At Duke, MBAs focused on Energy & Environment (E&E) have a wealth of opportunities to engage beyond the classroom. One of the best ways Duke MBA students can build skills, industry knowledge, and relationships is to engage directly with companies on real-world projects while a student. We know the importance of opening the doors to these opportunities for students and we believe that the chance to work on applied projects is one of the things that sets Duke’s program apart from other business schools.
EDGE Fellows
EDGE Fellows are students who are selected through a competitive application and interview process to work on industry-relevant research projects and publications with EDGE. Students may apply in either year of the program, but most often apply to participate during their 2nd MBA year. Most often, EDGE Fellows work in research and writing publications for our widely-read MBA EDGE platform. Recent EDGE Fellows projects have included, for instance, “Fashion & Sustainability: What Every MBA Needs to Know” and “Markets to Watch: Energy Storage.” Projects are co-designed by EDGE and the student, and can often be done for academic credit.
EDGE Impact Scholars
EDGE Impact Scholars are students selected during the Admissions process for scholarships based on their competitiveness as an MBA applicant, combined with their committed interest in energy, environmental, and/or sustainability pursuits. EDGE Impact Scholars are invited to participate in special events throughout the academic year.
FCCP Projects in Energy & Environment
In the innovative Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) program, students work in teams on applied projects for real-world clients. Each year, a subset of 6-10 projects are specifically sourced and advised by EDGE faculty, and feature either an environmental or energy industry client or an environmental or energy challenge facing a client in another industry. Example clients have included NextEra Energy Resources, ABB, GE, Walmart, Shell, Investable Oceans, ChargeLab, WWF, Albertsons Companies, and Siemens Energy. View past FCCP EDGE projects here.
ClimateCAP Fellows
Open to any MBA student at any school, the ClimateCAP Fellowship provides give a small, select group of MBA students a transformational and immersive cohort-based experience that enables and empowers them to become the next generation of climate leaders and changemakers. ClimateCAP is a unique partnership between 30+ business schools globally, that is convened and managed by Fuqua.
Clubs
MBA students are encouraged to join and take leadership roles with Fuqua clubs including the Duke MBA Energy Club, Net Impact Club, Food & Ag Club, and MEM/MBA Club. They also have opportunities to get involved with campus-wide initiatives like the Duke Climate Commitment, Oceans@Duke, and Nicholas Institute’s Energy Initiative.
Speakers & Conferences
Conferences like the annual Duke MBA Energy Conference, Duke Sustainable Business & Social Impact Conference, FoodCon, Blue Economy Summit, and ClimateCAP Summit give students opportunities to explore industry trends and key issues in energy, environment, and sustainability. Fuqua MBA students are not just attendees at these events; they are the key architects and project managers of these conferences, tailoring the program content and designing the experience to be timely and compelling for their fellow students. EDGE provides guidance, but these events are by-students, for-students.
EDGE also brings in speakers as part of the EDGE Seminar class and in conjunction with our EDGE Advisory Board meetings, and co-hosts an annual “Women in Energy” event.
Competitions
Fuqua hosts an annual Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition. Duke students also compete with the best and brightest MBAs globally in competitions like the Ross Renewable Energy Case Competition, Leeds Net Impact Case Competition, and the UNC Invest for Impact Competition.
Check out some of our student teams’ case competition wins.
Travel Experiences
The Duke MBA Energy Club and the Net Impact Club often organize career treks (sometimes called “Week in Cities” trips) focused on meeting with executives working in relevant careers; locations vary each year). MBA students may also travel as part of a project in the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum program.
Board Service
In the Fuqua On Board program, students gain leadership expertise by serving on the board of local nonprofit organizations like the Eno River Association and Clean Energy Durham.
Entrepreneurship in Energy & Environment
Climate tech, clean energy, and sustainability are hot topics in the VC and entrepreneurship world. The Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club at Fuqua frequently brings in speakers with connections to these industries. MBAs interested in working on or launching their own entrepreneurial ventures can participate in Duke’s Student Founder Program and other programs offered by Duke’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. Students with novel energy-related ideas can compete for $10k in the Clean Energy Prize.
