December 2024
If Trump Axes This Golden Ticket for Immigrants, Tech Stocks, and US Jobs Could Suffer
Market Watch, December 11, 2024
People are concerned that tariffs will increase prices of everyday goods. In this opinion piece, Professor Dan Wang contends that restricting immigration, especially high-skilled immigration, would have the same effect while also propelling a wave of reverse brain drain out of the United States.
The Economic Times Startup Awards | Ask the Expert | Hardika Shah, Founder & CEO, Kinara Capital
Economic Times Startup Awards, December 5, 2024
At the 2024 Economic Times Startup Awards, Hardika Shah '09, founder and CEO of Kinara Capital, shared insights on her journey to find and create a meaningful purpose-driven business.
How to Get More Impact Into Investing
Financial Times, December 4, 2024
Georgia Levenson Keohane — CEO of the Soros Economic Development Fund at the Open Society Foundations and former adjunct professor — commented on how risk-taking and boundary-pushing philanthropy need to continue for impact investing strategies to deliver market-rate returns. Jennifer Pryce '00, CEO of Calvert Capital, also weighed in that impact investing is different from ESG in that it thinks about investment for solutions.
2024 Nonprofit Power Players
Politics NY, December 4, 2024
Phoebe Boyer '93, president and CEO of Children’s Aid, was included in this list of the top nonprofit leaders in NY. Phoebe works to strengthen Children's Aid's programming for children facing poverty in high-risk neighborhoods across New York City.
Give Us Your Tired, Your Poor … and Your High-Skilled!
Columbia Business School, December 3, 2024
New research by Columbia Business School Professors Dan Wang and Jorge Guzman and Inara Tareque PhD, ’26BUS, shows how increasing the number of high-skilled immigrants can spur regional entrepreneurship and economic growth without the cost of other economy-boosting strategies.
November 2024
How Magic Johnson's Starbucks Created New Neighborhood Businesses
NPR, November 20, 2024
Research from Columbia Business School Professors Jorge Guzman and Mario Small and Jinkyong Choi PhD, ’27BUS, is referenced for shedding light on how building Starbucks cafes in Black and Latino neighborhoods can transform local entrepreneurship and community connections.
The 2024 Power of Diversity: Women 100
City and State, November 18, 2024
Congratulations to Phoebe Boyer '93, president and CEO of Children’s Aid, for once again being included in this list of the top 100 remarkable women leaders who run the state of New York. Over the last decade, Phoebe has "increased the organization’s budget to $184M and strengthened services reaching 50,000 children and families annually in underserved neighborhoods."
October 2024
DOE Announces 2024 Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Awardees
US Department of Energy, October 23, 2024
Congratulations to Christina Angelides '15 for receiving the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative Award for her influential leadership shaping the clean energy landscape in the United Sates and globally! Christina is managing director of policy at Elemental Impact, a nonprofit investor in climate technology, where she leads policy strategy, government affairs, and community engagement programs.
Why the Country’s Largest Homebuilder Is Swapping Out Some Wood for Grass
Fast Company, October 18, 2024
Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member Plantd, founded by Josh Dorfman, Ian Harsey, Nathan Silvernail, and Huade Tan, ’13SEAS, makes carbon-negative building panels from grass. D.R. Horton, the country’s largest homebuilder, just ordered 10 million panels, which is roughly enough to build 90,000 homes.
Bizcast: Climate Risks, Uncertainties, and Opportunities
CBS Insights, October 9, 2024
In a recent episode of Columbia Bizcast, Professor Gernot Wagner discussed the challenges posed by the climate crisis and the significant business opportunities emerging from the clean-energy race.
Business School Teaching Case Study: Capture or Cut Carbon to Make Steel Greener?
Financial Times, October 7, 2024
In this mini case study written by Professor Gernot Wagner, two Columbia CaseWorks case studies on green hydrogen and iron ore electrolysis are referenced. Professor Wagner is leading an incredible team of Columbia students in the Climate Knowledge Initiative, a new climate project telling the kind of decarbonization success stories that help spur action.
