.

Although the center only opened in January of this year, the staff and volunteers have already witnessed the youth developing new skills and learning how to protect themselves, their families, and their country from HIV/AIDS. Football for Hope and its grassroots efforts for social change is just one of the legacies the 2010 World Cup will leave South Africa and Africa.

First Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha Township outside of Cape Town

Kristina Brzezinski Global MBA, 2011

"Hello from the Rainbow Nation!" by Kristina Brzezinski

2010-06-29T06:56:00.006-04:00

I’m currently in South Africa for a study abroad class, and my group project is on the World Cup’s impact on the environment, economy and society in South Africa. Before I write about that, though, I first must say that South Africa is truly the Rainbow Nation in every way from the diversity of its people and languages to the diversity of its beautiful climates.

The first World Cup to be hosted on African soil is so important to South Africa and Africa, not just for the direct economic and social benefits of the World Cup, but because it puts South Africa and Africa on the world stage in a positive light when so much Western media coverage of Africa is consistently negative. Such coverage can scare off tourists, investors, and companies holding back Africa’s development and denying the rest of the world everything Africa has to offer.

Yes, South Africa may be more developed than many African countries, but its richness isn’t in the new airports, public transit, or stadiums, but in its warm and welcoming people; its extreme sports and myriad other tourist attractions, its history, from which, my country could probably learn a few things about healing after racist oppression; and the present and future economic opportunities.

In regards to safety and security, it’s no different than being in any large Western city; there are areas that are safe and areas that aren’t. When in a big crowd, keep an eye on your purse or wallet, and don’t wander alone into unfamiliar areas at night.

While I hope that the media coverage becomes more responsible and accurate, South Africa hopes all its World Cup guests become unofficial ambassadors to the rest of the world. They can count me as one.

Kristina Brzezinski Global MBA, 2011

"Year End Reflections on the Conflict between Productivity and Wisdom in an MBA Program" by Erik Walenza-Slabe

2010-05-13T16:47:00.004-04:00

The functional nature of an MBA program naturally favors the compartmentalization of knowledge, and therein lays the great strength and deficiency of modern professionalism. The strengths are evident in the measurable productivity of modern professionals. The deficiencies are subjective in nature and thus easily ignored – if you can’t measure it, it doesn’t matter… Yet what is deficient is nothing less than wisdom, that marginalized concept which at its core indicates a holistic appreciation of one’s community, however defined.

There are three marginalized aptitudes that I passionately believe should be incorporated into the very soul of an MBA program, so that by permeating the process they nurture the development of a business class worthy of leading humanity into the 21^st century. Let there be no question that I believe the business class has as thus far proven itself unworthy of the honor. The first two aptitudes apply directly to corporate social responsibility, the third concerns an individual’s ability to positively engage his fellows – they are: (1) The harmonizing of personal and social values with business practice (i.e., how to pursue business without acting hypocritically), (2) The proper treatment of individuals and communities, and (3) The art of effective communication.

I discuss these subjects not because I am dissatisfied with GWU’s GMBA program in particular. During my 20+ years as a student - stretching from grade school, through two undergraduate degrees and into this MBA program - I have experienced negligible institutional interest in nurturing these aptitudes. The reason for this omission is that they are of a holistic rather than a functional nature. They are neither readily measurable nor do they lend themselves to a resume – yet they provide the bridge between mere intelligence and wisdom. Intelligence has been in high demand of late - optimized by the whiz kids of Wall Street. Wisdom, in contrast, has become a sorely undervalued resource. The result has been growth in profitability and stagnation in life satisfaction – that, at least, is measurable – coupled with a sustained rise in mental disorders, depression being foremost among them. Social scientists are in overwhelming agreement that (a) wealth reduces suffering, up to a point, and (b) material prosperity does not produce sustained joie de vivre. Only healthy relationships and strong communities have consistently proven capable of producing that elusive prize.

How might the aptitudes that underlie wisdom be better developed at GWU? The first facility, sincere behavior, is amenable to classroom discussion. Hypocrisy is a disease that flourishes in the darkness of silent certainty but cannot abide the light of open dialogue. Extending classroom discussions to include the complex social effects of business decision will help to force students to reconcile their proposed actions with their internal ideals. Discussion must extend beyond appeals to double or triple bottom line awareness by continuously responding to the question: would this decision contribute to a more ideal world, a world I would wish upon my children and, importantly, upon the children of mothers and fathers in every corner of the globe? Of course each individual’s ideal world will differ, as it should. This line of thought will not force students to arrive at the same conclusions, but it will demand the recognition of values as the proper fountainhead of action, rather than as intellectual curiosities.

The art of treating people well is of a more practical nature and lends itself more naturally to the classroom. Dale Carnegie’s classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, provides a suitable starting point to understanding how to nurture interpersonal relationships. This lesson is particularly important to future managers, as we expect ourselves to be, and it is unfortunate that MBA curriculum talks up but does not teach how to build relationships. Perhaps it is hoped that students’ interpersonal skills are fully developed prior to entering graduate school – a happy but hopeless prospect. Interpersonal skills are myriad and include understanding the unstated needs of others, generating trust, critiquing without alienating, and helping others build confidence. There is no standard metric for measuring these objectives, but there are more and less effective behaviors and MBAs, as with the general population, are not given the training to employ them well. The ability to treat people well stems directly from the ability to communicate effectively, which is the third objective on my list.

