Annual Report 2024-2025
Director’s Remarks
Dear Friends, Partners, and Impact Driven Leaders,
This past year has been a period of dynamic progress and meaningful impact for our Center. I am profoundly grateful to our exceptional team, dedicated partners, engaged students, and supportive community. Our collective efforts have advanced CSVC’s mission to create a better world through business. I extend my deepest appreciation to our esteemed faculty affiliates, the CSVC Board, and our generous donors, whose unwavering support continues to propel our work in addressing the grand challenges of our time.
From hosting our Sustainability in Business Conference to launching the Water Parliament and engaging a record number of students in our Impact Consulting Fellowship and Case Competitions, I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished this year. Building on this momentum, I am excited to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and continue driving meaningful change in the year ahead.
As the world around us changes we look to the year ahead. Our vision remains rooted in empowering students and strengthening our community. We are excited to launch and grow new programs that bring students closer to realworld challenges, expand access to purpose-driven career pathways, and foster deeper connections between business and community impact. With our incredible network of partners and supporters, we will continue to cultivate spaces where students can learn, lead, and create lasting change.
Nima Farshchi
Executive Director,
Center for Social Value Creation
About our Center
Founded in 2009, the Center for Social Value Creation operates with a mission to educate, engage, and empower the Smith School community and the world to create a better world through business. We do this through thought-provoking dialogue, thought leadership, and experiential learning.
We operate with the goal of creating long-term value for both people and the planet and strive to engrain that passion into the lives of future business leaders. Within the business school, we serve as a tool for students who are interested in creating value by helping them learn how to put that drive into action and tackle the grand challenges of our time!
10,000+
1,300+
THOUGHT PROVOKING DIALOGUE
At the Center for Social Value Creation, thought provoking dialogue empowers students to think boldly, question deeply, and lead with purpose. Through initiatives like the TATA Innovation Dialogue and Lunch & Learns with industry leaders, we spark meaningful conversations that connect classroom learning with real-world impact. These experiences inspire students to become changemakers who drive innovation and create lasting social value in their communities and beyond.
TATA INNOVATION DIALOGUE
6 Annual TATA th Innovation Dialogue
On November 20, we proudly hosted our 6 annual TATA Innovation Dialogue, an event dedicated to exploring career pathways in consulting and social innovation, featuring distinguished leaders from India’s largest business conglomerate. th
The evening opened with a compelling keynote from Anupam Singhal, President of Manufacturing at Tata Consultancy Services. He offered valuable perspectives on the convergence of artificial intelligence and manufacturing, emphasizing the potential of emerging technologies to enhance consumer experiences and deliver meaningful, purpose-driven solutions.
Attendees also had the privilege of hearing from Michael McCabe, Resident Director of Tata Group - North America, who introduced the Tata Global Internships
Program. This immersive opportunity allows students to gain hands-on experience in consulting and innovation with the Tata Group in India, fostering global insight and professional growth. The event served as a powerful reminder of how cross-cultural collaboration an drive both personal and societal impact.
Anupam Singhal President of Manufacturing TATA Consultancy Services
Michael McCabe Chief Representative and Ambassador Tata Group in North America
Lunch & Learn
This year, we hosted a series of seven Lunch & Learns an engaging way for students to gain insights from a diverse array of experts from leading universities and companies. By participating in these events, students have been able to ask questions, share ideas, and build lasting connections with experienced professionals, enhancing their college careers and expanding their professional networks.
David Miller
David Simnick
Matt Hoffman
Philip-Michael Weiner, ‘11
Sunny Singh
Pam Hacker, ‘96
Founder, New Forest Ventures
Partner, Impact Driven Brands
Partner, HousingTech
NiraJohri,KFCGuestSpeaker Lunch & Learn Series
On April 22, 2025, Undergraduate and Masters classes had the unique opportunity to hear from Nira Johri, ‘03, KFC’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer. With over 100 students in attendance, Johri shared insights from her global career and highlighted KFC’s Done the Right Way strategy, which focuses on driving impact across people, food, and the planet.
Drawing from her experience at Unilever, Rich Products, and the Obama administration, Johri offered students real-world perspectives on how businesses are navigating sustainability challenges and aligning profitability with purpose. The session allowed students to engage directly with a leader shaping the future of corporate responsibility, providing valuable context to classroom concepts.
