What a busy two weeks!  In the midst of finalizing my schedule and getting back in the groove of studying, I have just completed my duties for the 2nd Annual Sustainable Business Summit hosted by Net Impact at McCombs.  I was on the Executive Planning Committee for the event and was in charge of logistics and finance for the conference.  Luckily, the team’s hard work paid off and we had a very successful event.

The summit was jam packed with relevant sustainable business topics that were addressed by knowledgeable practitioners in the field.  Some of the topics for the panels included:

• Sustainable start-ups
• Tactics in the food and beverage industry
• Authentic green marketing
• The future of green technology

Besides the panels and keynote speakers, we also had a product fair featuring Austin-based businesses that are focused on varying sustainable strategies from industries ranging from energy to cosmetics.   

As you can imagine, a common theme buzzing throughout the conference was the sustainability of sustainable practices during these tough economic times.  Of course, everyone has their own take on this concern, but I believe that a room filled with 300 students and professionals on a Friday afternoon proves that this is only the beginning of creating awareness and change in businesses around the world.  I also think that companies’ tightening wallets will result in extensive creativity and entrepreneurship in improving sustainability of their businesses.  Either way, sustainability is a necessity as the bar is being raised by customers, clients, and the general public.

Check out the summit website and learn more about the guest speakers.