As with interpersonal relationships, we might hope that MBA students intuitively know how to communicate effectively. But empirical evidence suggests that we communicate as well as the next bloke. We are trained to be superior and superior communication is a central asset of successful managers. Do we listen with precision and comprehension? Can we succinctly express a sudden thought? Classroom experience suggests not. Do we even know how to analyze an audience prior to framing an argument? We might have an idea, but we certainly have no system for doing so. Some of these skills are holistic and must be incorporated into the very structure of education, others can be developed through the study of techniques and flexible rules – all are crucial to the development of effective managers and, indeed, effective community members.

Erik Walenza-Slabe Global MBA, 2011

"International Consultancy Project--Sweden" by Eliza Roberts

2010-05-09T08:11:00.002-04:00

One of the core requirements for first year MBA students in the Global MBA program at the GWU School of Business is to conduct a consulting project for a foreign company abroad as a part of the International Residency Project. This year, the 120 or so Global MBAs are going to Serbia, Sweden, Korea, India, and Mexico. Check out the "Writers in Residency Blog" to document these courses.

The projects range from marketing food products in Serbia, to microfinance in Mexico and marketing for Swedish Green Technology companies that want to begin selling products in the US market. The classes began during the 4th quarter and culminate with a 2-week trip overseas to meet with clients and present in person, and to meet with other likeminded companies in the country.

I am on the Sweden trip and have spent the last 7 or so weeks with a team of 5 developing a marketing plan for a Swedish company that seeks to turn manure into energy. We have already had multiple conversations with our client and have drafted a nearly finalized version of our marketing plan that will likely change somewhat upon meeting with our client early next week. We just arrived in Sweden today and will spend tomorrow sight seeing and trying to fight our jet lag before diving back into our projects early next week and meeting with a number of sustainably- minded companies in Sweden.

There are a number of meetings I am really excited about, but I am particularly looking forward to a meeting with the sustainability person at IKEA. Our trip is starting in Malmo and after about a week we will take a train north to Gotenberg. The weather is much colder than expected, especially after basking in the DC sun. We are all hoping that the sun comes out and that a warm front arrives as soon as possible!

Eliza Roberts Global MBA, 2011

First Annual Certificate in Responsible Management Ceremony!

2010-04-20T13:29:00.003-04:00

On April 15, GWSB held its first annual Certificate in Responsible Management Awards Ceremony. Certificates were awarded to five business school students for completing the requirements of the CRM: 50 hours of service learning, 45 hours of extracurriculars, 6 credits of courses that pertain to the mission of the certificate program, and the creation of a blog to document and share these experiences. The five students who received certificates were: Danielle Bash, Alexandra Chaikin, Andrew Dawson, Sabina Puppo, Todd Ahern.

This years' recipients represent the first recipients of the Certificate in Responsible Management at the George Washington University School of Business and as far as we know, this Certificate program is among the first of its kind among rival business schools.

Dean Phillips spoke and distributed the certificates. David Greeley, Vice President of the Center for Private Sector Health Partnerships at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) was the featured speaker. He spoke about public private partnerships and his experiences in both the private sector and the non-profit sector.

Applicants from left to right: Andrew Dawson, Danielle Bash, Alexandra Chaikin, & Sabina Puppo

Speaker David Greeley, VP and Director for Center for Private Health Sector Health Initiatives, Academy for Education Development (AED)

First Annual Certificate in Responsible Management Ceremony

2010-04-09T15:44:00.013-04:00

The first annual Certificate in Responsible Management Ceremony will take place on April 15 from 5:30-6:30pm in Funger 420. Certificates will be awarded to 4 George Washington University School of Business Students for completion of the Certificate in Responsible Management.

We are honored to have David Greeley, VP of the Center for Private Health Partnerships at the Academy for Educational Development (AED), as a speaker for the ceremony. A reception will follow the event.

Please RSVP to: ebr@gwmail.edu.edu

"No More Steady Paycheck" by Jeremy Dommu

2010-03-11T14:33:00.008-05:00

I am in my late twenties, I'm unemployed, and my limited savings from five years of employment are nearly depleted. Yet, unlike many victims of the recession, I actually put myself in this position voluntarily. Why? Because I have nearly two full years of my life to pursue whatever academic and career endeavors I choose. I'm on my own clock, and the only person I am accountable to is myself. It's an incredible opportunity, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to be in this position.

Occasionally I look back and consider all that I gave up—a steady paycheck, a promising career in public accounting, a steady paycheck, five years of hard work and long hours, and a steady paycheck. But mostly, I relish this time, stay focused on my goals, and plan to reenter the workforce prepared significantly better than when I left it.

For some peers, their focus is primarily wrapped up in case studies, group meetings, test preparation, and class presentations—the assignments at a core of an MBA curriculum. For others, it's also quite simple to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel—the mythical six-figure salary, the Rolodex full of contacts earned from approaching industry experts under the innocent guise of a student, and whatever positive stigma still exists from simply being an MBA. For me, while those are incredibly important, I believe the projects I'm involved in outside of class are the most valuable and justify the time I'm putting into this degree.

