Experiential learning is built into the SI‑MBA program. With support from the SI‑MBA Launch Stipend, students traveled to Arizona to volunteer, learn from sustainability leaders, and deepen the connections that will shape their careers.

The 2026 GreenBiz Conference offered students in the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI‑MBA) program a week of learning, connection, and renewed purpose. Ten students traveled with Advisor and Part-time Lecturer, John Kim to Arizona, where they volunteered with Trellis Group and joined global sustainability practitioners in conversations shaping the future of business and climate leadership. 

 

Experiences like GreenBiz are intentionally embedded into the SI‑MBA curriculum. Conferences, site visits, and field‑based learning are scheduled directly into the academic calendar as an expected and essential part of the program — not an add‑on. To ensure every student can participate, the program provides the SI‑MBA Launch Stipend, a funding resource that supports experiential and career‑growth activities, including conferences and certificates. The stipend can be used for travel, lodging, conference registration, and other related expenses, helping students access opportunities like GreenBiz equitably. 

Throughout the week, students explored sessions on climate strategy, communications, circularity, regenerative business, and leadership development. Several found particular resonance in the sustainability communications track. As Nicole Nikolova ’25 shared, “I heard from leaders at Patagonia, REI, The Nature Conservancy, and National Geographic. The conversations centered on how we frame sustainability challenges and how language can shape progress. One insight that really stuck with me came from Anthesis Group — people aren’t disagreeing with sustainability problems; they’re disagreeing with the language used to describe them. That reframing feels especially important in today’s climate.” 

Her reflection captures the program’s goal of giving students real‑world experiences that deepen their academic learning and shape their professional voice. 

Ellen Tierney ’25 echoed the transformative nature of the communications focus. Reflecting on her week, she shared, “The Comms with Confidence track stood out through thoughtful, honest conversations about the real challenges and opportunities in sustainability storytelling. A highlight was Anthesis Group and Revolt’s session on ‘Hugging the Bear.’ It offered such a smart, nuanced, and beautifully simple take on navigating climate communications in an increasingly complex environment.”  

Many students also dove into broader sustainability topics, including corporate climate strategy and operational systems. Maxwell Spradlin ’25 shared how much he valued the opportunity to connect with peers and practitioners across the field: “I had an excellent time at GreenBiz2026. I was able to meet so many sustainability leaders, peers, and fellow students. I learned key facets about sustainable supply chains, how to build a sustainability program with financial value, and how to look at the history and future of sustainability.” He added that he is “looking forward to continuing the sustainability conversation in the coming weeks,” reflecting the energy and momentum the students brought home with them. 

 

Experiences like these give students clarity about the evolving demands of sustainability leadership and confidence in their ability to meet them. 

The conference also served as a powerful gathering point for the SI‑MBA network. Alumni working across the sustainability field reconnected with John Kim and met the current class, offering encouragement, insights, and a glimpse into the impact SI‑MBA graduates are making. Among them was alumnus Joey Webber ’22, whose work bridges carbon markets, landowner engagement, and corporate responsibility. Reflecting on his own two‑week stretch moving between fieldwork in Alabama and the conference in Phoenix, he shared, “Landowners in the rural Southeast and corporate sustainability teams have more in common than meets the eye. Landowners need opportunities to protect their land for generations. Corporate sustainability teams need to take responsibility for ongoing emissions and can do so by supporting landowners through the voluntary carbon market. Forests provide the life‑supporting conditions for humanity’s continuity — and business’s continuity.” 

Joey’s message to current students made the SI‑MBA community’s spirit especially clear: “To the next generation of sustainability minds — like those from the current class — we can’t wait for you to join us.” 

Throughout the week, Vermont’s presence was felt strongly, with leaders from across the state contributing to sessions, panels, and collaborative conversations. Their participation underscored the state’s outsized influence in climate leadership and the connectivity that makes Vermont’s sustainability network so effective. 

This experience was made possible in part through Trellis Group’s partnership and hospitality. Their guidance, mentorship, and willingness to welcome students into the heart of conference operations elevated the learning experience in meaningful ways. 

As students returned home, a shared sense of energy and direction ran through their reflections. Opportunities like GreenBiz don’t just enhance their curriculum — they are central to the program’s design, made accessible through the SI‑MBA Launch Stipend, and intended to help students build the relationships, skills, and sense of purpose that define their careers.