Letter: Nonprofits Need a Seat at the Table to Solve New York's Challenges
Crain's NY Business, October 4, 2024
Phoebe Boyer '93 wrote a letter to the editor that was published in Crain's NY Business in response to their recent report on NYC nonprofits. She addressed the portrayal of New York City’s nonprofit sector as lacking oversight and emphasized that — while there are always challenges — the truth is that most nonprofits uphold rigorous standards of transparency and accountability. Phoebe is president and CEO of Children’s Aid.
India’s Clean Energy Revolution: How ReNew is Leading the Charge
CBS Insights, October 3, 2024
Chairman and CEO of ReNew, Sumant Sinha, visited Columbia Business School during Climate Week to discuss with Professor Bruce Usher India’s role in the global clean energy transition and the practical challenges of scaling renewable energy. In his introductory remarks, Dean Costis Maglaras highlighted the opportunities to be found in helping to find solutions to these pressing problems.
September 2024
Kinara Capital Wins Double Honors by IFC & SME Finance Forum As SME Financier of the Year in Both the Global & Asia Categories
CBS Insights, September 30, 2024
Kinara Capital, a leading fintech driving MSME financial inclusion in India founded by CEO Hardika Shah '09, won two prestigious international awards at the Global SME Finance Forum 2024: A Platinum Award in the "SME Financier of the Year – NBFI, MFI, Fintech Global" category and a Silver Award in the "SME Financier of the Year – Asia."
This Mom’s Baby Care Brand Disrupted the Industry. Now Celebs Like Hilary Swank Swear By It.
MSNBC, September 26, 2024
Motivated by her research and personal experiences as a parent and founder of Happy Family Organics, Shazi Visram '04 founded Healthybaby in 2021, launching a business that has set a new standard for clean baby products.
Gender Pay Gap in the US Widens for the First Time in 20 Years
EIN News, September 26, 2024
Women’s lost earnings due to pay inequality amounted to $1.7 trillion in 2023. S. Mona Sinha '93 — a champion for gender equality and institute advisory board member and global executive director of Equality Now — asks how the next administration will close this gap and address this stark gender inequality.
EU’s Wopke Hoekstra on Climate Action: We Need a Unified Global Response
CBS Insights, September 25, 2024
In a discussion moderated by Professor Gernot Wagner at Columbia Business School during Climate Week NYC, the newly reappointed EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra stressed the need for better alignment between Europe and the United States, the challenges of global competition, and the role of carbon pricing in reducing emissions.
2024 MBA to Watch: Yussre ElBardicy, Columbia Business School
Poets&Quants, September 24, 2024
In a recent interview, Yussre ElBardicy '24 reflected on her favorite professor while at Columbia Business School. She said that our very own Sandra Navalli OAM '03 "embodies the values I hope to emulate as a business leader. I appreciated her ability to clearly help us understand the threads between business knowledge and social problems. She is someone who sees the big picture, helps her students understand the big picture, and has been a trusted mentor and resource during my time at CBS. During a car ride back from a correctional facility where we co-taught a class, I had a conversation with her about everything from prisons to family to the state of the world that will always be a core business school memory for me."
Sandra teaches the ReEntry Acceleration Program (REAP) Immersion course.
Ignition Schools: Top 50 Institutions Revolutionizing Entrepreneurship
Inc, September 23, 2024
Columbia University was ranked number five in Inc. and Fast Company's global list of schools with the biggest impact on the businesses and ideas that define the future. These rankings recognize fifty academic institutions around the world producing the IP, partnerships, and people with the greatest impact on entrepreneurship and innovation right now.
The Tamer Institute was included in the ranking for bridging business and social impact by fostering entrepreneurs who prioritize both profit and purpose.
The 100 Highest-Funded MBA Startups of 2024
Poets&Quants, September 15, 2024
Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member Tough Leaf, founded by Amir Zahlan, ’22BUS; Wissam Akra, ’22BUS; and LF Finney, was included in this list of 100 Highest Funded MBA Startups, having raised $7.79M. The venture facilitates a diverse and thriving environment where contractors can seamlessly meet and exceed their disabled-, minority-, and women-owned business goals on their construction projects.
