Fordham Gabelli School of Business Responsible Business Center and Net Impact Forge Transformative Collaboration
| Jan 16, 2024 | Gabelli School of Business
New Working Relationship Will Support Ongoing Cooperation in Empowering the Next Generation of Business Leaders to Make a Positive Impact
The Gabelli School of Business Responsible Business Center and Net Impact recently signed a Memo of Understanding that will forge a new working relationship between the two entities that share a mutual interest in mobilizing and preparing the next generation of leaders to have a positive and lasting impact on the world. The MOU formalizes a long-standing relationship between the two parties, one that strengthens their abilities—separately and together—to develop new ways in which young people can serve as catalysts for change and make a difference.
Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business is a pioneer in incorporating principles of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance directly into its business curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Its Responsible Business Center is a platform for interdisciplinary engagement in the area of sustainability and business responsibility—one that advances, convenes, and informs cross-industry collaborations; generates and supports academic research; and enriches business school learnings to inspire student development and responsible leadership.
Net Impact is a 300-chapter, 150,000-member, grassroots, global movement of students and emerging leaders who want to use their skills to make a positive impact for people and planet. It offers a multitude of programs and initiatives that provide members of its far-reaching, active community with the opportunity to take tangible steps towards a more just and sustainable world.
The recently signed MOU brings these two powerhouses of progress together to create content, events, and collaborative opportunities that will elevate a shared mission of sustainability, and business and social responsibility—one that is more critical than ever before. Planning for a number of joint events and projects will be announced in the coming year, with an eye towards developing a thoughtful, mission-driven approach that will leverage the unique assets of each institution and benefit future leaders on a global scale.
“This is a very powerful alliance,” stated Karen Y. Johns, Net Impact CEO, “with the potential to mobilize a generation of leaders and equip them with the tools to steer us toward a more equitable and sustainable future. We are proud to be a part of this important collaboration with Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business Responsible Business Center.”
“The Gabelli School of Business and its Responsible Business Center are thrilled to enter into this exciting collaboration with Net Impact,” said Barbara Porco, Ph.D., clinical professor and associate dean of graduate students, Gabelli School of Business, and managing director of the Responsible Business Center. “Combining our resources in new and innovative ways will help to amplify our shared mission and spread the word about the importance of students and young professionals getting involved in business and social-related causes that can make a difference in the years to come.”
Initiated by Peter Lupoff, former CEO of Net Impact and current director of strategy for the Gabelli School Responsible Business Center, the relationship between the two entities illustrates a growing trend in which academic and non-profit impact organizations are leveraging their bases and shared interests to build new initiatives that attract and inspire those who will play an integral role in the future of the planet and its people.
Written by: Paola Curcio-Kleinman, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Gabelli School of Business