That is why I consistently remind myself to free up more of my time and effort for activities outside of class. I rarely turn down a learning opportunity I see as valuable, and I regularly remind my peers of how to get involved. I'd like to spend some time highlighting some of the projects I am most excited about, and I hope my activities outside of class help others realize the merits of a full-time MBA and motivate my peers to stay involved. After all, at the end of the day, the benefits of an MBA are measured based solely on how much each individual puts into it.

South Korea

One of the flagship components of George Washington's Global MBA program (GW Full-Time MBA Profile) is its International Residency. At the completion of our first year, all GW MBAs go abroad for a two-week consultancy project. What is unique about this project is that this isn't a field trip. We actually are developing critical recommendations and delivering them to an interested company or industry representatives. This year, our choices were India, Mexico, Serbia, Sweden, and South Korea—each project with a unique industry focus and area of business. In May, I will be joining a team of 20 GW MBAs in Seoul. Led by a former World Bank vice-president and Korean expert, we will prepare a strategic assessment of Korea's export prospects in the area of green technology and present our findings during a series of meetings to business, government, and think-tank organizations. The project begins with a seven-week course at GW and concludes with a two-week stay in South Korea. This is first-hand global learning.

GWSB Summit

The GW MBA program prides itself on student–run initiatives. If a student or group of students has an idea, then faculty, the administration, and dean empower and support that idea. I am a member of a new student club at GW, the GW Energy Group, and we, in collaboration with our Net Impact chapter, are putting this theory to the test with an ambitious plan to organize and run a half-day conference on business response to climate change. Using a combination of our own contacts, university sponsors, and our will-power and persistence, we are recruiting top business leaders, professionals, and students to come together on Apr. 8 at the Jack Morton Auditorium at GW to discuss the affects of climate change on business. Our goal, through a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions, is to paint a picture of a future clean-energy economy—and challenge future businesses leaders to make this vision a reality.

Net Impact Case Competition

Three of my classmates and I will represent GW at the Leeds Net Impact Case Competition in Boulder, Colo., on Feb. 19 and 20. The Leeds is the premier case format competition built around businesses facing sustainability challenges while succeeding financially. We are one of 20 semifinalist teams selected from a total of 68 entries in the first round of the competition.

In this round, we spent roughly 80 combined hours on a case that challenged us to propose policy recommendations to the U.S. Agriculture Dept. to increase sustainability and local agricultural practices. Our recommendations to develop a sustainable food label, which would create tax subsidies for local and sustainable food, and to require percentages of food served in publicly funded venues to be from sustainable sources, clearly impressed. Now we are heading to Boulder to compete in a competition sponsored by Excel Energy. Given the goals of the competition and the sponsor, we envision a class focusing on renewable energy technology or energy efficiency. But we won't know the complete details of our case until about 12 hours before we are scheduled to deliver our presentation to the judges. We certainly don't plan on any shut-eye that night.

Washington Metro Area Transportation Authority (WMATA)

Simply put, D.C. public transportation is a mess. With significant budget overruns and in the wake of several horrific accidents, there is much room for improvement. Enter a team of 30 MBA students—a unique collaboration among GW, Georgetown, American, and John Hopkins students—to conduct a sustainability audit and advise the organization on energy, water, waste, and operational efficiency measures to trim costs, improve environmental impacts, and help earn the authority some much-needed positive press.

Internships and Classes

I'm approaching crunch time for internships, have several additional interviews lined up, and hope to find out good news in the coming month or two about where I will be spending my summer. I've applied to five incredible internship programs and would be honored to be accepted into any one of them. I plan on detailing the process in the next entry, so stay tuned for all the gory details.

After a successful completion of the first half of year one, this spring semester continues our core curriculum (now marketing, macroeconomics, finance, operations strategy, managerial accounting, and my first elective course—Worldwide Energy Challenges, taught by a vice-president at ICF International). While I have a great deal on my plate, there is a great deal to look forward to, with domestic and international trips on the horizon and the excitement of an unknown future.

Jeremy Dommu Global MBA, 2011
*This is taken from Jeremy Dommu's blog on BusinessWeek.

"Greening Supply Chains" by Eliza Roberts

2010-03-05T14:54:00.003-05:00

My Sustainable Supply Chains class has come to an end. After taking a number of required business school classes, it was refreshing to take an elective and spend 7 weeks talking and thinking about issues that I am truly passionate about. Over the course of the module, we looked at a number of different companies, including Shaw Industries, Herman Miller, Patagonia, Frito-Lay and Starbucks that are thinking about sustainability and incorporating it into their business strategies in different ways.

Shaw Industries was a particularly interesting case. Have you ever thought about what happens to old flooring and carpeting? 95% of it ends up in landfills and in 2002, carpeting contributed 4.6 billion pounds of waste into U.S. landfills! Shaw industries not only found ways to create PVC-free 100% recyclable carpet tiles, but found ways to do so while also reducing costs.

Herman Miller, a furniture company, follows the triple bottom line approach whereby a company works to strengthen not only its financial performance, but its social responsibility and environmental performance as well. Herman Miller’s corporate values statement is as follows: “We contribute to a better world by pursuing sustainability and environmental wisdom. Environmental advocacy is part of our heritage and a responsibility we gladly bear for future generations.” Herman Miller has focused on examining the entire life cycle of its products and created the Mirra chair, a mid-level office chair, which was designed using Cradle-to-Cradle protocol. The chair is made from 42% recycled parts and when the chair’s life is over, it is 96% recyclable.

