For the 12th Annual Net Impact Sustainability Challenge, 13 teams across Canada competed in a multi-round case competition. Only five teams advanced to the final round, where they presented their creative, strategic, and thoughtful recommendations to our judges from Coast Capital before celebrating their achievements on the stunning rooftop of the QuadReal building in downtown Vancouver. Congratulations to our winners, the ECOnomists from York University!
Business as a Force for Good
We are grateful to this year’s title sponsor – Coast Capital – a certified B Corporation dedicated to making positive social change by leveraging their business as a force for good. The challenge tackled by the participants was “What role can financial institutions play in helping to grow incomes for members, employees, and communities?” The question left room for interpretation and exploration, and the judges were very impressed by the unique and impactful recommendations presented.
The Net Impact team was also proud to be sponsored by certified B Corp, Fairware, a sustainable promotional products distributor that presented each participant with a welcome package, including a tote bag, sticker, and “help the kelp” socks, as well as local beeswax wraps donated by Coast Capital.
Community Building > Networking
While Networking is a large part of any MBA program, at a recent event that Net Impact hosted in collaboration with the Graduate Women’s Council, a panelist suggested we call it “community building” instead. This really resonated, and I believe the Net Impact Sustainability Challenge was all about community building, as participants had the opportunity to connect with other students, coaches, and judges. Everyone at the event shared a passion for sustainability and making change, and we all know that the more people that come together around these issues, the more the impact will be.
Congratulations to all the teams that participated, and thank you again to our title sponsor, Coast Capital! A big thank you to the Net Impact Exec – it was a solid team effort, and we did it!
Hoping to be a part of this great event next year? Join the exec team in the fall or sign up to participate!
About the Author
Emily Beebe is currently pursuing a Full-Time MBA at Simon Fraser University, aiming to apply what she learns to the non-profit sector, with a particular focus on environmental and social impact. A passionate outdoor adventurer, you can find her sleeping in her tent on top of nearby mountains or cycling around the Gulf Islands when not competing in MBA Case Competitions around Canada. As President of Net Impact, Emily is committed to making sustainability more inclusive and accessible, and to inspiring her peers to embed sustainable practices into their roles as future business leaders.