2023–2024
Anuj Mehrotra Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Chair
Professor of Operations Management
Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business
Message from the Dean
The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business is at the forefront of integrating sustainability into business education. Our innovative, hands-on learning approach equips students with the tools and knowledge they need to embed sustainable practices into business, whether at a Fortune 500 company, startup, or impact-driven nonprofit.
We take great pride in the Center’s namesake, Ray C. Anderson, a Georgia Tech alumnus whose contributions to sustainable business and environmental stewardship have left an indelible mark on both the business world and his alma mater.
Ray was a pioneer in the truest sense. As the founder of Interface, he transformed his company from a conventional carpet manufacturer into a global leader in sustainable practices. His revolutionary initiative, “Mission Zero,” succeeded in eliminating the negative environmental impact of his business. Ray’s commitment extended beyond his company as he took on national leadership roles, serving as co-chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development and the Presidential Climate Action Plan.
Inspired by Ray’s visionary leadership, the Center reflects his unwavering commitment to embedding sustainability into business practices, positioning Scheller College as a leader in shaping a new generation of leaders dedicated to making an impact.
We invite you to discover more in the pages ahead.
Beril Toktay Faculty Director
Michael Oxman Managing Director
Message from the Leadership
There has been much to celebrate in the past year. We started with the tenth anniversary celebration of our Center’s founding. It was truly moving to share this milestone with all those who have made it possible. We also celebrated the second anniversary of the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, which has grown to over 60 company members. Amidst our relentless focus on growing our impact, it was important for us to take a moment to reflect on and savor what we have been able to accomplish over the last decade.
At events throughout the past year, we reconnected with the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners who have made our tremendous journey possible. Our community has supported us in numerous ways – from guiding us as Advisory Board members to our students making a real-world impact in organizations.
As a result of this support, we are empowered to continue this work today – in the classroom and beyond. Looking through the pages of this report, you will see why our students and alumni are making us proud, how our faculty are innovating in the classroom and in their research, and how our industry partners are coalescing around collective impact initiatives to solve for climate change.
To those who have been with us on this ten-year journey, thank you! To those who are looking for a community that will help them channel their energy into making a positive impact, welcome!
About Our Center
The Center is anchored within the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, supporting its vision of being a global leader in education, research, and inclusive innovation to advance business and improve the human condition. Our goals also advance the Institute’s strategic plan focus areas:
• Amplify Impact
• Champion Innovation
• Connect Globally
• Expand Access
• Cultivate Well-being
• Lead by Example
We act as a catalyst and connector, bringing together students, research faculty, companies, and entrepreneurs to create an environment where business-driven solutions to sustainability challenges can be shared and thrive.
Vision
The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business empowers the leaders of tomorrow to create sustainable businesses and communities.
Mission
Our mission is to create and share the knowledge that current and future leaders depend on to drive innovation and to integrate sustainability into their organizations and communities.
Themes
The urgency and opportunity for sustainable business practices have never been greater. Our Center focuses on amplifying our students’ passion for problem-solving, our faculty’s cutting-edge research, and the power of industry to create a better world for current and future generations. We work across four thematic areas.
• Climate Action
We focus on developing strategies to mitigate carbon emissions throughout organizations and supply chains.
• Circular Economy
We support a shift from a linear system to a circular model that makes possible the indefinite lifespan of products – from design and production through refurbishment and reuse.
• Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Leadership
We build on investor and industry momentum that recognizes the importance of managing ESG issues, risks, and opportunities for people, planet, and profit.
• Social Performance and Human Rights
We incorporate social dimensions and related frameworks on topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as human rights to ensure positive business impacts and benefits for stakeholders.
