Is my green showing?

The Owen student body continues to set an example in breadth of understanding and zeal for addressing the world environmental and social entrepreneurship and justice issues. 

As the Net Impact Conference at Vanderbilt approaches, I am inspired by the leadership our business students have exhibited in understanding and addressing the issues of world health, poverty, environment, social entrepreneurship and social justice.  Countries other than the USA lead the world in thinking through and acting upon these subjects. Our students—working hand-in-hand with others across the country—are working hard to catch up.

My early work in these areas came via serving on nature conservancy boards and poverty alleviation efforts.  Yet, after watching the goals and achievements of the student body as they dedicate endless hours to Net Impact and Project Pyramid, I am envious.  And green.  

My own experience is that no corporate leader worth his or her soul is disinterested in world economic and physical health, a healthy environment--clean water, air and a sustainable future. At the same time, my generation has fallen short at doing what’s best for the environment and the world. Our political systems seem unable to adequately deal with these important and difficult world issues. 

The theme of Net Impact is “personal accountability”, asking each of us to think about what we can personally do to improve our environment, reduce our adverse environmental footprint and improve our collective existence.  I’ve got to say that their challenge is working: our students have made me re-think my values and evaluate my own actions.  I have always believed in setting goals very high.  Our students—and the faculty who are supporting them--have inspired me and filled me with hope.