Last weekend, 11 Olin MBA students traveled to San Francisco to be inspired by the leaders of the sustainable business community at the 2013 Net Impact Conference.  Over the course of the three-day conference we heard from Fortune 100 CEOs, social sector executives, consultants, social entrepreneurs, and government leaders who confirmed our suspicion and motive for attending the conference: social and environmental sustainability in business is best practice and the way of the future.

To hear leaders of corporations such as Campbell’s Soup Company, Unilever, and Exxon Mobile debate with one another on the best way to integrate sustainability into the core business model to affect positive changes in consumer behavior was truly inspiring and strengthened our desire to pursue careers that position us to have meaningful,  positive impact.

In smaller break-out sessions we were challenged to re-define marketing strategies, re-frame nonprofit performance metrics, and re-think corporate growth strategies in ways that drive business and social change.

At the end of the three-day conference our heads were spinning, but we were invigorated and anxious to continue the conversations, which we did, at an Olin alumni dinner sponsored by the Weston Career Center and MBA Program Office on Saturday night at the Town Hall in downtown San Francisco.

The Bay Area alums spanned a variety of industries: renewable energy and health care start-ups, sustainability and social impact consulting, eco-efficient architecture, and corporations. We shared our conference experience and goals for the future; they gave us feedback, insight from the field, and re-lived their best of times at Olin. The conversations were thoughtful and engaging, and formed the start of new friendships. The wine and cheese were an added value.

In summary, we had a GREAT TIME in the Bay Area. We felt a part of a bigger movement in business and realized the depth and scope of the Olin network.

Thanks to Annie Crangle (MBA ’14) for sharing this post on the Net Impact Conference.