Why Business Schools Must Champion Sustainability

As businesses face mounting pressure to address climate change, resource scarcity, and economic uncertainty, graduate business schools must equip students with the knowledge and tools to drive sustainable practices. Aligning business success with the broader goal of societal well-being is increasingly important to consumers, which has led many companies to begin focusing on building organizational sustainability. 

A recent Bentley University-Gallup Business in Society report found that only 26% of Americans believe that businesses are effectively operating in an environmentally sustainable way. “It’s no secret that Americans are paying more attention to our impact on the natural world and that young people especially think businesses hurt the environment. For any business that hopes to attract those young customers and employees — which means all businesses —improving their environmental initiatives is the right move both economically and environmentally,” said Betsy Stoner, Assistant Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences at Bentley University.

Graduate programs like Bentley University’s Professional MBA aim to prepare students to lead in this environment by weaving all aspects of sustainability–organizational, ecological, social, and ethical–into an innovative curriculum that allows motivated professionals to gain these skills in a hybrid format. 

Experiential learning projects provide valuable learning opportunities for graduate students to see first-hand how innovative organizations are driving sustainable change. Students in Bentley’s Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) and MBA programs accompanied Professor Tracy Noga on a trip to Barbados to learn from business owners in the Caribbean country that has a growing reputation for “green finance.”

Through visits to nearly a dozen local businesses and financial institutions, students see sustainable business strategies that are already making a difference on the island including waste recycling, water desalination, and solar-powered ventures. 

“Everyone we met was so passionate about sustainability,” said Jessica Chicko MSA ’22. She notes that, while Barbados itself isn’t a major greenhouse gas producer, its very existence is threatened by coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and more frequent and more powerful hurricanes associated with climate change. “It was eye-opening to see how much the environment factors into business decisions for a small island like Barbados, as opposed to, say, the United States.”   

While environmental sustainability is prominently featured in the news, more and more organizations are emphasizing the importance of organizational sustainability which stresses long-term viability and adaptability. Bentley’s Professional MBA prioritizes this dimension with coursework that focuses on resilience, innovation, and long-term value creation. These skills are increasingly valued by employers who recognize that sustainable organizations are more likely to thrive in volatile markets and attract top talent.

“You can’t have a mission without a margin,” said E. LaBrent Chrite, President of Bentley University. “I believe that doing business and doing good are rather intuitively aligned. The companies that learn about and respond to what Americans expect and want will be the ones that survive and have the most enduring impact in our society.” 

Integrating sustainability into business programs cultivates a mindset of corporate responsibility. It challenges students to rethink traditional profit-maximization models and consider the broader impacts of their actions. This perspective is especially crucial in an era where consumers, investors, and regulators demand transparency and accountability.

By embedding sustainability into their curriculum, graduate business programs not only respond to societal needs but also provide students with a competitive edge. Professionals equipped with this expertise are better positioned to lead transformative initiatives, innovate quickly, and contribute meaningfully to the transition toward a sustainable global economy.

The McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University is dedicated to preparing professionals for a rapidly evolving business landscape. Known for its emphasis on technology and ethics, the school offers programs like the Professional MBA that integrate emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and data analytics. With a curriculum that balances foundational business knowledge with hands-on experience, McCallum prepares students to lead with agility, ethical insight, and a data-driven approach, making graduates highly competitive in today’s tech-driven economy.