Leadership

The research of Olga Hawn lies at the intersection of strategy and organization theory, business and society.

In particular, Dr. Hawn is engaged in multidisciplinary research on non-market strategy, including environmental, social and corporate governance activities of the firm with a focus on the strategic impact of such activities, their antecedents and consequences in developed and emerging markets.

Dr. Hawn is the faculty director of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise.

Other interests include international expansion of multinationals from emerging markets, such as how firms from BRICS can succeed in cross-border M&As and overcome the negative perceptions caused by their origin as well as the role of business incubators in emerging markets.

Dr. Hawn’s teaching interests include strategy, global strategy and emerging markets, non-market strategy, corporate sustainability and responsibility.

An award-winning teacher at UNC Kenan-Flagler, she received honorable mentions for the 2015 and 2016 Page Prize for Excellence in Sustainability Business Education for her MBA and PhD courses in sustainability strategy.

Her research has been published in the Strategic Management Journal, Academy of Management Journal and Research Policy. She serves on the board of the Strategic Management Journal, which presented her with the outstanding editorial board member award in 2014.

The Social Issues in Management Division of the Academy of Management gave her the best paper award in 2012. She was a finalist for the Haynes Prize for the Most Promising Scholar Under 40 from the Academy of International Business in 2014.The Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS) honored her with annual conference outstanding paper awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Prior to joining UNC, Dr. Hawn taught strategy and policy at Boston University.

She received her PhD from Duke, a master’s degree in management research from Saïd Business School at Oxford University, and a master’s degree in international business and a BA in economics from the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.

Contact:
Olga_Hawn@kenan-flagler.unc.edu

Jeff Mittelstadt is a career sustainability professional dedicated to using the triple bottom line and breakthrough capitalism concepts to help drive profitable business opportunities that provide positive social impact and improve our environment. He started and managed the non-profit WildSides to create educational and documentary multimedia, including the award-winning feature-length film, Staring Down Fate. He also created a multimedia and consulting firm, Rootspective, to apply his experience in sustainable enterprise, social responsibility and lifecycle assessment to help consumers and companies make decisions based on their unique social, environmental/human health and economic values.

Previously, Jeff was Davidson College’s first Director of Sustainability, where he also taught a course on Food and Sustainability. He worked for the U.S. EPA’s Office of Inspector General in Research Triangle Park evaluating national air quality programs. He was a vice president and senior analyst at Bank of America working on green building, sustainable purchasing, green cleaning, renewable energy and more. Jeff designed, implemented, and managed a national sustainable manufacturing initiative for a D.C. nonprofit, the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM). During his work with NACFAM, the U.S. Department of Commerce appointed him to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Advisory Expert Group on Sustainable Manufacturing and Eco-Innovation. Professor Mittelstadt has also taught Food and Sustainability Communications, Media Writing, and Law & Ethics of Mass Communication at Winston-Salem State University.

He earned his M.B.A from Kenan-Flagler Business School (concentrating in sustainable enterprise and entrepreneurship) and his M.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well; his Masters of Environmental Management from Duke University (concentrating in resource economics and policy); and his B.A. in psychology from Davidson College.

Contact:
Jeffrey_Mittelstadt@kenan-flagler.unc.edu

Contact for inquiries regarding the Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability programs, the MBA Concentration in Sustainable Enterprise, undergraduate student and student athlete internship program, UNC Clean Tech Summit, Launching Investment for Future Transformation (LIFT) Challenge and other student focused programs.

As Associate Director, Tracy manages the Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability (ACES) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. The ACES team runs the center to serve as a resource hub for faculty, students, staff and businesses interested in sustainability as a personal, business or academic pursuit. She has co-created and implemented action-based, experiential leadership courses for undergraduate and MBA students and advises UNC students on personal, academic and sustainability career interests. Tracy administers the Stacia L. Wood Social Impact Summer Grant and LePage Grant for MBA Students and the Monty and Nancy White Scholars Fund for undergraduates. She serves as the faculty adviser for the MBA Net Impact, the Undergraduate Sustainable Business and the Business Cares at Kenan-Flagler Clubs. Tracy is also Faculty Advisor for the 4-peat Champion UNC Ultimate Club Team Pleiades (Women’s).

Contact:
ttm@unc.edu
919-962-1499

Contact for inquiries about Center for Sustainable Enterprise programs and events, as well as any questions about the website.

As Program Manager, Mary Kay coordinates ACES events, handles financial transactions and manages the budget. She also maintains the website and manages the Center’s social media accounts. She works with MBA students in the Net Impact Club with event planning and promotion. Mary Kay is also a member of the Kenan-Flagler Wellness Committee.

Contact:
MaryKay_Lemon@kenan-flagler.unc.edu
919-962-5625

Taylor Maffeo graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in May of 2024, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Journalism with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations, a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and a Certificate in Fashion Communication and Marketing. She is excited to merge the skills she learned in school with her passion for sustainability as part of the ACES team.

Contact:
Taylor_Maffeo@kenan-flagler.unc.edu

Tommy Walters earned his Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in Computer Science from UNC Chapel Hill in May 2024. During his studies, he interned as a middle school basketball coach, where he discovered a passion for helping others achieve their goals. This experience sparked his enthusiasm for working with people and led to a seamless transition into program coordination for the Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability. While he continues to deepen his understanding of sustainability, he has greatly enjoyed collaborating with the ACES team and their interns. In his free time, Tommy enjoys coaching, playing basketball, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Contact:
Tommy_Walters@kenan-flagler.unc.edu

Rohan Tapia is a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where he earned degrees in Business Administration and Public Policy. A sustainability strategist and equity advocate, he has worked across sectors and continents at the intersection of sustainability, innovation and economic inclusion, with organizations such as the NC Sustainable Business Council, Hatch Enterprise in London and The Middle Space, a nonprofit he founded. Rohan also received the 2023 UN Climate Action Award for his two-month self-directed research on ecovillages and community sustainability models in Denmark and Sweden. He is passionate about building equity-centered solutions and pathways to finance and foster opportunity for underserved communities.

Contact:
Rohan_Tapia@kenan-flagler.unc.edu