The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School

Are you a current Wharton student or alum, looking to serve on the board of a climate solutions company? Join us on Zoom on Monday, November 18 at 12pm E.T. to hear from a panel of experts. This online-only webinar for Wharton alumni and current MBA students will feature Lemar Marie Brown (Negocium Group), Jeffrey Harris (Quantum Innovation Fund), and Jacob Susman (Ambient Fuels), who will discuss being on the board of a climate solutions company, followed by audience q&a. Moderated by Arthur van Benthem, faculty co-director of the The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School's Climate Center, the speakers will discuss the various types of boards that climate-related companies have, what it takes to be a board member, what kinds of issues arise, and how to join a climate-company board. Registration is required: whr.tn/3YI7yvY The Wharton School #WhartonESG #ClimateBoards #ClimateImpact #AlumniEvent #WhartonClimateCenter

Excited to see this paper published! This has been the work of many years and many hands. Thanks to Lauren Kaufmann and Gorgi Krlev for your valuable partnership, and thank you to Katherine Klein for your encouragement and feedback throughout the process!

Calling Pennsylvania business leaders both alumni of The Wharton School and beyond: Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30 at 4:30 PM ET on Zoom, the Business and Democracy Initiative is hosting “Pennsylvania Business Leader Briefing: Robert Rubin & Ken Chenault on the Economic Impact of the Election.” This event will feature former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin and Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director of General Catalyst and former Chairman and CEO of American Express, who will deliver critical insights on markets, policy risks, and America's economic future, as well as Pennsylvania's. Register here: whr.tn/3AikoYk

Calling all current University of Pennsylvania students: deepen your knowledge, expand your toolkit, and power your impact this spring. Explore ten of the many ESG-related courses available to University of Pennsylvania and Wharton students in the upcoming semester, including Climate and Big Data, Leading Diversity in Organizations, Energy Justice, and more. Wharton ESG courses offered this spring include: MGMT 2090/7200 - The Political and Social Environment of the Multinational Firm, taught by Witold Henisz, Vice Dean of the ESG Initiative BEPP/OIDD 2630/7630 - Environmental & Energy Economics and Policy, instructed by Arthur van Benthem, faculty co-lead of the Wharton Climate Center LGST 2600 - Climate Leadership in Action, instructed by Sarah Light, faculty co-lead of the Wharton Climate Center “This is Wharton’s only credit-bearing course for undergraduates that includes a Leadership Venture, and students have found the experience deeply meaningful," says Professor Light, of LGST 2600, a half-credit course that integrates scholarship in leadership theory, environmental and climate management, public policy, and ethics in six classroom sessions and a customized Leadership Venture over spring break that includes a high ropes course, camping, hiking, cycling and paddling. Consult the full list of ESG-related courses here, and be sure to visit your major or concentration page to confirm which courses count towards your program requirements: whr.tn/4hkqdoV The Wharton School #WhartonESG #ESGCourses #ClimateLeadership #EnvironmentalPolicy

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by Isla Binnie for a Reuters NEXT Newsmakers segment, where we explored the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF)'s approach to sustainable investing. You'll have to scroll eleven minutes to get to the interview (because I was getting my face powdered - all part of the fun!). A few key takeaways stand out: 1️⃣ Integrated Approach: We need to assess Climate Risk, ESG Risk, and Real World Impact together. Focusing on just one dimension, like climate, limits our ability to fully understand the broader effects of our investments. 2️⃣ Impact on the Real Economy: Let's make it tangible. To drive positive change for communities and the environment, we must consider factors like the impact on workers and the long-term effects on the global climate — factors that are material to long-term financial returns. 3️⃣ Principal-Agent Dilemma: Say "no" to glossy pitch decks and focus on substance! One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that agents (investment managers) are aligned with the principals (investors/asset owners) when it comes to sustainability. Greenwashing can undermine real progress. 4️⃣ Time Value of Impact: Just like in finance, timing matters. Early action multiplies the benefits for the future, making it crucial to prioritize immediate, effective solutions in sustainable investments. 5️⃣ Better to Be Directionally Right: No data is perfect. What’s more important is focusing on whether evidence points to an investment being overall positive or negative, rather than waiting for perfection. Sustainability is about integrating risks and opportunities to create lasting value for people, the planet, and financial returns. 🌍 Watch the interview here: https://lnkd.in/gFp-YNcu #SustainableInvesting #ImpactInvesting #ESG