By bridging academic learning with current industry perspectives, the event helped spark meaningful dialogue around the evolving role of business in society.
Nira Johri, ‘03
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
At the Center for Social Value Creation, experiential learning equips students with the skills, confidence, and mindset to tackle real-world challenges through hands-on experience. Through our Impact Consulting Fellowship, students deliver pro-bono consulting services to mission-driven organizations, turning their knowledge into meaningful action. With multiple case competitions each semester, students collaborate, innovate, and solve complex problems—preparing them to lead with impact from day one.
Impact Consulting Fellowship
Our Impact Consulting Fellowship (ICF) is one of our most esteemed and long-running programs. This unique program gives students across our campuses the opportunity to provide hands-on, pro-bono consulting services within an interdisciplinary team of MBA, Master’s, Doctoral and Undergraduate students for impact-driven organizations.
Throughout ICF, student consultants attend professional development sessions to assist in their learning of critical consulting skills. Students showcase their learnings in a final huddle presentation that concludes the program. All participants leave this program having gained handson experiences in consulting and developing beneficial connections with other impact leaders. This year, 226 students participated in and engaged over 22 organizations. Students provided creative marketing solutions, frameworks for new product launches, in-depth research results to solve complex business issues, and more.
CASE COMPETITIONS
Our Case Competitions empower students to become changemakers by challenging them to solve complex, real-world business problems for mission-driven organizations. Over the course of two to three weeks, interdisciplinary teams dive deep into research, apply strategic thinking, and deliver innovative solutions to impact-driven for-profit companies, B Corporations, and nonprofits. This opportunity employs students to gain more than just consulting experience: they cultivate leadership, sharpen critical skills, and build networks that extend well beyond the competition. Our program not only prepares the next generation of socially conscious business leaders but also delivers tangible value to organizations seeking fresh, purpose-driven insights.
SmithInvitationalCaseCompetition Case Competitions
On January 13 , we hosted the virtual Smith Invitational Case Competition, where twelve teams of undergraduate students tackled a sustainabilityfocused investment challenge centered on electric vehicle manufacturers. Teams analyzed financial and environmental performance to determine the strongest investment opportunity, presenting creative and data-driven solutions to a panel of judges. The winning team earned the opportunity to represent Smith at the national Milgard Case Competition on Social Responsibility at the University of Washington, Tacoma.
MilgardInternationalCaseCompetition
On March 12 , Maryland students Marvi Shroff, Eileen Chen, Meilin Yuan, and Jiayi Wang earned first place at the 14 annual Milgard Invitational Case Competition, beating out 19 other teams from 3 continents and bringing global recognition to the Smith School of Business. After winning the Smith Invitational Case Competition hosted by the Center for Social Value Creation, the team advanced to compete against top international universities and impressed judges with their strategic recommendation to invest in Airbus. Their success highlights Smith students’ growing expertise in sustainable finance and impact-driven consulting.
It was an incredible experience gaining hands-on expertise in conducting indepth investment research and delivering a presentation of this caliber ~ Jiayi Wang, Junior
Case Competitions
InterfraternalCaseCompetition
Fall 2024
On October 30 , seventy members from professional business fraternities gathered for our Fall Interfraternal case competition focused on ESG investing and social impact, drawing an audience of more than 150 students. The event fostered experiential learning and inspired creative, real-world solutions to pressing sustainability challenges. A panel of six alumni and graduate students from various programs evaluated the presentations and celebrated the winning team from Phi Chi Theta.
Spring 2025
On April 18 , nearly 100 pledges from the four business fraternities participated in our spring Interfraternal case competition that challenged students to implement AI solutions in healthcare while navigating ethical, financial, and sustainability considerations. Held in partnership with KPMG, the event drew over 200 attendees and showcased the strategic thinking of first-year business students. A panel of Smith alumni judges awarded first place to the Delta Sigma Pi team for their well-rounded and forwardthinking proposal.
Case Competitions
Master’s&MBACaseCompetition
On November 21 , we proudly hosted our Master’s & MBA Case Competition in partnership with Bethesda Green! In this sustainabilityfocused case, 10 teams of 4 Smith graduate students developed strategies to expand and promote Bethesda Green’s Green Business Certification Program. In their final presentations, teams showcased innovative thinking and actionable plans to strengthen the program’s reach and impact.
