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Full-time M.B.A. Cohort Travels to London as Part of Gabelli Launch

Immersive Experience Provides Insights Into Sustainable Business Practices Across Industries

wide view of Fordham students sitting in an auditorium style course room

Gabelli School of Business Full-time M.B.A. students recently wrapped up a week in London, as part of Gabelli Launch, the four-week onboarding program for their cohort that began in late July. Gabelli Launch and its travel component immerses students in the Gabelli School community, challenging them intellectually, and helping them to build close bonds with their classmates.

During this trip to London led by Program Director, Prof. Alex Markle, Ph.D. and Program Manager Linda Agnew, students explored the world of sustainable business through a range of activities including site visits and exposure to high-profile speakers.

The immersion kicked off with an economic overview of the UK from Nisaa Jetta, who is the founder of Impact-for-SDGs, an organization that seeks to catalyze real change around the Sustainable Development Goals through sector-focused impact initiatives and high-level convening across government, the financial sector, family offices, and large corporations. This was followed by an in-depth exploration of sustainability reporting standards during which students visited the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) organization and heard from industry leaders, including Lee White, CEO of the International Federation of Accountants; Marco Fasan, Ph.D., professor of accounting at the Venice School of Management; and Fabian Kommu, key accounts advisor, Datamaran, an ESG reporting platform. They also were exposed to ESG-focused real estate investing through a panel discussion featuring experts from Goldman Sachs.

wide view of Fordham students taking a large group photo as students in the center hold a burgundy Fordham Gabelli School of Business flag
A variety of other sectors were explored. Tim Wheeldon, founder and managing director of Zeal Hotels, enlightened students about the current sustainable business practices of the hospitality industry, and Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of Energy & Environment Alliance, discussed the ways in which his organization was helping these businesses transition to a Net Zero carbon economy, profitably and sustainably. ICMM’s Bryony Clear Hill, director of innovation and Will Wardle, programme officer, shared insights into sustainability within the mining sector. Chris Knight, Ph.D., founder of Agribot, discussed the role of AI in transforming agriculture, and Paul Sheedy, CEO & founder, Unifi.id, demonstrated how technology is enhancing building sustainability.

These engaging site visits and enlightening talks fueled a student project on analyzing the ESG reporting of a major multinational corporation, under the guidance of Gabelli School Executive in Residence Prof. Tim Hedley, Ph.D. In addition, Gabelli School Director of Career Advising, John Hottinger, provided the students with invaluable career advice during the week.

Although their schedule was packed, students also got to tour London’s iconic sights, including taking an open-air bus tour and visiting the historic Tower of London. Now back at the Lincoln Center campus, they’re diving into their classes and putting their new knowledge into practice!

—Alex Markle