Glass Futures’ Post

I am incredibly grateful to have taken part in the Berkeley Changemaker course “Sustainable Capitalism in the Nordics?”. Thank you to my amazing professor Robert Strand for making this the most engaging and enlightening course I have so far taken! Through the discussion based model of the course, I shared many insightful conversations with my peers, broadening my perspective on capitalism, sustainability, and the corporate American business model. What particularly stood out to me was the unique Nordic business model where stakeholder interest and sustainability are prioritized, an approach very different from a shareholder profit motivated model. A prime example of this is Novo Nordisk, a company that takes the Triple Bottom Line approach to business: balancing financial, social, and environmental considerations. In this course sustainability is defined as, “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” We emphasized the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a comprehensive framework for sustainable progress. As the course came to a wrap, I pledged my commitment to SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Monitoring my own consumption, investing in long-term reusable products, and doing research to shop from sustainable brands are ways that I individually make an effort to responsibly consume. In the future, I plan to remain committed by colllaborating with organizations that prioritize sustainability and are dedicated to fostering responsible production practices. The circular economy movement will not be easy and will require collective effort from individuals, corporations, and governments. However, as the famous James Baldwin quote goes, “not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” Beyond this course, I look forward to further engagement with the Nordic Center at UC Berkeley & the Center for Responsible Business at Berkeley Haas and hope to see continued collaboration between California and the Nordics. Heja sustainability!

# Reflecting on Responsible Leadership at Exeter As I dive into the Leadership module at The Exeter MBA, I'm revisiting a question that has long fascinated me—one posed by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 1: Are we capable of building governments through reflection and choice, or are we doomed to fall to accident and force? This centuries-old query feels more relevant than ever, especially after completing the TEXL leadership survey in class. It's made me reflect deeply on the nature of responsible leadership in our rapidly advancing world. As we face global challenges like climate change, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology, the quality of our leadership will determine whether we: - Exacerbate existing inequalities or democratise access to knowledge and opportunity - Navigate towards a sustainable future or continue on a path of environmental degradation - Harness technological advancements for the benefit of all or allow them to widen societal divides My University of Exeter Business School MBA experience is reinforcing that responsible leadership isn't just a nice-to-have—it's critical for: 1. Saving our planet 2. Ensuring the survival and thriving of our species 3. Building a future of sustainability, justice, equality, opportunity, and shared prosperity The TEXL survey and our class discussions have underscored the intricate nature of leadership in today's world. They've also highlighted the pivotal role of continuous self-reflection and growth in our journey to develop responsible leadership skills. As I progress on my MBA journey, my dedication to refining the skills and mindset required for responsible leadership is unwavering. I am more committed than ever to becoming a leader who can positively influence this pivotal historical moment. #ResponsibleLeadership #GlobalChallenges #TechForGood #SustainableFuture #LeadershipDevelopment #ExeterMBA #TexlSurvey

📖 Happy news! Our latest research paper: "Implementing sustainability in teaching: The role of sustainability leadership and transformational leadership in the context of higher education institutions" has been published in Sustainable Development. The paper aims to explore the mechanism by which sustainability leadership and transformational leadership contribute to implementing sustainability-related aspects and the adoption of the SDGs by the teaching staff and whether these relationships are mediated by the higher education institutions (HEIs) level of social innovation tendency. This paper is part of the “100 papers to accelerate the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals” initiative promoted by the Research and Transfer Centre Sustainability & Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK). This research sheds light on important mechanisms for promoting sustainability in education. You can read the full text here: https://lnkd.in/ediWPVEh #Sustainability #HigherEducation #Leadership #Research

Rankings: Friend or Fo? David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of St. Thomas University, isn’t shy about calling it like it is.... St. Thomas, a faith-based institution based in Miami, once ranked #1 in social mobility in the South. The next year? They tumbled down the list. Why? Not because their outcomes changed—but because the methodology did. Here’s the rub: Rankings are metrics—but they don’t measure mission. At St. Thomas, 70% of students are Pell-eligible, and 80% are students of color. The institution is thriving with six years of record enrollment by focusing on outcomes that matter. Graduates landing jobs, improving their lives, and uplifting their communities. David’s philosophy? ✔️ Prioritize outcomes over optics. ✔️ Keep costs low without compromising quality. ✔️ Stay mission-focused—because mission drives impact. Rankings may shift, but for leaders like David, the North Star never does: Educate, transform, and lead with purpose. What’s your take on how rankings shape (or skew) higher ed’s narrative?

