The Stern Center for Sustainable Business Leads the Eco-Market

When Saurabh came to NYU, he didn’t have a solid idea of his career path. “There were so many options, but none of them felt right,” he explains. Then, he discovered CSB and everything clicked. He applied to be a student worker, got hired as an intern, and declared a concentration in sustainable business. Although it isn’t mandatory to take advantage of the center’s many resources, the concentration is the gateway to CSB. Students can take over 20 courses, from Social Entrepreneurship to Global Business and Human Rights. “Professor Whelan’s Sustainability for Competitive Advantage class was easily one of the most impactful courses I’ve taken,” adds Saurabh. “And to prove it, I just wrapped up the semester as the teaching fellow (TF) for the Executive MBA version of the course. I’ll be a TF for the undergraduate version this semester and I couldn’t be more excited.”

In and out of the classroom, CSB provides numerous opportunities. Students can get involved as interns at the center or they can join external companies for practical experience. Most importantly, research at CSB is open to everyone. For example, Lu Yii Wong, a Sustainable Urban Environments major at the Tandon School of Engineering, works on the FoodMap NY research project at CSB. It seeks to map systemic barriers to food and nutrition security across New York state. “My work at CSB has shown me the possibilities for sustainable and equitable business models for our society,” she says. “I’ve also strengthened my research, writing, and presentation skills. Furthermore, I’ve learned a lot about alternatives to policy-related system solutions, such as private-public partnerships.”

If you can’t wait to embark on a career in sustainability, CSB’s annual Sustainability Career Boot Camp offers Stern undergraduates two weeks of intensive training. Participants learn about various career options and partner with a major corporation, such as PwC or Unilever, on a case. In addition, the Social Impact Fellows program provides opportunities outside the classroom to students wanting to expand their network and skills in social and environmental impact. What’s more, there’s no need to worry about taking a low-paying nonprofit or government internship. The Social Impact Stipend provides financial support for students pursuing an early-stage social venture or nonprofit internship.