Our Team
Ray C. Anderson
Ray C. Anderson (IE ’56, Honorary Ph.D. ’11), after graduating from Georgia Tech in industrial engineering, started a career in textiles. In 1973, he founded his own company later called “Interface.” It would eventually become the world’s largest manufacturer of modular floorcovering. By 1994, Interface was successful by every business metric. However, when asked what Interface was doing for the environment, Ray was unsatisfied with a response limited to regulation and compliance. He sought inspiration and guidance from The Ecology of Commerce, where he encountered Paul Hawken’s assertion that industry is both the sector responsible for the greatest amount of environmental harm as well as the only sector with the necessary size and capital to turn things around. Hawken’s words led to a “spear in the chest” moment for Ray. From that moment, he committed t he rest of his life to making Interface a breakthrough leader in corporate sustainability and to advocating for a paradigm shift in business thinking. Ray believed fundamentally that when done right, business can be a force for good in the world. We are honored to continue his legacy by educating “the Ray C. Andersons of tomorrow.”
Jennifer Lux (writer/editor), Arianna Robinson (assistant director – business operations, Beril Toktay (faculty director), Michael Oxman (managing director), David Eady (director of industry engagement), Allison Bridges (program manager), Kjersti Lukens (program support coordinator), and Triniece Smith (administrative professional III). Not pictured: Titiksha Fernandes (program manager), Bob Lax (lecturer), and Ravi Subramanian (faculty director of educational innovation).
Leading on Sustainability in Higher Education
Center Celebrates Tenth Anniversary
Over the ten years since its founding, the Center team has worked with passion and purpose in support of its vision to empower leaders to create sustainable businesses and communities. James A. Lanier, Jr., trustee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, said, “We are incredibly proud of how the Center has taken what Ray taught us and put it into practice broadly across all disciplines and majors at his beloved Georgia Tech.”
Looking Back on a Decade of Milestones
In 2013, we launched as the Center for Business Strategies for Sustainability with support from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Kendeda Fund, and Scheller College leadership. We selected ten milestones to illustrate how our Center works with students, faculty, industry partners, and staff to empower the “Ray C. Andersons of tomorrow” to create sustainable businesses and communities.
SDG Action and Awareness Week
The Georgia Tech community and its partners gathered in March for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action and Awareness Week. SDG Week is an initiative of the University Global Coalition, led by President Ángel Cabrera. SDG Week showcased the work Georgia Tech is doing to address the SDGs and encourage action. Faculty, students, staff, and partners affiliated with the Center shared expertise, insights, and opportunities for engagement.
Tech Talks Business Features Laurel Hurd
Scheller College hosted a “Tech Talks Business” event featuring Dean Anuj Mehrotra in conversation with Laurel Hurd, president and CEO of Interface, the global flooring company founded by Ray C. Anderson. The discussion focused on sustainable business practices in the global economy. Anderson wanted the company to be profitable and to do good. “What he pushed for is still at the heart of what we do,” Hurd said.
Drawdown Georgia Business Compact
Compact Marks Second Anniversary with Significant Wins
The Compact leverages the collective impact of the Georgia business community to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the state through a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition. In its second year, the Compact grew more than 40%, with over 60 members committed to taking action toward net zero carbon emissions. “We’ve done a good job of building a committed community. As we’ve grown, we’ve stayed true to our goal of having the Compact represent the diversity of Georgia’s economy,” said David Eady. To mark the anniversary, the business collective hosted a climate and innovation business forum.
Metaimpact Fosters Collaboration for Advancing Climate Solutions
The Drawdown Georgia Business Compact (Compact) is leveraging Metaimpact’s digital infrastructure to foster collaboration for advancing climate solutions. The new partnership digitally connects members and partners to discover, align, collaborate, and track initiatives to reduce Georgia’s GHG emissions. The Compact and Metaimpact aspire to lead the way in demonstrating that climate change can be addressed comprehensively with a collective effort from commercial enterprises, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, and more.
Racial Equity in Supply Chains
The Compact hosted a discussion on racial equity in supply chains as part of the Climate Leadership Webinar Series. Speakers included Tiffany D. Johnson, associate professor of organizational behavior, and Phyllis Johnson, co-founder and president, BD Imports, which imports coffee from Latin America and Africa. Johnson said, “This generation demands exposure and transparency when it comes to knowledge of the coffee supply chain,” she added. “Consumers are willing to pay for equitably, sustainably produced coffee.”