UndergraduateCaseCompetition
On April 18 , we hosted our Spring Undergraduate Case Competition in partnership with Gallo, tasking students with developing marketing strategies for Nobilo, the official wine of Major League Pickleball. Six cross-campus teams th delivered strategic recommendations to a panel of industry and faculty judges, aiming to grow Nobilo’s consumer base beyond the pickleball community. The competition provided students with real-world consulting experience and a platform to apply their marketing skills in a dynamic, brand-focused challenge.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
At the Center for Social Value Creation, thought leadership means elevating bold ideas and driving conversations that shape the future of business for good. By hosting events like our Sustainability in Business Conference in Washington, D.C., and partnering with organizations like the U.S. Water Parliament, we bring students to the forefront of critical global issues. Through these high-impact platforms, we empower the next generation of leaders to influence policy, business strategy, and sustainable innovation.
Sustainability in Business Conference
The 2024 Sustainability in Business Conference served as a dynamic platform for advancing the role of business in addressing today’s most pressing global challenges. Bringing together more than 150 cross-sector leaders, the conference inspired bold thinking around climate action, equity, and innovation as strategic imperatives.
Through compelling keynotes, from Jennifer Jenkins, MBA ‘16, on the race to net zero to Michael Levine on integrating holistic sustainability at Under Armour, and thought-provoking panels on topics like green marketing, climate justice, and conscious capitalism, attendees explored practical strategies for embedding sustainability into leadership, operations, and long-term value creation. The event not only sparked collaboration across industries but reaffirmed CSVC’s commitment to shaping a purpose-driven business landscape for a more equitable and sustainable future.
Register now for our 2025 Conference, Sept. 19 , 2025! th
Sustainability in Business Conference
KeynoteSpeakers
Michael Levine Chief Sustainability Officer, Under Armour
Sustainability Strategy: The Importance of taking a holistic approach to sustainability
Ben Garthwaite, ‘07 CEO, Fors Marsh
Steven Rochlin Founder, IMPACT ROI
Leading with Purpose: Unlocking the Path to Sustainable Success
Values-Driven Leadership: The Power of Conscious Capitalism in Action
Jennifer Jenkins, MBA ‘16 Chief Science Officer, Rubicon Carbon
The Race to Net Zero: How Leading Companies are Setting and Meeting their Targets
Rachelle Sampson
Associate Professior, Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Race to Net Zero: How Leading Companies are Setting and Meeting their Targets
Steve Freishtat, ‘81
CEO & Founder, NextDay Blinds Corporation
Values-Driven Leadership: The Power of Conscious Capitalism in Action
Sustainability in Business Conference
PanelSpeakers
Dr. Subramanya Kusnur
Founder, AquaKraft Ventures
Founding a Social Enterprise
Dave Feldman, ‘84, MBA ‘91
Executive Director, Bethesda Green
Founding a Social Enterprise
Evan Lutz, ‘14
CEO & Founder, Hungry Harvest
Founding a Social Enterprise
Krisztina Christmon, PhD ‘22
Co-Founder, Repurpose Farm Plastic
Innovation in Sustainability
Larry Davis, ‘19
Lead, Green Mechanics
Benefit LLC
Michael Kennedy
Lead, Green Mechanics
Benefit LLC
Innovation in Sustainability
Innovation in Sustainability
C'pher Gresham
Co-Founder, Front Row
Innovation in Sustainability
Carline Noailles
Co-Founder & Managig Partner, JESCA Solutions
NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships
Alphonse I. Kouagou, MBA ‘00
Founder & CEO, IBI Finance Ventures
NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships
Cedric Nwafor, MS ‘18
CEO, Roots Africa Inc.
NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships
Sustainability in Business Conference
PanelSpeakers
Bidjan Nashat
Co-Founder, PotentialU
NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships
Sophia Maroon Founder & CEO, Dress it Up Dressing Green Marketing
Maggie Biscarr Co-Lead, The NOURISH Movement Green Marketing
Amna Kirmani
Dean’s Chair of Marketing, Robert H. Smith School of Business
Green Marketing
Grace Niratcha
Associate Clinical Professor, Robert H. Smith School of Business
Humanitarian Rights & Climate Justice
Lisa Manley Vice-President, Sustainability, Mars
Humanitarian Rights & Climate Justice
Garrett Zink, ‘14 Director, Social Impact, Marriott International
Humanitarian Rights & Climate Justice
Water Parliament
Through Water Parliament, we are shifting the paradigm from water crisis to water opportunity. We are building a world where clean, accesible, and sustainable water is not a privilege, but a right.
