About

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

Annual Report 2022

Annual Report 2021

Annual Report 2020

Annual Report 2019

40
affiliated faculty
View Faculty
822
cases and research materials about business & environment
View Cases & Research Materials
184
publications related to climate change
More on Curriculum

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.

Executive Fellows

Spencer Glendon

(Harvard PhD 1999), Founder, Probable Futures
Glendon is working with Michael Toffel and Peter Tufano on research projects related to climate change.
Glendon is working with Michael Toffel and Peter Tufano on research projects related to climate change.

Vivian Lee

(AB 1986, MD 1992), Former President & Founder, Verily Health Platforms
Lee is working with Robert Huckman, Toffel, and the Health Care Initiative on research projects related to health care delivery, sustainability and resilience.
Lee is working with Robert Huckman, Toffel, and the Health Care Initiative on research projects related to health care delivery, sustainability and resilience.

Reynir Indahl

(MBA 1998), Managing Partner, Summa Equity
Indahl is working with George Serafeim on projects related to climate and sustainability efforts in private equity.
Indahl is working with George Serafeim on projects related to climate and sustainability efforts in private equity.

BiGS Climate Fellows

Omar Asensio

Assistant professor in the School of Public Policy; director of the Data Science and Policy Lab, Georgia Institute of Technology

Using AI to ensure an equitable distribution of EV infrastructure
As the United States prioritizes plans for EV infrastructure that facilitates highway travel with fewer emissions than traditional vehicles, Asensio will accelerate his research into whether current policies and incentives might leave some communities behind. With the largest database of electric vehicle charging infrastructure performance worldwide—featuring information such as location, pricing, charging speeds, and consumer reviews—he uses big data and machine learning to reveal strategies for sustainable growth.

Using AI to ensure an equitable distribution of EV infrastructure
As the United States prioritizes plans for EV infrastructure that facilitates highway travel with fewer emissions than traditional vehicles, Asensio will accelerate his research into whether current policies and incentives might leave some communities behind. With the largest database of electric vehicle charging infrastructure performance worldwide—featuring information such as location, pricing, charging speeds, and consumer reviews—he uses big data and machine learning to reveal strategies for sustainable growth.

Conor Hickey

Research fellow in the Climate Research Programme at the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute

Examining the financial and organisational impacts of delayed climate action on corporations
With significant experience researching corporate net-zero strategies, Hickey plans to investigate the impact of delayed climate action on corporations. Delayed climate action can take various forms, such as an overreliance on speculative technologies that do not yet exist at scale, or strategies that prioritise short-term solutions with limited long-term climate benefits. These approaches can hinder progress towards achieving net zero emissions and may exacerbate the negative impacts of climate change. He’ll focus specifically on the sectors that currently have limited mitigation potential, such as aviation. Hickey believes by demonstrating the financial impact of delayed action, corporations may be more supportive of effective regulation.

Examining the financial and organisational impacts of delayed climate action on corporations
With significant experience researching corporate net-zero strategies, Hickey plans to investigate the impact of delayed climate action on corporations. Delayed climate action can take various forms, such as an overreliance on speculative technologies that do not yet exist at scale, or strategies that prioritise short-term solutions with limited long-term climate benefits. These approaches can hinder progress towards achieving net zero emissions and may exacerbate the negative impacts of climate change. He’ll focus specifically on the sectors that currently have limited mitigation potential, such as aviation. Hickey believes by demonstrating the financial impact of delayed action, corporations may be more supportive of effective regulation.

Andrew Hoffman

Professor at the University of Michigan, with joint appointments at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and the School for Environment & Sustainability

A systems-level view of climate change
Having researched the intersection of business and the environment for nearly 30 years, Hoffman plans to look at climate change as a systems breakdown, rather than an environmental issue. Integrating physical, social, and political science into business decision making, Hoffman plans to conduct a systemic examination of how business and business schools can improve their approach to combating climate change, arguing for large-scale action.

A systems-level view of climate change
Having researched the intersection of business and the environment for nearly 30 years, Hoffman plans to look at climate change as a systems breakdown, rather than an environmental issue. Integrating physical, social, and political science into business decision making, Hoffman plans to conduct a systemic examination of how business and business schools can improve their approach to combating climate change, arguing for large-scale action.

Jonas Meckling

Associate professor at the University of California Berkeley

The political economy of decarbonization
With a focus on studying the politics of clean energy transitions and probing why some economies are moving faster than others, Meckling plans to examine the recent rise of green industrial policy currently shaping markets for low-carbon technologies. He will examine what effective green industrial policy might look like as well as pitfalls such as international conflict to help mobilize effective business investments to create and grow markets for low-carbon technologies.

The political economy of decarbonization
With a focus on studying the politics of clean energy transitions and probing why some economies are moving faster than others, Meckling plans to examine the recent rise of green industrial policy currently shaping markets for low-carbon technologies. He will examine what effective green industrial policy might look like as well as pitfalls such as international conflict to help mobilize effective business investments to create and grow markets for low-carbon technologies.

Robyn Meeks

Assistant professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy

The study of climate resilience in developing countries
With 20 years of experience researching water and energy technologies, Meeks plans to examine how the resilience of an electrification technology—specifically, mini grids—can be augmented in rural, remote communities in developing countries, which are disproportionately affected by climate change. Her project in Nepal brings together technology, government, and electric utilities to determine how rural, isolated communities—and their citizens and businesses—can increase the resiliency of their economies as extreme weather events become more common.

The study of climate resilience in developing countries
With 20 years of experience researching water and energy technologies, Meeks plans to examine how the resilience of an electrification technology—specifically, mini grids—can be augmented in rural, remote communities in developing countries, which are disproportionately affected by climate change. Her project in Nepal brings together technology, government, and electric utilities to determine how rural, isolated communities—and their citizens and businesses—can increase the resiliency of their economies as extreme weather events become more common.

BEI Faculty Affiliates 

BEI brings together more than 40 affiliated faculty members whose research explores the intersection of business and the environment.
Initiatives focus on societal challenges that are too complex for any one discipline or industry to solve alone.