Compact Members Make Major Moves on Sustainability in the State
This spring, four members of the Compact made meaningful strides in sustainability in the state. Brightmark, Alternative Energy Southeast, Yamaha, and Ascend Elements announced investment and initiatives in Georgia, including major investments in plastics recycling, educational efforts on energy innovation, installation of new solar panels for reducing CO2 emissions, and enhanced electric vehicle battery management, logistics, and recycling.
Compact Members Evaluate Clean Electricity Demand and Encourage Collective Action in the State
The Compact’s Clean Energy Working Group aims to identify opportunities for collective action and to prioritize progress on clean energy initiatives for businesses in Georgia. “The need for clean electricity among Georgia businesses is significant,” said Michael Oxman, managing director of the Center. “If just a sampling of our members reports this kind of energy required to power their companies and support their decarbonization goals, just imagine all of the potential clean electricity demand across the state that would be ideal to supply within Georgia.”
High-Impact Programming
Students Compete in SUSTAIN-X Pitch Competition
The pressure was on at the second SUSTAIN-X pitch competition in March! Presenters had five minutes to show the profitability of their startups and their value to society and the environment. Sustainable business ideas – from fabric made from fungi to pet food derived from oyster shells – impressed the audience and judges. First prize was awarded to Mya Griesbaum for her startup, Mycorrhiza Fashion. The SUSTAIN-X initiative, launched in 2022, supports participants through the entire entrepreneurship process, from ideation to launch.
Scheller College Sustainability Fellows and Ambassadors
In the 2023-24 cohort, 25 graduate and undergraduate students learned to become leaders in building a sustainable and prosperous future. The program for Fellows and Ambassadors (now in its ninth year), provided students with the opportunity to do a deep dive into sustainability topics for business. The changemakers worked on projects related to social performance, greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector, waste management, rooftop solar, and more.
From my participation in the Carbon Reduction Challenge, I learned the most important component in being a catalyst of change is speaking up and simply asking what can be done differently. I was amazed to see how others are more than willing to help and pave a new way to a more sustainable future.”
Carbon Reduction Challenge Empowers Sustainability Advocates
Summer 2023 marked the seventh year of the Carbon Reduction Challenge, organized by the Center and the Georgia Tech College of Sciences. Over a three-month period, the program challenged interns from eight universities to propose real-world sustainability solutions that could help their employers reduce carbon emissions while saving money. For the second year in a row, first prize ($2,000) was awarded to the team from Electrify GT, a student-led campus organization.
Nikhila Alavala, BSBA ’24
Inspiring Changemakers
MBA Student Groups Host Event on Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
Student groups from Scheller College gathered in February for a program focused on closing the racial wealth gap. The event, “Shifting the Racial Wealth Gap: Building a Beloved Economy,” was part of Scheller’s Black History Month Series. Blacks in Business organized the event in partnership with Women in Business, the Net Impact – MBA Chapter, Scheller Pride, and the Veterans Club. The keynote address was delivered by Jarryd Bethea, senior research associate at the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative.
We were fortunate to work with two great teams of graduate students in the Sustainable Business Consulting Practicum. I cannot commend their efforts enough. Both teams were highly engaged throughout the semester, provided creative and thoughtful responses to our challenges, and created comprehensive, well-organized, and well-presented final summaries. Their efforts gave us great insights into our problem statements and included tools and supplementary materials that will be helpful beyond our direct engagement.”
Brian Berland Senior Director, VRFB Products, Stryten Energy
A team of students in the Sustainable Business Consulting Practicum visits Stryten for a plant tour and business meeting.
MBA Students Attend ClimateCAP
At ClimateCAP in February, Scheller College MBA students and staff learned why climate change is a game changer for the global economy. The summit prepares tomorrow’s business leaders to understand and respond to the climate challenge. This year’s conference, held at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, brought together over 400 MBA students, business leaders, and experts to address climate challenges and how businesses are working towards carbon reduction. Michael Hayes reflected, “ClimateCAP was a great educational experience that further solidified my enthusiasm for pursuing a career centered on sustainability.”