~ Dr. Subramanya Kusnur
In partnership with AquaKraft Projects Pvt. Ltd., the Center for Social Value Creation embarked on a forward-thinking initiative to advance global water sustainability and equity. Central to this collaboration is the Water Parliament, a multi-stakeholder platform designed to democratize water governance by convening voices from government, business, academia, and civil society to co-create scalable, action-oriented solutions. Complementing this effort is Aqoin, AquaKraft’s innovative digital token ecosystem, which incentivizes sustainable water practices through a “Water Credits” model; transforming responsible behavior into measurable value.
Throughout the year, CSVC applied systems-level thinking and social innovation frameworks, such as design thinking and ESG alignment, to support strategic partnerships and real-world solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Key contributions included co-hosting policy forums, advancing research for Aqoin pilots, and exploring new ways to quantify and communicate water impact—reinforcing our commitment to sustainable, inclusive change.
Instructional Design
CSVC offers classes to help students turn their passion for impact into real-world skills. These courses prepare future leaders to drive change through business.
Strategic
Management with a Sustainable Mindset
This course examines how sustainability intersects with supply chain management, providing students with tools to create environmentally and socially responsible operations. It covers ethical practices, certification frameworks, real-world case studies, and technologies like AI, showing how sustainability can boost innovation, cut costs, and improve efficiency. The course also highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships and aligning supply chain strategies with broader corporate goals.
Consulting and Venture Creation
This course offers an applied, experiential learning experience focused on solving real-world problems for mission-driven organizations. Students work in multidisciplinary teams on consulting projects for nonprofits, social enterprises, or sustainable companies, developing critical thinking, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills. The class blends lectures, workshops, and project-based assignments to support both individual and group learning.
Instructional Design
Value Creation Challenge
Founded as a partnership with Sigma Chi Fraternity’s Gamma Chi Chapter, this course enables students to collaborate with peers across campus on consulting projects for purpose-minded organizations. In this class, thirty students learned from Professor Oliver Schlake about developing business models that tackle relevant social and environmental issues. This year, the class partnered with the Yokogawa Corporation of America to analyze the future of water access.
AcademicPartners
Dr. Oliver Schlake
Thank You to Our Donors
Our donors make our programs, pro-bono consulting, case competitions, speaker events, and more possible for our students and the greater community. This year we were able to reach a record high number of donations. We thank each of our donors for their generosity and commitment to making the world a better place through business.
Annual Report Level Donors
Pallavi Agarwal
Ritu Agarwal
Terry Antony
Marni Aronson
Alexia Ayuk
Allison Baker
Kathryn Balcerzak
Vincent Bennett
Swamy Boggarapu
Ayman Bootwala
Jianlin Cao
Melissa Carrier
Enming Chen
Brina Cheung
John & Margaret Chickering
Matthew Chin
Ange Cho
Nicole Coomber
Elizabeth Cunningham
Benjamin Cutler
Rebecca DeStefano
Meghan Doherty
Claudia Donnelly
Bradley Estes
Kristin Fallon
Hamid Farshchi
Hassan Farshchi
Nima Farshchi
Steven & Sheryl Freishtat
Kimberlee Glinka
Dillon Hagius
John Hagius
Shirley Han
Faben Henok
Joanna Ihm
Dhivyan Karunakaran
Omer Kaufman
Firouzeh Khaje Nouri
Sachi Khemka
Rebecca & Craig Kier
Jacob King
David Kirsch
Michael Kong
Roxanne Lefkoff
Matthew Leib
Soda Lo
Evan & Lauren Lutz
Kathryn Manning
Francisco Manzanarez
Collin Marcian
Gianna Mariani
Luna Mishoe
Isaac Moore
Jessica Moore
Sareet Nayak
Peterson Njamunge
Corporate Donors
Adam Ortiz
Anjali Pancholi
Sankya Parvatrao
Reuben Pomerantz
Kislaya Prasad
Paulo Prochno
Nakisa Rafiee
Benjamin Roca
Joseph Rotter
Teresa Russell
Travon Sawyer
Eric & Patricia Schultz
Kushaan Shah
Rahul Shah
Denys Shalayev
Ajay Shankar
Kapil Sharma
Victoria Shi
Alexander Stone
Andres Suarez
Lori Sullivan
Kevin Takiar
Cullen Taylor
Sarah Taylor
Omobolaji Vincent
Mary & Matthew Wagner
Rebecca & Darrell Winner
Anne Zappas
Advisory Board
JOHN CHICKERING, MBA ‘85
John Chickering advises boards and senior executives on strategy, technology, and operations. He is a member of advisory boards at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, as well as other post-secondary institutions. His career at Fidelity Investments spanned over two decades deploying high-ROl solutions which created a long-lasting financial and social impact. He is a published author and industry speaker. His extensive volunteer engagement includes post-hurricane restoration and engagement with local community service organizations.