Patagonia was a unique example because sustainability efforts truly are a key component of its core strategy. Sustainability is not only a key part of the company’s mission, but it is ingrained into all aspects of the business strategy. Patagonia has recognized that their existence as a company is in and of itself detrimental to the environment and made a pledge in 1991 to “slow growth” to minimize its impact. Patagonia seeks to maintain a balance between quality, profits, community and the environment and has made decisions because they are “the right thing to do” even if they do not result in direct cost savings to the company. To learn more, check out the sustainability page on their website.

The course ended with about 10 presentations looking at what other companies such as 3M, Intel, IBM, Whole Foods, MolsonCoors, and Nike are doing to green their supply chains. My group chose to focus on Coca-Cola. We conducted an overview of what they have done by looking at four key areas: climate, packaging, community and water and then provided recommendations about what the company could do to green their supply chain even further.

Eliza Roberts Global MBA, 2011

"GW Alum Clay Jones Talks About Leadership" by Lara Gast

2010-02-13T12:48:00.003-05:00

In a GLOBE series event hosted by the GW School of Business, Clay Jones spoke to GW’s Global MBA students about leadership. Clay Jones is the Chairman, President & CEO of Rockwell Collins and a GW School of Business alum. His story was both entertaining and educational, but perhaps what stood out the most were his final words of wisdom for us as future business leaders.

1. Perception is reality. 

2. “Everybody is your friend when you have free whiskey.” Translation: Everyone wants to be around people who add value. How can you add value to those around you without being high maintenance? 

3. Live by Andy Warhol’s Theory of Success (i.e. everybody will be famous for 15 minutes). Learn to recognize when it’s your 15 minutes, and take advantage of the opportunity.

Mr. Jones emphasized that his successes resulted from a little bit of talent and whole lot of luck. He learned to recognize opportunities to be a leader, and capitalize on those moments to eventually become the CEO of Rockwell Collins, a global leader in aerospace and defense.

Mr. Jones’ leadership tips demonstrated the Principles for Responsible Management Education. Despite the growing awareness for the necessity of climate change mitigation, leaders are increasingly needed to turn ideas into actions. In the words of Clay Jones, the job of a leader is to a) set a vision, b) align the people with that vision, and c) motivate and inspire the people to work towards the vision. Regardless of the industry, the principles of effective leadership remain the same.

Lara Gast, Global MBA 2011

"Book Review on CRADLE TO CRADLE: REMAKING THE WAY WE MAKE THINGS" by Eliza Roberts

2010-01-31T13:37:00.002-05:00

For my sustainable supply chains class, we are reading Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things over the course of the next 7 weeks. The book is fantastic and is itself completely recyclable. It is also waterproof, so if you are the type of person who likes to read in the bath or on the beach, you are in luck! I have only read up to chapter 4, but thus far it is fantastic.

The book is written by a chemist and a designer and begins by informing you that the fabric of the armchair you are sitting in likely contains mutagenic materials and heavy metals and that the computer that your child is using contains thousands of materials, including toxic gases, toxic metals, acids, etc. Pretty upbeat right?

While it can be a bit depressing and discouraging [did you know that your recyclables are not actually recreated into bottles, but turned into a lower grade plastic and then made into park benches and speed bumps?] I find the book a very unique way of looking at the world, and at our current and future environmental challenges.

The goal of the authors is to change your way of thinking. Instead of trying to help companies be “less bad” they ask: why can’t we try to be “more good”? Instead of being eco-efficient, which in their opinion is the same as accepting that environmental destruction is inevitable, we should be eco-effective and find positive solutions to problems that are beneficial to the environment and the community.

Their goal is to get the reader to start thinking about the entire life cycle of a product instead of only thinking about the way the final product appears on the surface. A product that is made of recyclable material, for example, could in fact be more destructive to the environment than its non-recycled counterpart. The authors propose that companies and consumers begin thinking about the design of products before their creation so that we are developing products that have a positive impact on the environment throughout their life. Instead of accepting that a company is going to pollute and trying to getting them to emit less and be less harmful, maybe companies should build factories that have a net benefit to the environment by cleaning water and cleaning the air for the surrounding community.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book!

Contributed by: Eliza Roberts, Global MBA 2011

"The Birth of MEJDI" by Erik Walenza-Slabe

2010-01-31T13:04:00.002-05:00

MEJDI – the Middle East Justice and Development Initiatives – is a mouthful. This petite for-profit startup purports to lead bi-ethnic peace building tours to Israel and Palestine, import good from Palestinian and Israeli manufacturers (provided the also employ Palestinians) and provide financial consultation on potential investment opportunities in the region. Well, a child should have aspirations. And MEJDI is indeed a child on the world stage – an infant in fact, with but four months of official existence to boast of and its first tour scheduled this coming April.

Perhaps that’s why I so enjoy working with the company, what is so vivifying as the birth of a dream? And if it’s a still birth? Well, sad though that thought be I’ve an absolutely noble friend who himself was preceded by a still born brother – and as life struggles on so surely does the creative process. And what is it that makes MEJDI of note? Surely hundred on companies are born daily with most faltering upon their first steps. What excites me about MEJDI is that its founders have sought to align their personal ideals (the realization of a harmonious Middle East) with their needs (a venture profitable enough to put food in their children’s mouths).