Azell Francis Is a “Best & Brightest MBA”
Azell Francis, who has served as a Graduate Sustainability Fellow and as a GRA for the Center and Center-affiliated faculty member Tiffany D. Johnson, was recognized by Poets&Quants as a “Best & Brightest MBA” for 2024. Azell graduated in the spring with her MBA and Ph.D. in International Affairs, Science, and Technology. She has joined Strategy& as a senior associate consultant. She was also featured on an episode of The Intersection podcast.
Students Share Their Dual-Degree Experience
The Intersection podcast featured two dual-degree students, Leah Cabrera and Wyatt Green Williams, who discussed their journeys of pursuing an MBA and another master’s degree at Georgia Tech. Leah, the Blacks in Business president, earned her master’s in city planning alongside her MBA. Wyatt, a 2023-24 Graduate Sustainability Fellow, is obtaining his MBA and a master’s in environmental engineering.
Jason Juang Awarded Vivian Nora Lukens Memorial Scholarship
“The support the Center has given me during my college experience has been invaluable for developing my professional interests in sustainability. Without experiential opportunities such as Carbon Reduction Challenge and the Undergraduate Sustainability Ambassadorship, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Jason Juang, 2024 recipient of the Vivian Nora Lukens Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship supports undergraduates who are pursuing a certificate in sustainable business. Jason graduated in the spring with a major in business management.
Educational Innovation
Scheller Faculty Elevate Sustainability in the Classroom
Sustainability is coming to a course near you, thanks to a Center initiative. The Faculty Educational Innovation Community, led by Professor Ravi Subramanian, provides support to faculty for implementing sustainability into their courses and pedagogy. The ultimate goal of the community is to serve students interested in acquiring sustainable business competencies in Scheller programs, from undergraduate to graduate and executive education.
Reports from the Future
In his course, Analysis of Emerging Technologies, Eric Overby, a member of the Educational Innovation Community, asked student teams from the Denning Technology & Management Program to study an emerging technology through the lens of one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Three teams presented their projects to a panel of judges at the Reports from the Future Symposium. Winning projects tackled Brazilian deforestation and sustainable transportation in Atlanta.
Tiffany D. Johnson takes a selfie with students in her Work, Equity, and Wellness class.
Grants Supporting Sustainability Infusion
Through our Educational Innovation Community, we provided grants to seven faculty members who proposed projects to infuse sustainability into their pedagogy and core and elective business classes. We are pleased to highlight the work of four recipients.
Tiffany D. Johnson infused sustainability into her course: Work, Equity, and Wellness. She said, “Sustainability infusion matters in the classes I teach because it offers a comprehensive lens through which we can assess where we’ve been, where we are, and where we want to go. I believe that being able to see through a sustainability lens will help students, their organizations, and the communities served by their organizations lead innovatively in an ever-changing world.”
Robbie Moon used to grant to develop a new course, Accounting & Reporting for Sustainable Business, which will be offered for the first time in Fall 2024. Robbie believes it’s important for students to gain knowledge and acquire skills to help organizations provide metrics related to their sustainability efforts.
In Managing Information Resources – a core, graduate-level course –Marius Florin Niculescu revamped the IT sustainability module to include a revised and expanded subsection on the digital right-to-repair (R2R) movement. With the R2R regulation landscape changing significantly mid-semester, the grant supported Marius in adjusting course content very close to delivery, ensuring its freshness.
Eric Overby believes in the value of teaching current and future business leaders to apply a sustainability lens to analysis of emerging technologies. He prepares students to think critically about the emerging technologies to ensure that they have the most positive possible outcomes for people and the planet.
Faculty and Staff
in the News
Frank Rothaermel and Beril Toktay Identified as Top Business and Management Scientists
Faculty Director Beril Toktay and Center-affiliated faculty member Frank Rothaermel were two of three Scheller professors recognized by Research.com as top business and management scientists. Research.com examined 166,880 scientists, with over 8,531 researchers evaluated in the Business and Management field. The ranking aims to highlight leading experts, providing valuable insights for scholars, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers worldwide.
