The Gabelli School’s Commitment to Sustainability

Featured Events , Future of Work , Uncategorized | Apr 07, 2020 | Gabelli School of Business

By Marianne Fulgenzi

Over the past century, the Gabelli School of Business has focused on its mission of educating compassionate leaders who understand how business can improve the world. Today, one of the most significant ways businesses can support our world is through sustainable business practices. To do so require that they recognize the essential role of sustainability to long-term profitability.

With this in mind, the Gabelli School is making sustainability its clarion call during 2020 – its centennial year – by partnering with PVH Corp., a global fashion and lifestyle company whose portfolio includes iconic brands such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Speedo and Izod, among others.

During the course of this partnership, PVH is dedicating $1 million toward the expansion of the Gabelli School’s sustainability curriculum by including courses such as sustainable accounting, as well as through activities that include the launch of an annual sustainability conference, providing new faculty fellowships and visiting scholar programs, and creating a sustainability lecture series.

The Gabelli School/PVH partnership utilizes a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach to create impact. To date, several events and activities have taken place that underscore this approach:

• Work 2040: Future of Work in a Sustainable World Conference – Aimed at inspiring collective action that preserves respect for human rights and promotes dignity and well-being in a sustainable world, this full-day conference explored emerging global trends shaping work and society, and uncovered what companies, institutions of higher education and policy makers are doing to prepare for the future. It brought together leaders from respected global companies such as PVH, IBM, Cognizant and Mercer, global academic and thought leaders, and WIRED, one of the most respected and influential publications on emerging technologies and their impact on culture, politics and the economy.
• PVH Ground Floor Challenge – The Gabelli School’s Ground Floor undergraduate students were tasked with developing and presenting their business plans for solving one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This list of 17 goals are designed to be a blueprint for a more sustainable future across the globe and include objectives such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Affordable Clean Energy. The winning team presented a platform that enables consumers to find clothing brands that produce clothes responsibly, funded by a commission fee and marketed to eco-conscious consumers.

These and future sustainability events will make a significant impact in differentiating Gabelli School offerings. They also will demonstrate a shared commitment to educate future leaders by leveraging the power of social responsibility for financial success and societal impact.