Navigating Business and Sustainability: Insights from Climate Week at Michigan Ross

Climate Week is a relatively new student-led event at Michigan Ross, started in 2023 by students from the Erb Institute who wanted an opportunity to share insights on climate issues with their peers across the school.

The Erb Institute, a partnership between Michigan Ross and the School for Environment and Sustainability, aims to create a more sustainable world through the power of business by providing graduates with a dual-degree education in business and environmental issues. Its MBA/MS students are uniquely positioned to speak on the intersection of sustainability and business, something that is quickly becoming one of the most important topics ut in society.

To learn more about the organizers of this year’s Climate Week, we asked a few of the MBA/MS students involved to share a little about themselves and what this event means to them.

Supreya Kesavan, MBA/MS ’24

What is your post-graduation career goal?
Upon graduating, I am seeking opportunities to work in the policy space, driving more equitable and just solutions for the climate.

Why did you get involved with planning Climate Week, and what has your experience been like?
Planning Ross Climate Week 2024 started from a desire to carry on the momentum from last year. Having been part of the planning team last year, it was amazing to see the impact that was made (more than 200 people!), and we were excited to be able to carry on the legacy this year. The experience has been incredible; seeing the growth from last year, the support we received from all parts of the university, and the love from Ross students makes all the planning worth it.

Why are student-led sustainability events like Climate Week important?
Planning an event like this is impactful because it demonstrates the passion for social impact and sustainability at Ross. There is a hunger to do this work, whether in the business world or beyond and the opportunity to be able to provide people the chance to learn more about the space is unparalleled and necessary. I truly believe we are at the cusp of an amazing time — with the implementation of federal policy, all the amazing climate work happening in Michigan, and all the world-class environment and climate-focused research we have at the university puts Ross in a unique position to be a leader.

How does your passion for sustainability and driving change tie in with your goals for the future?
I believe that driving change in the world of environment and sustainability should be people-focused. I am passionate about creating business models that put people at the center and allow for equitable ways of doing business. Having sustainability-related education opportunities for business students is a great start.

What advice do you have for other aspiring sustainability professionals?
The work can be done from everywhere. Climate Week's premise is that every job is a climate job. Whether you work in finance, marketing, accounting, product management, strategy, or anything else, you have an equal opportunity to put sustainability at the core of your work. The most effective solution would be to embed sustainability in every part of an organization.

Rena Lahn, MBA/MS ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?
Following graduation, I would love to work on sustainable sourcing initiatives within the consumer packaged goods industry.

Why did you get involved with planning Climate Week, and what has your experience been like?
As part of the planning team from Ross Climate Week 2023, I got to see how the community embraced this event not only for the expertise presented but also as a forum to discuss sustainability topics that will impact the graduates heading into full-time roles. I wanted this Climate Week to help empower our peers to make informed decisions in the real world and help guide them in asking about sustainability efforts at their future companies. It felt really important to share the knowledge we have been accumulating in our dual-degree program. I found it impactful to identify the key messages our audience would need to help enact change in their organizations.

Why are student-led sustainability events like Climate Week important?
As dual-degree students, we have access to a whole array of classes and resources outside of the business school. Yet, sustainability issues are inherently systematic and need everyone to be on the same team. Events like Ross Climate Week are just stepping stones to get the conversation started and get folks to think about these immense problems we are facing. With students leading these events, we can create a more open, colloquial space to answer any questions or tackle any concerns in an eye-to-eye conversation rather than in a lecture setting or networking session.

Jenna Weinstein, MBA/MS ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?
In the short term, I want to work in the consumer packaged goods space to understand key levers for environmental impact reduction. Ultimately, I hope to work within complex supply chains to institute novel circular economy models for consumer goods.

Why did you get involved with planning Climate Week, and what has your experience been like?
I attended Climate Week last year, and I found the panels and workshops to be incredibly valuable in filling knowledge gaps that are unaddressed at both SEAS and Ross. Static curriculum has difficulty capturing the dynamism of the sustainability landscape, so events like Climate Week are essential for understanding the current challenges and opportunities for professionals in the space. I was excited to collaborate with this year’s team to put together education sessions for students across campus to learn about critical emerging topics at the intersection of sustainability and business.

What advice do you have for other aspiring sustainability professionals?
Go to conferences when and where you can. Volunteering is a great way to gain admission as a student. Sustainability work is fundamentally collaborative — impact reduction efforts require knowledge-sharing and collective action. The convening of sustainability professionals often happens at conferences, both big (Greenbiz) and small (have a niche sustainability interest? I can almost guarantee there’s a conference for it). They are incredible places to be inspired, meet people, and learn about the huge breadth of sustainability jobs out there. There are more ways to work professionally in sustainability than you realize, I promise.

Kelly Donahoe, MBA/MS ’24

What is your post-graduation career goal?
Following graduation, I hope to work within consumer packaged goods as a brand manager or in a sustainability role to decarbonize our current food system.  

Why are student-led sustainability events like Climate Week important?
There is a greater need for sustainability literacy among business decision-makers due to the growing recognition of environmental and social challenges, increased stakeholder expectations, tightening regulations, and the potential for sustainability-driven innovation and competitive advantage. By offering a forum for students to actively engage in discussion with their peers, students can familiarize themselves with sustainability topics. As one speaker put it, there are no longer any “non-sustainability roles,” and even core business functions need to start to incorporate sustainability into everyday considerations.  

What advice do you have for other aspiring sustainability professionals?
I have found that staying passionate and resilient as a sustainability professional is necessary. Sustainability work can be challenging and slow-paced at times, especially when some organizations still require you to “make the business case for sustainability.” But as more and more business professionals have exposure to sustainability topics in school and through events like Ross Climate Week, you have more allies that can help emphasize the need for change and creative solutions.

Victoria Jenkins, MBA/MS ’24

What is your post-graduation career goal?
Following graduation, I want to work in implementing climate/real estate solutions in consumer-facing industries. If I can make an everyday use or activity someone embarks on more sustainable, then my goal has been achieved.

Why did you get involved with planning Climate Week, and what has your experience been like?
During my three years at Michigan Ross, the importance of sustainability literacy has really come to mind. No matter what industry or job function our peers pursue after graduating, it’s not really a matter of if sustainability will impact their role; it’s when. As such, it felt important to me to equip our peers with the basics of various sustainability topics.