How business schools are preparing you for a sustainable career

"Choosing a school that emphasises sustainability ensures alignment with a forward-thinking mission and equips graduates with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving business landscape," emphasised Bi. 

A great example is the Colorado State University which was honoured with the AACSB Innovations That Inspire Award for their Impact MBA Corporate Sustainability Fellowship programme. As Bi explained, “This programme places students in 400-hour, project-based fellowships within firms after they have completed one year of coursework,” providing students with hands-on experience and valuable industry connections in the sustainability field. 

Similarly, EMLYON Business School was recognised with the same award for their mandatory course, which engages 1,200 first-year master’s students in real-world climate action scenarios. The course helps students develop climate action methodologies, which will eventually be used to create impact in the entire community. 

So, when looking for schools with a sustainability focus, Bi encourages students to review a school’s mission, vision, and sustainability initiatives, along with its accreditations, to make sure that they align with your individual career goals and values. 

Students are no longer just passive learners in the education system. As Bi points out, “Students play a critical role in driving change, much like consumers influence businesses.”  

Business students are uniquely positioned to tackle some of the most prominent global issues, such as driving innovation in renewable energy and sustainable practices, promoting economic inclusion, and advocating for the ethical use of technology and data. 

Because of this, Bi believes that students in business can be impactful drivers of change, pushing their schools towards meaningful actions, such as reducing waste or improving energy efficiency, by participating in campus initiatives and voicing their opinions. 

Apart from creating an impact during your studies, it’s equally important to start preparing for your future goals while still at university. According to Bi, a surefire way to succeed in green careers or ESG roles is by prioritising experiential learning opportunities, such as hands-on sustainability projects and case studies offered by universities. 

“An example of one of our member schools implementing experiential learning for sustainability is the 2018 Innovations that Inspire Award Winner, Victoria School of Business, Victoria University of Wellington. They developed a teaching innovation taking students on a virtual fieldtrip to Fiji to learn about sustainable development while confronting the realities that emerge when a business development is planned.” Bi shared. 

Lily Bi, CEO of AACSB

Similarly, Bi also highlighted, institutions like Grenoble Ecole de Management which offer cross-disciplinary courses such as Sustainability in International Business, which help students develop critical skills through real-world scenarios.  

These practical experiences also familiarise students with essential frameworks like the UN SDGs and TCFD guidelines, laying a strong foundation for a successful green career. 

“Building key skills such as data analysis, lifecycle assessment, and stakeholder communication is essential for addressing complex sustainability issues effectively,” Bi added. 

Staying informed about industry trends by attending ESG conferences and networking with professionals would further enhance your competitive advantage in this growing field. 

Drawing from her deep understanding of industry trends, Bi emphasised that, the demand for sustainability skills will only continue to grow as consumers, investors, and employees increasingly prioritise corporate accountability.  

Today’s business leaders aren’t just expected to manage operations; they’re also given the responsibility to tackle sustainability challenges, facilitate complex conversations and to come up with innovative solutions that make a real, lasting difference. 

This trend shows no signs of slowing down. “As expectations for corporate responsibility grows, society will require business leaders to become architects of systemic change, aligning profitability with purpose” Bi pointed out. 

Areas like renewable energy innovation, sustainable business practices, and ethical technology use are expected to remain central to shaping the future of business. As these shifts unfold, business schools are stepping up to prepare students for these challenges, helping them build a skillset that’s future proof.  

Sustainability in business isn’t going anywhere, so make sure you pick a university that fits your values and future plans.