McCombs Alumni Network News

On Jan. 29-30, 2009, the McCombs School of Business will be hosting the 2nd annual UT Sustainable Business Summit. Due to the current economic climate, this year’s Summit will showcase innovative companies that are using sustainable business strategies to boost the bottom line. The event is expected to attract hundreds of national and local business leaders, faculty, and students. The early registration deadline is Dec. 19 at www.utsummit.com.

The Sustainable Business Summit is organized annually by the McCombs Net Impact student organization, a chapter of the international Net Impact network of 10,000 members spanning six continents. Net Impact’s mission is to encourage tomorrow’s leaders to use business to improve the world.

At this year’s conference, participants will enjoy two keynote speeches, a sustainable product fair, as well as interactive panel discussions and networking with business leaders from Whole Foods, GT Environment Finance, Starbucks, Patagonia, Green Mountain Energy, and more. A number of clean energy companies from Texas will be in attendance. 

The diverse range of companies attending underscores the widespread interest in how to turn sustainable strategies into profits.

“[Sustainability] is a realization that as more people join the middle class, there simply are not enough natural resources for everyone to consume at the same per capita rate as Americans and Europeans,” said John Doggett, Professor of International Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainability. “Now is the time to create new technologies that will allow all of us that have a decent standard of living while significantly lowering our…damage to the environment.”

Visit www.utsummit.com for more information and to register. Participants who register by Dec. 19 will receive a 20 percent discount.