Thank you to our three Wharton alumni panelists, Madeleine Evans (W'09; Director at Generation Investment Management), Michael Lentskevich (W'24; Community Relations Manager at Bank of America), and Wilson Tong (WG'18; Director of Capital Formation & ESG at Inverness Graham) who spoke with current students over Zoom this afternoon about their pathways to careers in ESG. Responding to insightful questions from Jennifer Savoie, Senior Associate Director of MBA Career Management, the panelists explained their routes to their current roles, and the Wharton experiences and opportunities that helped them get there. This event was co-presented by The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School, Wharton Coalition for Equity and Opportunity (CEO), Wharton MBA Career Management, and the Wharton MBA Impact Communities. For a full list of ESG Initiative upcoming events, visit our events calendar: whr.tn/3YzABSu The Wharton School #WhartonESG #StudentEvent #AlumniPanel #CareersinESG 

The last Careers in ESG Panel was a success, and this time we’re going virtual so even more of you can join! 💻 Join the The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School next Tuesday, October 22nd, on your lunch break for an exciting panel featuring The Wharton School alumni Madeleine Evans (W'09), Michael Lentskevich (W'24), and Wilson Tong (WG'18). This event is a great opportunity for both MBA students and undergraduates to explore ESG career paths and ask questions during the live Q&A. Know someone interested in ESG careers? Tag them in the comments below! Learn more about the panelists and register here: https://lnkd.in/e8366K6Y

It was such a pleasure speaking with the Turner ESG Fellows at the The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School last week! I can attest to the fact that there's no special career playbook - but I'd suggest staying curious and open to possibilities that leverage your strengths and support your overall well-being. It was timely for me to retrace the steps across my circuitous path to PersonaWealth - from #intled and #designthinking to #ESG and #impactinvesting - and of course, now to #financialtherapy and the psychology of money. Thanks for having me!

From piloting an Indian water-monitoring technology that helps farmers keep an eye on fish production to mobilizing $5.7 billion in capital toward toilets and taps, Wharton alumni are using their skills for the greater good. Jyotika Chandhoke, who completed her MBA at Wharton with a major in ESGB, cites the community found in #WhartonClimateCenter faculty co-lead Arthur van Benthem’s class as having helped lead to her current role at the climate-change advisory firm The Ad Hoc Group. She also says the Wharton Energy and Climate Club, a member of The ESG Initiative at the Wharton School's Student Leadership Advisory Board (SLAB), helped her form the friendships and network she needed to dive deeper into her interest in water. “That community has allowed me to be in spaces to position me better in the field,” she says. Read the full story in Wharton Magazine: whr.tn/3YlNAae And check out these upcoming ESG Initiative water and climate events: Wharton Climate Prof on Wednesday, October 16 as part of #ClimateWeekatPenn: whr.tn/40nb4xd The Lifelong Learning webinar Keeping up with ESG: New Research in Real Estate and Finance, exclusively for Wharton alumni, on October 30: whr.tn/4dKyBuY The Wharton School The Lauder Institute - University of Pennsylvania #WhartonESG #WaterIndustry #WhartonAlumni

Happy Climate Month! During this year's Climate Week at Penn, we are hosting one of our most popular events of the year, Wharton Climate Prof, moderated by #WhartonClimateCenter faculty co-lead Sarah Light, and featuring many of the Wharton Climate Center's affiliated faculty. Inspired by "Iron Chef" and Wharton's own "Iron Prof" events, this special evening will showcase the climate-related research of Wharton faculty. On October 16 at 5:15pm, all Penn and Wharton students, faculty, and staff are invited to join us on campus to hear from nine Wharton professors who will present their research on #climate and #business in five minutes or less. Participating Faculty include: Arthur van Benthem Brian Berkey Susanna Berkouwer Sanya Carley Dan Garrett Witold Henisz Ben Keys Sarah Light Luke Taylor Learn more: whr.tn/3NfxPLE Food will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration is required but does not guarantee your seat: whr.tn/3XWHEmt The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative #TheWhartonSchool #WhartonESG #ClimateandBusiness