It’s curious – shocking perhaps – that a company with ideals should be novel. After all, companies are treated as human under the law and moral, family-loving humans are their primary ingredient. Unfortunately, it seems that ninety-nine times out of a hundred some inept bungler manages to confuse the recipe such that – pop – in go a thousands honest Joes and Janes – whiz – out comes one amoral lump of factory. Suffice to say, I’m pleased to be working to promote a couple guys make a life doing good work. Ah! Perhaps it’s the “couple” that changes the equations. Even the most magnificent chef is bound to have problems mixing a decent recipe out of thirty thousands employees, twenty business units and fifteen subsidiaries. Somewhere along the way he’s gonna have to simplify and, woops! ethics slide into the waste bin.

Ah, but really I’m just entertaining myself. I have no doubt that many larger companies are led by men and women with strong moral priorities who see their communities as more that mere “stakeholders” and our beautiful land as more than extractable resources. And certainly there are many individuals that abuse their communities and pollute their backyards out of ignorance or desperation. My point, if I ever had one, would probably have been simply to say that it’s enjoyable to work with good people who are trying to earn a buck while helping their community.

Erik Walenza-Slabe, Global MBA 2011

Faculty Perspective: "How Business Can Respond to Haiti Crisis" by Tim Fort

2010-01-20T12:27:00.002-05:00

The business community has an important role to play in reconstruction efforts following the deadly earthquakes in Haiti, according to Tim Fort, executive director of the GWSB Institute for Corporate Responsibility.

Fort, a professor in the Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy, said businesses can act philanthropically, leveraging their logistics capabilities to deliver supplies, providing critical supplies such as water, food and building materials or helping restore telecommunications. And they can embrace ethical practices as they do.

“When the time comes to rebuild, businesses can take great care to avoid taking advantage of a bad situation,” Fort said. “There are instances in the aftermath of hurricanes where some companies gouged suffering populations. The demand for building materials might provide a market incentive to raise prices, but other companies have refused to do this, acting instead with some solidarity for the affected and even discounting prices.

“Those same companies reported longer term profitability because suffering people remembered the difference between those two approaches,” he added.

The Jan. 12 earthquake that hit Haiti’s was the worst in the region in more than 200 years. It was followed by another quake and aftershocks, leaving an estimated 150,000 people dead and a wake of devastation in the already struggling country. Although the cleanup continues, discussions have begun on how to rebuild Haiti.

Fort said companies have choices about where they locate their offices and creating jobs in places affected by disaster can make an important contribution. “There are risks, to be sure, but businesses can make Haiti a place where they do business,” he said.

Fort is GW’s Lindner-Gambal Professor of Business Ethics.

"My Business School Agenda" by Jeremy Dommu

2010-01-14T14:19:00.014-05:00

Module Two is microeconomics, human resources, marketing, and more statistics. There are also accounting courses in both these modules, but as a CPA, I automatically placed out of these courses, and decided against adding new electives so I can better concentrate on career and extracurricular activities. Each professor has free rein to teach classes any way he or she chooses. This results in a pleasant mixture of lecture-based, case-based, and team-based classes.

CLUBS

Clubs are by far my favorite aspect of the MBA program. The opportunity over the next two years to take advantage of student clubs, case competitions, academic and professional conferences, and to truly focus on the areas of business that excite me is a luxury I will not squander. In fact, I believe the learning opportunities that exist outside an academic classroom are more beneficial to me than developing the core finance, marketing, statistics, operations, and leadership skills I will obtain inside the classroom. So you will find me at the annual Net Impact conference and case competition, working on projects that have everything to do with my career goals but nothing to do with my class requirements, and anywhere in D.C. the carbon community is gathering.

COMMUNITY

Let me say this: I could not have asked to be surrounded by a better network. My classmates could not do more to ensure the success of each other in every class. Despite the challenge we are up against in an economy where internships are scare, there is zero competition for jobs. Our alumni network, though small, truly goes all out to help us. This is evident by the alumni career adviser I have been paired with as part of our mentorship program. We aren't yet a top-25 program, but everybody, from the current students to professors and from alumni to our administration, is truly united to help us get there. For me, this cohesiveness is more valuable than the cutthroat competition that might exist at other graduate programs.

TIME MANAGEMENT

I thought the biggest adjustment going from being a professional to a student was once again getting used to having to do work outside the office. I used to value being able to leave my work at the office each night and not have to worry about it until I returned in the morning. I knew, as a student, I would always be on the clock and I would never have time to relax. But, quite frankly, I have absolutely no problem with the time commitment of business school. In fact, I love taking advantage of every opportunity that is available to me. The struggle is finding enough time to do everything I want to do and prioritizing responsibilities. Never before had I used a planner. Now I have a Google (GOOG) calendar and Google task list that has me booked solid for two months out. Measuring both the importance and urgency of tasks is critical to ensure I'm spending my time in the right places.

ADMISSIONS

Here are a few tips I have about the MBA admissions process. But keep in mind these tips probably go against everything a prospective MBA student is being told or is thinking. The more and more you get sucked into the admissions process and the more you overthink and try to strategize the process, the less and less success you are going to have.

