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NYU Stern School of Business

About the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business


The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business envisions a better world through better business.

Businesses operate in a constantly changing ecosystem that features fewer resources, a warmer climate, increased social inequity, as well as more engaged stakeholders and increased transparency. Business leaders must understand how these shifts impact their business and find innovative solutions to societal challenges while maintaining financial performance.

The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) was founded on the principle that sustainable business is good business, and is proving the value of sustainability for business management and performance at a time when people and the planet need it most. At CSB, we aim to help future and current business leaders embrace proactive and innovative mainstreaming of sustainability, resulting in competitive advantage and resiliency for their companies as well as a positive impact for society.

Practice Forum ROSI Materials

Preparing Future and Current Business Leaders

Through activities in education, research, and engagement, CSB prepares individuals and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to embed social and environmental sustainability into core business strategy.
Read Our mission and Strategy
CSB Team Stock Photo

Bringing Sustainability Perspectives to Stern Since 2016

CSB was founded in 2016 by Tensie Whelan, former President of the Rainforest Alliance. Today, the CSB team is comprised of a small yet driven group with diverse backgrounds in corporate strategy, research, education, and engagement.
Meet our team
CSB Advisory Body Main Photo

Guided By Proven Leaders in Sustainable Business

CSB is guided by three advisory groups whose members have deep and relevant experience in environmental and social sustainability strategies, across private, public, non-profit, and academic fields.
Meet Our Advisors
Tensie Whelan Headshot

Founding Director Tensie Whelan

Tensie Whelan (NYU '80) is Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, where she brings 25 years of experience working on local, national and international environmental and sustainability issues to engage businesses in proactive and innovative mainstreaming of sustainability.