ET Startup Awards 2024: Lenskart Bags Top Honours, A Look at the Winners
Economic Times, September 13, 2024
Kinara Capital, founded by CEO Hardika Shah '09, received top honors in the "Woman Ahead" category at the tenth edition of India’s most prestigious awards for entrepreneurship — The Economic Times Startup Awards.
August 2024
50 Over 50: Investment
Forbes, August 1, 2024
Congratulations to Jennifer Pryce '00, CEO of Calvert Capital, for being named to Forbes 50 Over 50! This list honors women around the world who are doing impactful, innovative work. Jenn was chosen for the investments category for her leadership at Calvert Impact and Climate United. Under Jenn's management, Calvert Impact has released multiple new products and tripled AUM for their flagship product, the Community Investment Note.
July 2024
BlocPower Announces the Race to Decarbonize
Business Wire, July 25, 2024
BlocPower, where Donnel Baird '13 is founder and CEO, announced its "Race to Decarbonize," an initiative that brings together sustainability leaders to race to net zero at city-scale.
From Waste to Wonder: These Startups Are Giving Plastic a Second Chance at Life
Entrepreneur, July 25, 2024
Entrepreneur India spoke to a few innovative entrepreneurs about their ideas and how they are making an impact in the world, including Mani Vajipeyajula '13, co-founder and CEO of Banyan Nation, which has helped put over two billion bottles made from recycled plastics in over 20 brands across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and lubricants industries.
Building an Equitable Climate Future Is Everyone’s Business
Asia Society, July 23, 2024
Institute advisory board co-chair Shaiza Rizavi ’96 was part of a dynamic panel discussing the power of entrepreneurship at the intersection of climate and poverty at the dynamic panel at the Asia Society.
SA Climate Tech Startup Plentify Closes Oversubscribed Round to Accelerate Growth
Disrupt Africa, July 22, 2024
South African clean tech startup Plentify, a Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member founded by Jon Kornik ’11, closed an oversubscribed funding round to propel the company’s expansion in South Africa and international markets.
June 2024
Addressing Climate Change: US Academic Hails China’s Green Progress
China Daily, June 19, 2024
“Solar power is widespread and very cheap. Technological innovation in China is incredible. Now there are a lot of investments because there is innovation to invest in," said Professor Bruce Usher in a recent interview. During a recent CBS faculty trip to Hong Kong, Professor Usher discussed China’s progress in the green economy.
Boys and Girls Club of Harlem CEO Sharon Joseph Discussed Her Past Couple Years in the CEO Seat, and How She's Seen Real Change in Hundreds of Students' Lives
Spectrum Local News, June 16, 2024
Sharon Joseph '97, CEO at the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, discussed her goal to provide educational and career developmental support to the children of Harlem and their families, and the change she's seen in hundreds of students' lives in the last few years.
May 2024
Fundación MAPFRE Social Innovation Awards Names US-based "iThrone" Winner at Global Competition
Yahoo! Finance, May 29, 2024
Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio venture change:WATER Labs, founded by Diana Yousef, ’03BUS ’04SIPA, won the top prize at the Fundación MAPFRE's Social Innovation Awards. The award recognizes the startup's innovation of the iThrone, a portable toilet that provides an innovative solution to human waste management in areas without developed water and sanitation infrastructures.
Opportunities and Challenges Inside the Booming Climate Tech Market
Columbia Business School, May 23, 2024
Three central takeaways emerged from the 2024 Climate Business & Investment Conference, which gathered established industry leaders, startups, investors, and researchers to discuss the climate tech market's progress and needed adjustments.
Heating up History: The 90s, A Missed Opportunity for Climate Change
Xennials Podcast, May 20, 2024
During this episode of Xennials, host Charlotte Kan speaks with Professor Gernot Wagner about the "first IPCC report that sparked a global wakeup call about the escalating dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and the critical steps needed to curb global warming."
