Seminar Lessons Applied to Environmental Governance Program

Frankly speaking I did not possess much knowledge regarding CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) before participating in the MGT 298-4 course - Seminar on Sustainable & Responsible Business, a class initiated by GSM students and coordinated by Professor Richard Dorf. Literally speaking, upon finishing this seminar I do feel very different as a business student and as a person with regard to business ethics and sustainable development.

I have been interested in promoting energy-efficiency and environmentally friendly products and ideas since I finished my Bachelors and I am always looking for opportunities to which I may devote my knowledge and abilities. Fortunately, I was selected as a retinue interpreter and logistics coordinator for Chinese officials in the significant program- U.S.-China Environmental Governance Exchange Program during the summer 2007. This is a program initiated by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). They jointly launched “An Exchange Project to Increase Citizen Participation, Accountability, & Transparency in Environmental Decision-Making in China.” Proudly, this course and the report I had been working on added credits for me immediately in getting this summer position.

The purpose of the project is to help improve environmental governance and decision-making in China by making it more transparent and responsive to citizens’ concerns through meeting and exchanging ideas with leaders of environmental, business, NGOs and social equity groups as well as key staff of San Francisco Bay Area environmental local, state and federal agencies. During the internship I got the chance to participate in various meetings, including CED - California Environmental Dialogue – a retreat whose ideas tie in perfectly with the Seminar on Sustainable & Responsible Business. Originally I thought a candidate who primarily has an environmental background would be preferred to get involved in such programs. During this experience, however, I realized that an MBA student may bring even more value with their professional expertise of organizational strategy, management insight and leadership. Do get involved and believe that we can make a difference - to make the world a better place in which to live.

Peng Lu, Program Interpreter & 2007 GSM Exchange Student