You are doing much more harm than good if you start thinking about what the admissions office wants to hear, rather than truthfully explain your goals and rationale for getting an MBA. Throwing away money on expensive admission consultants who have zero idea of who you are is a gigantic waste. Spending thousands on GMAT tutoring is crazy. I bought a few books, dedicated myself to studying, took the GMAT once, and was happy with my score.

The one thing that was incredibly helpful for me was having two close friends who were going through the MBA application process at the same time as me. One is now a first-year student at Duke and the other is in Georgetown's part-time program. It was extremely valuable to have friends to be a sounding board, help study for the GMAT, and read and comment on each other's essays. But even if you don't have friends going through the process with you, seek out the help of the people who know you well. But save your money for tuition or the opportunities you will have as a student. Or spend your money on campus visits so you can truly identify which school is the right fit for you.

Finally, if a school doesn't accept you because your career goals don't align with its strategy, or you don't fit into its culture, then that probably isn't the right place for you anyway. I realize it's difficult to do this. It was difficult for me. By nature, an MBA student is competitive and a measure of success is getting into the highest-ranked program that you can. It was extremely hard for me to turn down admissions offers at some top-ranked business schools. But ultimately I'm at GW because my career goals align perfectly with GW's focus on developing globally minded and ethical business leaders who want to create sustainable solutions to pressing world issues. And to date I couldn't be happier with my decision.

Jeremy Dommu, Global MBA 2011
*This is taken from Jeremy Dommu's blog on BusinessWeek

"Help-the-Homeless Walkathon" by Amy Warren

2009-11-26T18:27:00.010-05:00

Last Saturday, more than 30 GW MBA students took part in the 22nd Annual Fannie Mae Help-the-Homeless Walkathon in Washington, DC. GW was walking specifically for Miriam's Kitchen, an organization that provides nutritious meals and support to homeless people in the DC area.

The day didn't start well. I woke up with a cramp in my leg (great timing!), but I didn't want that to stop me from participating. It was a 3-mile walk and I really started to feel it in my leg around the 2-mile mark. Still - I finished and I don't regret doing it! We raised more than $1,000 for Miriam's Kitchen.

It was a beautiful day for a walk. We started and finished on the National Mall, passing the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument along the way. Our program is so intense that it's easy to forget I live in the U.S. capital - ironically, I had more time for it as a tourist. In addition to being a great cause, the walkathon was a reminder of why I love living in DC.

Here are some of the photo highlights:

Amy Warren, Global MBA 2011

"GWU Community Consulting Wins its First Clients!" by Erik Walenza-Slabe

2009-11-09T14:15:00.006-05:00

Ok, so we offer pro bono consultation… ahh but winning that first client is still a wonderful feeling! In fact we’re celebrating not only our first client, but also our fourth client in two weeks. As Eric Groff says, client interest is our proof of concept, now it’s time to perform.

Client survey:

George Mason University Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution – PhD candidates, masters students and faculty are interested in starting a boutique consulting firm specializing in conflict resolution. Our task is to conduct a market/industry analysis and help them to develop a business plan by April.

George Mason University Faculty – Three faculty members are assisting businesses based in Israel and Palestine that strive to bridge the ethnic divide. We are looking forward to meeting with them next week to learn the details of the project and how we will fit in.

GWU Alumnus/Afghani Handicrafts Manufacturer – An Afghani woman manufactures handicrafts and wishes to export to the U.S. She is being aided by a GWU alumnus who offered to serve as a program advisor. Sweet rewards of networking.

Mount Rainier Business Association (MRBA) – The MRBA represents 100 businesses in the town of Mount Rainier, where I currently reside. The business community is delighted at the opportunity to tap our talent, and we in return welcome the chance to support them through the recession.

And that is where we stand at present. We’ve made great strides during the past month and now are anxiously awaiting the next program meeting, at which work teams will be assigned.

Erik Walenza-Slabe, Global MBA 2011

"Al Gore Speaks About his New Book: OUR CHOICE" by Lara Gast

2009-11-03T13:56:00.002-05:00

I went to see Al Gore promote his new book, Our Choice, at GW’s Lisner Auditorium on Thursday evening. Mr. Gore gave an overview of the book’s content, which focuses on the main causes of climate change and the decisions faced by Americans to change our behaviors and policies. In his blog, the book is described as follows:

"Picking up where An Inconvenient Truth left off, Our Choice utilizes Mr. Gore’s forty years of experience as a student, policymaker, author, filmmaker, entrepreneur and activist to comprehensively describe the real solutions to global warming. A co-recipient of the Nobel Peace prize in 2007 for his environmental work, Mr. Gore continues to make sense of the pressing issues we face and Our Choice will unquestionably inspire and rally those ready to fight for solutions that were deemed impossible only a short time ago."

Our Choice, and Mr. Gore himself, are great examples of the Principles for Responsible Management Education. In support of the Purpose principle, Mr. Gore commended students who are incorporating sustainability into their educational track. His book focuses mostly on the principles of Research and the importance of Partnership to make change occur; however, I believe Mr. Gore’s key impact is through Dialogue, and his continued promotion of change through awareness.

In his final statement, he challenged Americans (and particularly young people) to be responsible for making the most important moral decision of our era-to create and implement global solutions to combat the climate crisis.

