Dear Reader,
We’re excited to share that the ESG Initiative is now the Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative (aka Wharton Impact). This new name reflects our deepening focus on how sustainable business must deliver both broader societal impacts and financial value. Importantly, it represents a strategic shift to meet growing stakeholder demand for rigorous insights into how business activities affect natural, human, and social capital – and how these impacts influence risk, opportunity, and sustainable business performance.
Wharton Impact will continue to scale the work of the Climate Center, the Impact Investing Research Lab, the Political Risk and Identity Lab, the Opportunity Lab, and the Zicklin Center for Governance and Business Ethics. We’re expanding our research capabilities through an impact data warehouse of over 30 datasets measuring how companies impact natural, social, and human capitals. Our educational reach also continues to grow. We offer 30+ undergraduate and MBA courses that students can assemble into our major or concentration. Our global student competitions reach nearly 600 students at 60 peer institutions, and our open-source Impact case studies power learning at universities worldwide. Scholars, students, and practitioners will continue to draw on our research and pedagogy to shape strategy, innovation, valuations, investment flows, and policy.
The Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative is not just a new name, it’s a renewed commitment to align broader corporate and investor impacts with financial value in support of sustainable business. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Sincerely,
Witold (Vit) Henisz
Vice Dean and Faculty Director; Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative
Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management
Research in Partnership
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