The ClimateCAP Initiative, founded at Fuqua and managed by Duke’s EDGE Center, is gearing up for another banner year. This month, ClimateCAP announced the selection of a new class of 16 Fellows, chosen from a highly competitive pool of MBA applicants. “This year’s Fellows class is our largest and most diverse yet. We saw more than a 50% increase in applications over last year, with applicants from a wide array of climate interests and experiences,” said Jessica Wingert, ClimateCAP Program Lead.
The Fellows, who are enrolled in 10 different business schools, including MIT, Harvard, UCLA, and HEC Paris, will learn from academic and industry thought leaders during their 12-month Fellowship and work on applied climate action projects. Their project ideas cover a wide range of topics, from research on climate financing mechanisms to new business models for the circular economy.
The ClimateCAP team is also preparing for another highlight of the year: its flagship ClimateCAP MBA Summit. The annual event, which is held each year at a different business school from among the ClimateCAP Partner School network, will be hosted on Feb. 28-Mar. 1 at UC-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Jessica Wingert, along with EDGE executive director Dan Vermeer and managing director Katie Kross, will travel to Berkeley, CA to join educators and MBA students from over 40 schools across the U.S. and internationally. Attendees will hear from keynote speakers, participate in interactive workshops, and spend plenty of time networking. Over 400 MBA students are expected to attend, including a contingent of approximately 30 students from Fuqua.
Connecting with other MBA students interested in climate, energy and sustainability topics is always a highlight for the attendees. Speaking about last year’s Summit held at the University of Michigan, Janice Jean, a GA Tech MBA student, wrote, “ClimateCAP provided a great opportunity to meet other MBA students who are passionate about the environment and social responsibility. I learned so much about the renewable energy, mining, and industrial manufacturing industries. I also heard about new technologies that are disrupting the market and redefining business models. … So far, one of my favorite MBA experiences!”
“When we founded the ClimateCAP Initiative in 2016, our intention was to help MBA students connect the dots between climate change impacts and tangible business risks and opportunities,” said Katie Kross, co-founder of the program. “Today, it’s more apparent than ever that the next generation of business leaders will need to be well-versed in how climate change will affect business operations and investments.” The ClimateCAP Initiative has grown to become a global partnership of nearly 50 top-tier MBA programs and 3,000 engaged MBA students.
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