Last chance to register 🌱 Are you ready to position your university as a leader in sustainability? Many institutions struggle to move beyond isolated sustainability efforts. Our upcoming course, 'Fundamentals of Sustainable Universities,' is designed to help you overcome this by providing the tools and insights needed to drive cohesive, lasting change. ✅ Master strategies to integrate sustainability across all levels of your university, ensuring a cohesive and impactful effort.  ✅ Craft a tailored sustainability roadmap that aligns with your institution’s goals.  ✅ Explore successful case studies from global leaders, helping you implement proven strategies.  ✅ Build skills in communication and stakeholder engagement to mobilise your university community and foster a culture of sustainability. Get your ticket now: https://bit.ly/4ecSniI 📆 'Fundamentals of Sustainable Universities' starts 6 November This course is brought to you in collaboration between TUM International GmbH and UIIN. #SustainableUniversities #Sustainability #HigherEducation #EnvironmentalLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #SustainableDevelopment

As businesses face mounting pressure to address climate change, resource scarcity, and economic uncertainty, graduate business schools must equip students with the knowledge and tools to drive sustainable practices. Discover Bentley University - McCallum Graduate School of Business' Professional MBA, designed to equip future leaders with skills in emerging technology and sustainability. https://hubs.la/Q02-hNy_0 #sponsored #bentleymba #bentelyuniversity #bentleygrad #professionalmba #mbasustainability #mbaprogram #sustainability #businessschool #bschool #business #mba

Interesting that Advance HE's Strategy 2030 now includes explicit reference to 'transformational change' and clearly links this to leadership, management and governance. Whilst I am no longer affiliated to any Higher Education Institution, I am a Fellow and have been in and around the sector for decades, so agree with this imperative for its members and member organisations. Change your people, change your culture, achieve your strategic ambitions. To be fair, the strategy also covers themes that would be important in any sector right now, not just higher education. This includes EDI, sustainability and technology drivers. As an advocate for 'Responsible Transformation', I would expect them to be in there. So let's hope this leads to transformational change, delivered responsibly ... and ultimately a better world for the organisation's stakeholders and beneficiaries. https://lnkd.in/eYgnt8-5

I strongly believe that leading for sustainability means breaking down the silos between climate scientists and future CEOs so they can understand each other’s language and combine their knowledge and perspectives.    Building sustainable organisations requires technical skills, but also management and leadership skills. You need to know how to measure a carbon footprint, but you also need to be able to drive a programme of change to reduce it.   So I am looking forward to contributing to this summer school with our natural and social scientists, that's ideal for those who need a more in-depth understanding of the environmental risks facing their organisation, and how to manage their finances and people to ensure resilient organisations.

Today continues our Episode 23rd of "2023-2024 University Presidents' New Cognition" video series, and we are featuring Professor Vikas Mehrotra, Dean, Alberta School of Business, The University of Alberta in Canada. "The academic research in the field of sustainability at the University of Alberta and the Alberta School of Business is advancing simultaneously from multiple angles.” Professor Vikas Mehrotra, Dean of the Alberta School of Business in Canada, pointed out that the research goals of his school must first be based on mastering the development trends in the field of low-carbon transformation, and through this trend, not only at the technical level, but also by using management theory to make better business decisions to reduce carbon emissions in business operations. #Alberta Business School #MBA #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment

⋆.˚🦋༘⋆The teaching of finance and the marketisation of consumption have been criticised for contributing to global inequality, waste overproduction, and public health issues. Despite superficial reforms following the 2008 financial crisis, business education remains fundamentally unchanged. Today, business schools must again transform to foster responsible leadership, emphasising social good and sustainable development. In the new issue of Global Focus Magazine, Guillaume Carton, Associate Professor of Strategy at emlyon business school, explains how can business schools can proactively redefine their role to meet contemporary societal challenges. 📗 Learn more: ╰┈➤bit.ly/B-School-Change Matthew Wood #EFMDGlobalFocus #businessschools #businesseducation