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Responsible Business Center Explores Material Gains of Seeking Measurable Social, Climate, and Economic Returns with Top Industry Thought Leaders

Peter Lupoff, Karen Johns, and Nuveen speaking at podium
Moderated by Peter Lupoff (right), Gabelli fellow at the Responsible Business Center, an executive in residence at the Gabelli School of Business, and principal at Lupoff/Stevens Family Office, the “Nuveen and the Sustainable Cities Challenge,” panel featured insights from Roberta Lobo, director of ESG strategies, Nuveen Investments (left) and Karen Johns, CEO, Net Impact (center).
The Gabelli School of Business Responsible Business Center believes that there is Good Business that Comes from Good Business, regardless of the fact that much of the recent public discussion around ESG and corporate sustainability misses the longer-term, logical, and attainable objectives of businesses operating for a just and sustainable planet, as well as for profit. This past April, the Responsible Business Center hosted an event by the same name that convened some of the top experts in the areas of corporate responsibility, climate change, and sustainability to discuss how businesses are increasingly considering all stakeholders—consumers, employees, communities where they operate, and investors—while maintaining or improving their bottom line.

Barbara Porco, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate studies and managing director of the Responsible Business Center, delivered opening remarks along with Peter Lupoff, Gabelli fellow at the Responsible Business Center; an executive in residence at the Gabelli School of Business; and principal at Lupoff/Stevens Family Office, who provided an overview of the program’s agenda and the compelling case for doing good business.

Panel discussions focused on the premise that good business is not just the right thing to do, but that there are significant opportunities in business’s transition to positively impacting people and the planet. Relevant and timely topics discussed included: “CSO Summit – Public Company ESG Challenges, Solutions, Objectives,” “The Vexing Issues and Opportunities of ESG Measurement,” “Shareholder Engagement – Stakeholder Influence in Driving Better Outcomes,” “Nuveen and The Sustainable Cities Challenge,” “Innovation Changes the World,” and “Can Money and Business Be a Force for Good?”

“The dialogue provided concrete examples of the ways in which companies are already building good business practices into their operations.”
A host of business leaders participated in discussions that brought the topic of doing good business to life. Among them were: Dave Stangis, partner, CSO, Apollo Global Management; Rachel Taplinger, head of sustainability, Maybelline NY at L’Oréal; Davida Heller, director, head of sustainability strategy, Citibank; Yusuf George, managing director, Engine No. 1; Roberta Lobo, director of ESG strategies, Nuveen Investments; Karen Johns, CEO, Net Impact; Seth Goldman, cofounder and CEO of Eat the Change, board chair of Beyond Meat, cofounder, PLNT Burger and Honest Tea; and Margot Brandenburg, senior program officer, Ford Foundation.

The dialogue provided concrete examples of the ways in which companies are already building good business practices into their operations and how this trend is expected to grow as stakeholders and shareholders demand greater accountability in the ways in which companies and organizations do business. The caliber of the speakers the event attracted demonstrated the ability of the Responsible Business Center and the Gabelli School of Business to “own the space” as a leading institution of higher learning that is uniquely focused in the area of responsible business.

—Paola Curcio-Kleinman
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