CORINNE DOUGHERTY, ‘03
Corinne Dougherty is the U.S. sustainability audit leader at KPMG in Washington, D.C., with over 20 years of experience in audit, advisory, and sustainability reporting. She advises clients, speaks frequently to media, and helps embed sustainable practices across KPMG’s services. A CPA, Dougherty holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and an executive certificate in sustainability from NYU Stern.
KRISTIN FALLON, MBA ‘11
Kristin Fallon is a marketing executive and board member at the International Advertising Association (IAA). Her extensive global background spans a diverse range of industries and establishments at the heart of human impact, including innovative technology companies from start-ups to GE, and international aid groups from NGOs to the World Bank. Kristin began her career as a volunteer in the Peace Corps.
STEVE FREISHTAT, ‘81
Steve Freishtat is the former CEO and Founder of the Next Day Blinds Corporation. He serves on multiple advisory boards, is an adjunct lecturer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and advises small businesses on business strategy. He is committed to the advancement of business through conscious workplace leadership.
Advisory Board
JENNIFER JENKINS, MBA ‘16
Dr. Jennifer Jenkins is Chief Science Officer at Rubicon Carbon, where she ensures the quality of the carbon credit portfolio and leads ESG strategy, verification, and thought leadership. With over 30 years of experience in business and climate, she co-chairs the Business Alliance for Climate Action and is a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize with the IPCC. Jenkins, known for the “Jenkins Equations” for tree biomass, holds degrees from UNH, Maryland, Yale, and Dartmouth.
EVAN LUTZ, ‘14
Evan Lutz, a Baltimore native, is passionate about food justice, entrepreneurship, and the Ravens. As a Maryland student, he launched the Food Recovery CSA, then founded Hungry Harvest, a subscription service rescuing “ugly” and surplus produce. Since 2014, the company has saved over 50 million pounds of food. Lutz earned a $100,000 investment on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and was named to Forbes' “30 Under 30” and the Baltimore Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.”
KAPIL SHARMA
Kapil Sharma is the founder and principle of Kapstone Strategies, a consulting firm offering integrated problem-solving for corporate executives. He is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council. He brings public policy foresight and expertise built over thirty years of working with organizations and leaders at the state, national, and international levels.
Our Team
CA MANCINO*
Operations Lead Marketing & Supply Chain Management, ‘25
ROHAN HILL*
EILEEN CHEN
Project Management Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘26
KEOLA EVANS
Case Competition Lead
International Business & Marketing, ‘26
JIAYI WANG
Impact Consulting
Fellowship Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘26 Strategic Consultant Faculty Director
Marketing Strategy Lead Communication & Marketing, ‘26
JAMIE BERNSTEIN*
Digital Media & Marketing Lead Marketing, ‘27
CHRISTOPHER YEH
Cirricular Research Lead
Information Systems & Supply Chain Management, ‘26
Digital Media & Marketing Lead
M.S. - Marketing Analytics, ‘24
NIMA A ‘20
STEPHANIE CANTOR, ‘12
DAVID KIRSCH
BRINA CHEUNG
Learn More
@CREATINGVALUE
GO.UMD.EDU/CSVCLINKEDIN
@CREATINGVALUE
WEBSITE
GO.UMD.EDU/CSVC