Don’t Slam the Door on Inexpensive Chinese Electric Vehicles
The New York Times, May 15, 2024
Professors Gernot Wagner and Conor Walsh co-wrote this op-ed on how the Biden administration should tax China for its soaring carbon emissions, not for its electric vehicles and solar panels.
The Humble Radiator Is Getting a Climate-Friendly Upgrade
Bloomberg, May 11, 2024
Kelvin, a Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member founded by Marshall Cox, ’12SEAS PhD, developed the Cozy as a solution to make steam heating in New York buildings more efficient.
2024 Best & Brightest MBA: Jeff S. McClellan, Columbia Business School
Poets & Quants, May 3, 2024
"While advising formerly incarcerated people in Justice Through Code on career development plans, I humbly witnessed their resilience and determination to rebuild their lives. [...In] Startup Works, I consulted justice-impacted entrepreneurs, sharing insights and best practices in business. These experiences reinforced my commitment to social responsibility, contributing to a more equitable world while practicing my belief in the power of education and community support for positive change," says Jeff S. McClellan '24, on how he's most proud of his involvement in our ReEntry Acceleration Program (REAP), particularly in the Justice Through Code (JTC) and Startup Works initiatives during his time at CBS.
Averting Climate Catastrophe Requires Economic Growth
Project Syndicate, May 1, 2024
Professor Gernot Wagner co-wrote this piece on how economic "de-growth" is not the answer to the climate crisis.
April 2024
Climate Change Is the Focus in Shared Curriculum for Business Schools
Marketplace Morning Report, April 30, 2024
Professor Bruce Usher was featured on Marketplace Morning Report discussing the Open Climate Curriculum, a free and shareable resource among business schools that shares teaching materials and expertise to expedite the mission of addressing climate change.
Columbia Business School Launches Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change With Major Donation
ESG News, April 30, 2024
Columbia Business School announced the establishment of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change, a transformative new campus institute that will address the immediate need for climate research and education in business to accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra: ‘We Believe In an All-Electric Future’
Columbia Business School, April 25, 2024
At the 2024 Climate Business and Investment Conference, General Motors CEO Mary Barra explained how the company is overcoming EV market challenges on the road to net zero.
Resilient Waters Fund Wins the 2024 Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge
Morgan Stanley, April 24, 2024
Congratulations to Ignacio Aguirre '24, Nadim Dabbous '24, Dion Koreman '24, and Diego Rehder '24 on the Renewable Back Security team for winning third place (out of an initial 84 teams!) in the 2024 Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge! The global competition inspires graduate students to address critical social and environmental issues through innovative financial vehicles. The Columbia Business School student team developed a solution to reduce the cost of capital necessary for emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) to scale up renewable energy adoption in southern and central Africa and the United States.
A Hidden Crisis in US Housing
Bloomberg, April 24, 2024
Assistant Professor Parinitha Sastry comments on how her research "shows that lax regulation and monitoring of property insurers makes Florida mortgage markets far more exposed to climate risk than people might think.”
Columbia Business School’s Leadership on Climate Change Expands Through Generous Donation to Create Groundbreaking Institute
Columbia Business School, April 23, 2024
Thanks to the vision and generosity of Sandra and Tony Tamer, the center will expand its work in business and climate as the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia Business School. Becoming an institute will build on our high-impact work in social enterprise and grow our Business and Climate Change Initiative.
ICYMI: Business Roundtable Co-Hosts Event at The Wharton School to Advance Second Chance Employment
Business Roundtable, April 18, 2024
Sandra Navalli OAM '03, adjunct associate professor and managing director of the Tamer Institute, and Aedan Macdonald, executive director and founder of Justice Through Code, spoke at this year's "Business Case for Second Chance Employment Conference" on creating pathways to sustainable employment for individuals who are formerly incarcerated.
The Right Response to China’s Electric-Vehicle Subsidies
Columbia Business School, April 11, 2024
While the availability of cheap electric vehicles is good news for the planet and for consumers everywhere, it is bad news for shareholders and employees of Western car companies, and both the United States and Europe are considering imposing import tariffs on Chinese EVs. But tariffs are the wrong approach, write Professors Gernot Wagner and Shang-Jin Wei.
