Full-Time MBA Sustainable Enterprise Concentration | UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Sustainable enterprise is a way of doing business that makes profits through means that reduce harm to society and the environment. It turns challenges into business opportunities that serve a triple bottom line of profits, society and the environment. The result is often unique market solutions that leapfrog the competition or help firms to enter new markets with products better suited to long term growth.

The Sustainable Enterprise concentration applies across functional areas and industries and complements other career concentrations you may pursue at the same time. You’ll learn how to craft strategies that help companies pursue a triple bottom line, a skill that more and more companies say they seek.

Ranked the #15 Best MBA Program for Sustainability by Fortune.

You may take courses outside the Business School in areas such as:

Public policy
International studies
Social work
City and regional planning
Environmental studies

For more information on the Sustainable Enterprise program:

"Whether you plan to start a social business, work for corporates or public-private partnerships, our concentration will enable you to pursue your own path. It will help you develop a sustainability mindset, creative purposeful and profitable business solutions to a variety of global challenges, advancing sustainable development goals. While there is no identical career path for any of our students, one thing is certain: they put passion and purpose to work."

Olga Hawn Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Sustainability Distinguished Fellow and Faculty Director of the Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability

Career Paths

Select Course Offerings

Corporate Communication: Social Advocacy and Activism
Corporate Reputation Management
The Energy Value Chain
Global Immersion Elective in Sustainability and Social Enterprise
Renewable Energy: Project Development and Finance
Storytelling to Influence and Inspire
Strategy and Sustainability
Sustainable Finance
Sustainable Operations
Systems Thinking for Sustainable Enterprise
Thinking and Communicating with Data

Who's Teaching

Select Employers

Key Resources

UNC Kenan-Flagler Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability (ACES)

The Center assembles and shares thought leadership in research, education and best practices. Our goal is to empower business leaders in their quest for shareholder value while exercising environmental stewardship and promoting economic development and growth.

Stacia L. Wood Social Impact Summer Grants Program

The Stacia L. Wood Social Impact Summer Grants provide financial support to MBA students using business skills during their summer internship within organizations that make a positive social impact.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Net Impact Club

One of the largest student clubs, Net Impact’s mission is to build upon the UNC Kenan-Flagler tradition of leadership in sustainable business practices by providing students with education, opportunity and inspiration to drive social and environmental change. Our Net Impact chapter has received gold status for six consecutive years from the national Net Impact organization.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Club

This active student group organizes networking events, case competitions and career treks to provide students with knowledge and networking opportunities to secure leadership positions in the energy industry.

Select Experiential Learning Opportunities

Careers with Impact Forum

The forum brings a diverse range of companies to UNC Kenan-Flagler to share new ideas with MBA students interested in fostering social or environmental impact throughout their careers. The event covers topics including corporate social responsibility, strategy, tech and startup financing with the goal to facilitate meaningful dialogue among students and corporate leaders.

Global Immersion Elective

This elective provides you opportunities to explore sustainability with a global perspective on practices around the world.

Invest for Impact Competition

This annual event was developed to provide students real practice in impact investing. Discover new ways to measure impact, develop new investment mechanisms while evaluating sustainable businesses.

Launching Investment for Future Transformation (LIFT)

LIFT calls on students from around the world to develop blended finance strategies to drive true triple bottom line results – simultaneously addressing the most pressing environmental, social and economic challenges of our time.

MBA FOODCON

This daylong conference connects thought leaders in food and agribusiness and MBA students from UNC Kenan-Flagler, Duke University, and NC State University to create valuable professional connections while discussing pressing issues and trends within the food industry.

National case competitions

You can participate in a variety of sustainability-focused case competitions, including The National Net Impact Challenge, Carolina Challenge, the Nespresso Sustainability MBA Challenge, Patagonia, Smeal, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Education Innovation Case competitions, the MBA Impact Investing Network & Training, and the India Impact Challenge powered by Quantam Advisors.

Turner MIINT

Turner MBA Impact Investing Network and Training Program is conducted virtually throughout the year and culminates in a final investment pitch competition at Wharton during the spring. Past winning teams have secured a $50,000 investment for the business they represented.

I’m interested.

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