Lara Gast, Global MBA 2011

"Learning About Waste in Organizations and Leadership" by Patty Pina

2009-10-27T13:30:00.002-04:00

For our Organizations and Leadership Class, we applied 10% of our time to a self-directed learning project of our choice. For my project, I decided to learn more about waste and what we can each do about it.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each American produces more than four pounds of waste per day, a figure that has almost doubled since 1960. This is significant because we are running out of landfill space to put waste, wasting natural resources and creating toxicity in our soil and water that can be harmful to our health and the health of future generations. A few months ago, I read a story in a magazine about a woman who believed that a large part of the reason why we create more waste is due to the fact that our trash is “out of sight, out of mind.” We throw things away, put them on our corner, someone comes to get it and we never see it again. As a public awareness message, she decided to carry the waste she produced with her for several months to highlight this issue. For my learning project, I decided to mimic her to learn more about how I personally can reduce the waste I produce.

For four days, a day for every pound the average American produces daily, I carried the waste I produced with me everywhere. I brought my bag of trash to school, restaurants, concerts and grocery stores. I did not include anything that was recyclable, biodegradable or unsanitary. I rinsed out food containers and I would compact everything before I would put it in my bag. The biggest lesson I learned is that when you have to carry your waste, you quickly find ways to reduce it.

Most of my waste was coming from food and beverage packaging. I would throw away coffee cups from Starbucks or Styrofoam salad boxes. To remedy this, I purchased a reusable travel coffee mug and started packing my lunch in Tupperware or in aluminum foil that I would clean and recycle. If I did purchase something, I requested to not have a receipt printed and to have minimal packaging, so no extra bags or napkins. At home, I would wipe down my counters in the kitchen with a rag versus paper towels. I made sure to recycle parts of junk mail that I could, like envelopes or inserts. I bought recycled goods like paper towels in bulk or biodegradable sponges. I purchased a new purse and asked the store clerk to keep the padding they put inside to use on another display purse. These tiny changes were so easy to make and at the end of four days, I only had one bag of trash that weighed about two pounds.

I was amazed by how much I did not even think about what I was throwing away before I started this project. Even during my project, there were times when I would catch myself still throwing something away because it was just second nature to not really think about the waste I was producing. But then I thought more about how easily I could make small changes and how that added up to lots of waste savings, I couldn’t help but be excited every time I realized I was not adding something to a landfill!

Not only did I learn more about how I can make better choices in terms of waste, but I also learned more about the issue in general. As part of my learning project, I read articles, websites and blog postings. Landfills are not only running out of room, but they are also filled with items that can be recycled or reused. Trash in our oceans and water runoff from landfills is contaminating the food we eat and water we drink. Consumer packaged goods companies are working to develop packaging that is minimal and made from recycled sources and I can do my part to increase the demand of these products by spending a few extra cents. For example, I purchased pens that were made with 62% pre-consumer recycled plastic for only $0.20 more than other choices.

In the end, I was thrilled to throw away my bag of trash when my four days were complete. I don’t think we have to live in our trash to solve our waste and landfill problems. However, I do think we each have to think more about what we waste and how we can reduce it. This entire process was so helpful in terms of making me realize how I can personally make a difference in my daily choices for a healthier and more sustainable planet.

Patty Pina, Global MBA 2011

"Business Ethics" by Priyanka Tayal

2009-10-25T14:08:00.002-04:00

The first module is over! I have to admit, amongst the hustle and bustle, I am glad to be back at school. The classroom has truly been a knowledgeable experience and it is interesting to see the relevance of business concepts after being in the working world, but also through the realization of my ultimate career goals.

Of my courses from this module, Business Ethics has been the most pertinent in terms of the PRME objectives. Before we even began the course, we were asked to submit a list of 5-7 values that we believed were most important for a successful business. After collecting almost 120 sets of values, the following were the “election results” – Honesty, Respect, Dedication, Innovation, Collaboration, Moral/Ethical/Sustainable, Leadership and Passion. From the outset, it is clear that the purpose and values of this course aligns with those outlined in the Certificate.

The goals of the course were stated as the following: (1) to clarify values, (2) to create ethical awareness, (3) to develop a moral decision-making process, and (4) to learn the central steps in creating ethical business communities that tend to enhance peace and security. These goals are in line with the objective of “Purpose” as the course aims to provide students with an educational framework around ethics in a business environment, and promotes us (as future business leaders) to think scenarios through the main ethical theories pertaining to Shareholders, Stakeholders and Virtues. This was the “Method” through which the course is communicated. Using various real-life cases and scenarios, we were encouraged to use this structure to decipher clear and sound ethical and sustainable decisions.

However, the core of this class came from the “Research” portion as the majority of our final grade is determined by a research paper based on an actual case where a company was faced with an ethical dilemma. Through this intense research, students were able to advance our understanding of the three theories which incorporate “the role, dynamics, and impact of corporations in the creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value.” My collaborative paper was an incident that the Coca-Cola Company faced against child labor in El Salvador. Through this paper, I was able to explore business decisions the corporation had to make, and the impacts these decisions had on the shareholders and stakeholders. Specifically, the paper’s contents dealt with the first 6 principles that are mentioned in the United Nations Global Compact in terms of “Human Rights” and “Labor”.