Netflix Founder, Ex-Alphabet CEO Back African Solar Irrigation Startup
Bloomberg, April 10, 2024
SunCulture, where Jon Saunders '14 is COO, closed its $27.5 million Series B funding round, marking a significant milestone in the company's mission to revolutionize sustainable farming practices across the globe. The company uses off-grid solar technology to provide smallholder farmers with reliable access to water, irrigation, lighting, and mobile charging.
Jason Friesen: Transforming Emergency Dispatch in the Digital Age
Columbia Daily Spectator, April 6, 2024
Jason Friesen, ’12PH, founder of Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member Trek Medics, is profiled on what led him to start the NGO, which works to improve access to emergency response networks.
Notable Leaders in Sustainability 2024
Crain's New York, April 2024
Donnel Baird '13, founder and CEO of BlocPower, and Marshall Cox, ’12SEAS PhD, founder of Kelvin (a Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member), were named two of Crain's New York's notable leaders in sustainability in 2024.
150 Most influential Bostonians
Boston Magazine, April 2024
Diana Hwang '17, founder and executive director of Asian-American Women's Political Initiative (AAWPI), was included in this list of 150 most influential Bostonians for her work ensuring that AAPI women have a voice in American democracy.
February 2024
Lessons From Bridging the American Divides
Columbia Business School, February 29, 2024
Students, staff, and faculty gathered to discuss how business leaders can better understand and address rising polarization at "Dialogue Across Difference: Lessons from Bridging the American Divides." The discussion was led by Professors Todd Jick and Bruce Usher, who for seven years have co-taught a course of the same name that is designed to give future business leaders a better understanding of the causes and consequences of the many American divides.
The Implications of AI on the Future of Education & Work: An MBA Perspective
Poets & Quants, February 26, 2024
In this piece by Jane Bernhard '23, on the influence of AI across education, work, business, and society, Professor Dan Wang shares his technology strategy expertise on the impact of AI in the classroom.
What’s at Stake in These Polarized Times
Columbia News, February 21, 2024
Professor Bruce Usher participated in a discussion for students, faculty, and staff across Columbia's campus to "explore how the often binary conversations around current events inform our understanding of democracy, the elements that prevent us from coming together for civil discourse, and where we go from here."
Building Stronger Partnerships: Banks and CDFIs in the Evolving Landscape of Community Development
Yahoo! Finance, February 13, 2024
Daniel Nissenbaum ’88, current president and CEO at Low Income Investment Fund, co-wrote this piece on how "the alliance between banks and CDFIs must continue to grow, innovate, and adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the current economic environment."
Kenya’s Ilara Health Gets $4.2M Backing to Expand Clinic-support Services
Tech Crunch, February 12, 2024
Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member Ilara Health (founded by Emilian Popa ’10) is an AI and health tech company that brings accurate and affordable diagnostics to rural Africans. The venture recently secured $4.2 million in a pre-Series A round to scale operations and deepen health care access in Kenya.
January 2024
The Triple Bottom Line: Where Social and Environmental Impact Meets Investment
Columbia Business School, January 15, 2024
In the fall, we brought together some of today’s prominent social and environmental impact thinkers for our 22nd annual "Social Enterprise Conference, Capital for Good." Guided by CBS professors, an illustrious roster of entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers explored some of the biggest questions facing businesses today.
Business Schools Pushed to Provide a More Responsible Education
Financial Times, January 14, 2024
MBA students want a greater emphasis on sustainability in business school curricula. At COP28, Professor Bruce Usher demonstrated the new Open Climate Curriculum initiative, an open resource among business schools that shares materials and expertise to expedite the mission of addressing climate change. In this article, learn about how the Financial Times's Responsible Business Education awards "identify, highlight, and incentivize examples of best practices" around responsible business education.
Climate Change and the New American Economy
Columbia Bizcast January 12, 2024
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, our event with Brian Deese, MIT innovation fellow and former director of the National Economic Action Council at the White House, is featured. Deese joined Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor at The Economist, to discuss the future of climate and clean energy policy in the wake of the IRA.