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Net Impact Annual Conference

Considered one of the premier events for students and professionals interested in socially and environmentally responsible business, the annual Net Impact North America Conference is designed to mobilize members through an exciting array of keynotes, panels, case studies, simulations, and special events. Close to 2,400 participants attended the 2008 event to gain a fresh perspective on the role of business in society and a new appreciation for their work as business leaders and their connection to a network of like-minded colleagues. 


Save the date for the upcoming conference!

2009 Net Impact North America Conference
The Johnson School at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, November 13 - 14, 2009

Some funds are available to offset the conference fees (roughly $150 per person)

 

2008 Net Impact North America Conference
The Sustainable Advantage – Creating Social and Environmental Value
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, November 13 - 15, 2008

The 2008 Net Impact North America Conference - The Sustainable Advantage: Creating Social and Environmental Value
More than 20 of our GSM students attended this annual conference which was held at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The conference had a record breaking attendance with over 2,400 students and professionals learning and engaging in discussions around issues of corporate and social responsibility, energy and environment, socially responsible finance, international and community develepment, and social entrepreneurship and innovation.

Read what two attendees, Tanya Marston and Sam Wainer, had to say about their experiences.

Tanya Marston

Attending the Net Impact Conference a week ago was like a playground for me. I was running from one session to the next joining classmates and other socially and environmentally oriented students in exploring and playing with new ideas around corporate social responsibility, nonprofit sustainability, and innovation in the environmental and financial fields. It was tiring but at the same time exhilarating.

A  session that really stood out to me was one called "Sustainable Branding and the Conscious Consumer," which examined how consumers would react to green and sustainable products during the current economic turmoil and how businesses can demonstrate their value in such a climate. As so many new "sustainable" products start to clutter up shelf space, how can consumers differentiate between what is a truly "green" product, and why might they buy it anyway? According to Raphael Bemporad, Founding Partner and Principal of BBMG, consumers are motivated by a self-centered consciousness; they are looking out for themselves first. Bemporad presented five values of the conscious consumer: Health and Safety, Honesty, Convenience, Relationships and Doing Good. What was clear was that if you could demonstrate to a customer that your product would be beneficial to their well-being, then you could encourage purchase decisions that are also ultimately good for the environment and society.

Bemporad also talked about how branding is no longer about the brand and the product but rather it is a story that is told about the consumer or employees interacting with the product. He mentioned Method cleaning products and how they have used an Educate, Engage, and Empower theme for branding and promoting their products. Bemporad also shared his theory of reincarnation of products and believes that higher quality goods will become less expensive and we will buy less. There will also be more of a secondary marketplace on currency that doesn't involve money but instead involves trading products and sharing values.

Finally, Bemporad showed some market research that revealed that 67% of consumers believe that even in tough times they would consider buying sustainable products and paying slightly more. 51% agree they would be willing to act on that belief. As the economy continues to limp along it will be interesting to watch which brands focused on sustainability develop a loyal and enduring following.

Sam Wainer

I decided to attend the NetImpact Conference during orientation in hopes of finding an internship and spending time with a friend at Wharton. Although I didn't land an internship, what I found was unexpected and very valuable.

Most notably, the chance to meet and play with over 2,400 other MBAs from top programs was great. The breakout sessions were also interesting and intellectually stimulating. Here are my favorites:

  • Keynote panel with John F. Brock, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises and Carter Roberts, President and CEO of WWF. The two discussed Coke's sustainability program and what the company is doing to measure and reduce its carbon footprint.
  • Early-Stage Venture Financing for Clean Tech – three VC principles spoke candidly about their investment strategies in clean tech. This session was a great overview of the issues facing VCs in general and in emerging clean tech markets in particular.
  • Mark Albion, co-founder of NetImpact and a former Harvard Business School professor, gave a very personal and moving session about his work on "How can I be a Marxist and still own a Jacuzzi?" Checkout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7JlI959slY for a video about Mark's view on life and the MBA.

The GSM is definitively a "little dynamo" within NetImpact. Despite our small program size, we have a strong showing (about 20 attendees) AND several speakers in the conference including Katherine Johnston and Cleve Justis. I strongly recommend that next year's second and first years attend the 2009 conference at Cornell. It promises to be interesting, valuable for your career and most of all a fun chance to socialize with a very large network of other MBAs.