Through “Partnership” and “Dialogue” with fellow classmates (and thus former business professionals) as well as Tim Fort (our primary educator in this course) our discussions and debates allowed appreciation of different viewpoints and possibly different ethical frameworks. Especially through the real-life case discussions, we learnt, understood and challenged social responsibilities of corporations, the power of individual and collective values and attitudes within corporations as well as the sustainable precedents set with decisions made in ethical dilemmas.

Tim Fort as a professor is also extremely engaging. He clearly has passion for his subject and is enthusiastic about passing his experiences and learning to the students. I highly recommend this course, even for those who think ethics cannot be taught in a classroom setting. The class will at the least, allow you to acknowledge your own ethics and think about them in a business setting.

Priyanka Tayal, Global MBA 2011

"Back to the Basics" by Priyanka Tayal

2009-10-25T13:52:00.004-04:00

Into the first module of my MBA career, to say it is an adjustment after 4 years of working is an understatement. I went to undergrad for my BBA at the University of Miami after which I proceeded to work in the field of Finance in New York city. Undoubtedly my experiences at two of the world’s largest investment banks were priceless, but I knew that my knowledge domain had to be enhanced in order to be in line with my career objectives. Finance helped me discover that the clients I wanted to work with were and are at the other end of the spectrum. Being from India and living, traveling and studying extensively in developing countries, International Development is a natural fit for me.

With this realization came a further insight – education was key to my success. I wanted to pursue a degree which could leverage my business background while allowing me to pursue my goals in development. Here, the George Washington University served as an ideal match. Let alone the political capital that is the Washington DC, GWU through the provision of the Strategic Management and Public Policy domain, has allowed me to align my education with my career ambitions.

Furthermore, pioneering opportunities such as the Certificate in Responsible Management align the union between management (business) and responsibility/sustainability (development). Visualizing my MBA through the lens of development is extremely important for me to get the most from my education, and pursuing possibilities which permit this, such as the Certificate, are vital and valuable.

Priyanka Tayal, Global MBA 2011

"Leadership for a Better World Conference" by Kristina Brzezinski:

2009-09-30T13:14:00.002-04:00

Last Friday I heard amazing speakers at the Leadership for a Better World conference. I think it’s safe to say the majority of people would agree that business needs to change, but from there opinions diverge. How should business change? Who should lead the change? How should the change be implemented? And most importantly, what are the final results? What is the vision we’re working toward?

Change for change’s sake isn’t enough; there must be an end goal. I’ll use this conference as a springboard to explore possible answers to these questions and others. I expect my views to evolve over the next two years and I hope my posts are provoking enough that they will inspire you to question some of your views of business.

One of the themes that emerged was how business could change, and two methods were proposed. Using Honest Tea as an example, it was suggested that as more businesses with triple bottom lines succeed, they will provide an alternate business model that competes with the existing model and the market will decide the winner. The other suggestion was to change the existing model from within companies, and Rosabeth Moss Kanter gave many examples from her new book, Super Corp, of just how blue chip companies can make ethical choices.

While the market may one day decide triple bottom line companies are the clear winner, to smoothly transition to such an economy, we still need the existing model and my hope is that businesses that fall into the latter category follow the lead of the Super Corp companies because business can and should serve a greater purpose than profit.

Kristina Brzezinski, Global MBA 2011

"Community Consulting" by Erik Walenza-Slabe

2009-09-20T14:12:00.002-04:00

In mid August 2009, hardly more than a month ago, the Community Consulting program was born. At the time I was researching GW student organizations with the intention of becoming involved in one or two of the more active clubs. To my consternation, I found that few clubs required, or even provided for, active involvement in the community. Rather, they were geared towards social networking, booking speakers, and holding informational events. Now, these are all laudable activities but they don’t demand much of the individual members, aside from those who hold leadership positions. I envisioned an organization that was both intellectually demanding and personally empowering – thus was born GW Community Consulting (GWCC).

The basic premise behind GWCC is that MBA candidates will benefit most from their education if they immediately put it into practice. The question then arose, upon whom to practice? I found the answer in D.C.’s small business community. Through a partnership with the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), I identified local entrepreneurs who are interested in partnering with the GWCC. Through the relationship students gain practical experience, while local entrepreneurs gain access to free consultation. Thus the program satisfies a key tenant of social entrepreneurship, the improvement of both the individual and the community.

In the GWCC, each student forms part of a three member consulting team, which works exclusively with one client entrepreneur. Team are fully autonomous and are solely responsible for meeting their client’s objectives. However, support is provided, upon request, from students and faculty advisors. A crucial aspect of the partnership is that each team selects which entrepreneur it will partner with, based on a detailed application regarding the client’s industry, size, mission etc. This allows teams to target projects through which they will develop the skills and expertise most important to their future goals.

In early September I pitched the GWCC to the Consulting Club (which rather inconveniently has the same acronyms), and club leadership accepted my proposal to house the program under the auspices of the club. Now that it has an institutional home, the next great step for the GWCC is the launch of its first series of projects in mid October. Shortly thereafter, I dearly hope to post a blog recounting the successful formation of relationships between entrepreneurs and GWCC consulting teams.

Erik Walenza-Slabe, Global MBA 2011