Tiffany D. Johnson on List of “Best 40 Under 40 Professors”
Poets&Quants named Center-affiliated faculty member Tiffany D. Johnson on its list of “Best 40 Under 40 Professors.” Tiffany seeks to build work cultures for the whole human being through research and teaching centered around work, equity, and wellness. Largely drawing upon field research and qualitative methods, she has studied these topics in the context of autism, race, social class, sexual orientation, and gender across a wide range of organizations.
David Eady Featured on Sustainability Podcast
In a new episode of the Biophilic Solutions podcast, David Eady, director of industry engagement, talked about how doing good for the environment can also be good for business. His lively discussion with Monica Olsen, podcast host and CMO of Serenbe, covered the impact of collective action on climate change. “We’re seeing more and more businesses stepping up to the challenge and making commitments to reduce their greenhouse gases, achieving goals of net zero by 2050, 2040, or even more aggressively,” said Eady. “Climate change is a very complex challenge that can’t be solved by any one organization.”
Beril Toktay, faculty director
Advisory Board Members
Judy Adler
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
Naveed Ahmad, MBA ’19 Southern California Edison
Jack Allen Cisco Systems
Stephanie Armistead Chick-fil-A
Mark Callaway Morgan Stanley
Anthony Coker, ChE ’84 M&I Materials Limited
Amelia DeLuca Delta Air Lines
Bruce Edelston Energy Policy Group, LLC
Casey Erb, EnvE ’20 Mortenson
John Federovitch, CS ’99 VMware
Chris Hagler, MS MoT ’93 Independence Point
David Hogan, Mgt ’10 America’s Remanufacturing Company
Ben Jordan, PhD PP ’12 The Coca-Cola Company
Tori Kaplan Truist
Cheryl Kortemeier Corporate Volunteer Council of America
Bob Lax Accenture (retired)
Liz Minné, MSE ’10, MS EnvE ’13, PhD EnvE ’15 Interface
Ira Pearl, ChE ’85 NextEra Energy Resources
Tom Pennella Penhalt Advisory Group, LLC
Andrea Pinabell AC Impact Advisors, LLC
Denise Quarles Siemens
Bo Quick, IE ’93 Southwire Company
David Rachelson
Josh Raglin Norfolk Southern Corporation
Charles Redding, ChE ’85 MedShare
Elizabeth Schultz, ID ’12, MBA ’17 ScottMadden, Inc.
Joey Shea Interface
Nathaniel Smith Partnership for Southern Equity
Jacquie Smyth, MBA ’18 UPS
Akissi Stokes WUNDERgrubs
Tim Trefzer Cox Enterprises
Stephanie Valdez Streaty Cox Automotive Inc.
John Wells, IM ’84 The Goodwin Group
Dave Williams, Mgt ’89 Metro Atlanta Chamber
Jennifer Winn Georgia Power
Spotlight on Alumni
Sustainability Expert Driven by Passion and Purpose
In high school, Garry Harris, MSEEM ’22, earned the nickname, “Do It All Harris,” by competing in six track and field events, as opposed to one (which is typical). Garry’s life and career have been marked by an ability to move seamlessly across multiple interests. In his career, he has combined his passions for energy, sustainability, and community. He pursues global sustainable development as founder and managing director of the Center for Sustainable Communities, and president and CEO of the Sustainability Solutions Group & Institute.
In Good Company Among “Most Disruptive MBA Startups”
Earning an MBA from Scheller offers many rewards. Sarah Naumann, MBA ’23, and Amanda Shojaee, MBA ’23, began their friendship in the Full-time MBA program. They launched their own start-up, In Good Company, which was recognized by Poets&Quants as among the “2023 Most Disruptive MBA Startups.” In Good Company’s mission is to empower management to lead teams with learning and developmental disabilities successfully. IGC won third prize in the 2023 SUSTAIN-X competition and participated in the CREATE-X Startup Launch.
In Good Company prepares employers to receive candidates with disabilities. Through our first-hand experience, we have witnessed the positive impact of a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, resulting in satisfied customers and an improved team dynamic.”
Amanda Shojaee, MBA ’23 Co-founder, In Good Company
Connect with Us
The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business
@drawdowngabusiness
Drawdown Georgia Business Compact
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acsb.scheller.gatech.edu