About
Inspiring innovation at the intersection of business and the environment.
Mission
The Business and Environment Initiative educates, connects, and mobilizes business leaders to address climate change and other environmental challenges.
Our goals are to:
- Engage and promote a faculty community on business and environment topics
- Educate students to transform organizations to become environmentally sustainable
- Disseminate insights from research and foster alumni engagement on critical environmental topics
BEI brings together more than 40 affiliated faculty members who collectively represent the School’s ten units. We catalyze research and share insights with business leaders. We encourage faculty and students to address climate change and environmental sustainability in MBA classrooms. We host academic and executive conferences and support student clubs and alumni connections on campus and beyond.
Annual Reports
Leadership
Michael Toffel
Faculty Chair; Senator John Heinz Professor of Environmental Management
Professor Michael Toffel has been interested in how companies can reduce their environmental impacts since the early 1990s. This led him to Yale University seeking to learn about business management, industrial environmental management, and environmental policy. Soon after graduating Yale with an MBA and a Master’s degree from its environmental school, Toffel became the director of environment, health, and safety at a conglomerate in Southeast Asia.
As Faculty Chair of the Business and Environment Initiative, Mike provides the overall vision and strategic direction for the Initiative. Mike is a faculty member in the HBS Technology and Operations Management unit, and his research examines how companies are addressing the environmental impacts of—and working conditions in—their operations and supply chains. The role of BEI Faculty Chair allows Mike to strengthen institutional support for faculty colleagues working on various business and environment topics, and to identify opportunities to increase the impact of their work.
Professor Michael Toffel has been interested in how companies can reduce their environmental impacts since the early 1990s. This led him to Yale University seeking to learn about business management, industrial environmental management, and environmental policy. Soon after graduating Yale with an MBA and a Master’s degree from its environmental school, Toffel became the director of environment, health, and safety at a conglomerate in Southeast Asia.
As Faculty Chair of the Business and Environment Initiative, Mike provides the overall vision and strategic direction for the Initiative. Mike is a faculty member in the HBS Technology and Operations Management unit, and his research examines how companies are addressing the environmental impacts of—and working conditions in—their operations and supply chains. The role of BEI Faculty Chair allows Mike to strengthen institutional support for faculty colleagues working on various business and environment topics, and to identify opportunities to increase the impact of their work.
Lynn Schenk
Director
Lynn leads BEI’s efforts on alumni engagement, case marketing, curriculum development, and other aspects of faculty engagement. Previously Lynn was a VP in the Infrastructure and Energy group at Citigroup and a Director at the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Climate Initiative. Lynn has led several successful finance projects that brought together the private and public sectors, large financial institutions, and multilateral organizations. In previous roles at HBS she wrote case studies on impact investing and contributed to the Problem Solving book. Her focus continues to be on the intersection of finance and climate change, as it applies across multiple sectors and geographies.
Lynn leads BEI’s efforts on alumni engagement, case marketing, curriculum development, and other aspects of faculty engagement. Previously Lynn was a VP in the Infrastructure and Energy group at Citigroup and a Director at the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Climate Initiative. Lynn has led several successful finance projects that brought together the private and public sectors, large financial institutions, and multilateral organizations. In previous roles at HBS she wrote case studies on impact investing and contributed to the Problem Solving book. Her focus continues to be on the intersection of finance and climate change, as it applies across multiple sectors and geographies.
Courtney Fairbrother
Associate Director
Courtney manages student and alumni engagement and creates networks and opportunities that encourage these groups to address climate change. She also oversees the implementation of infrastructure supporting increased career and entrepreneurial opportunities for students. Prior to joining the BEI team, Courtney worked for Harvard’s Office for Sustainability as the Sustainability Manager for HBS where she was responsible for engaging students, staff, and faculty in sustainability initiatives across the HBS campus. Prior to working at Harvard, Courtney worked in both the private and public sector on renewable energy policy, implementation, and development for agencies such as the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority and Rocky Mountain Institute.
Courtney manages student and alumni engagement and creates networks and opportunities that encourage these groups to address climate change. She also oversees the implementation of infrastructure supporting increased career and entrepreneurial opportunities for students. Prior to joining the BEI team, Courtney worked for Harvard’s Office for Sustainability as the Sustainability Manager for HBS where she was responsible for engaging students, staff, and faculty in sustainability initiatives across the HBS campus. Prior to working at Harvard, Courtney worked in both the private and public sector on renewable energy policy, implementation, and development for agencies such as the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority and Rocky Mountain Institute.
Elise Clarkson
Community Manager
Elise is the coordinator of the Business and Environment Initiative. She manages core activities of the BEI and collaborates with other departments to leverage HBS resources, promote the initiative's mission, and improve processes. Her duties include project management, event coordination, content development for publications and social media, web maintenance, and data management. At HBS, Elise has experience managing MBA courses, coordinating faculty & doctoral recruiting, and overseeing events. Prior to working at HBS, she taught elementary school in underserved communities in Massachusetts and California. She has experience developing academic programs, writing curriculum, and mentoring new educators.
Elise is the coordinator of the Business and Environment Initiative. She manages core activities of the BEI and collaborates with other departments to leverage HBS resources, promote the initiative's mission, and improve processes. Her duties include project management, event coordination, content development for publications and social media, web maintenance, and data management. At HBS, Elise has experience managing MBA courses, coordinating faculty & doctoral recruiting, and overseeing events. Prior to working at HBS, she taught elementary school in underserved communities in Massachusetts and California. She has experience developing academic programs, writing curriculum, and mentoring new educators.
Fulton Christopher Eaglin
PhD student
PhD student
Ashley Palmarozzo
Doctoral student
Doctoral student
Kala Viswanathan
Doctoral student
Doctoral student