Current Master of Science in Sustainability Management student Kwesi Blair has more than 10 years working in fashion and retail developing strategy. He is concerned by the fashion industry’s lack of awareness and action around sustainability. Kwesi was drawn to the MSSM program because of the range of academic content areas and the multidisciplinary approach to sustainability that Columbia offers.
1. What is your current job and what are the responsibilities associated with your position?
I am Senior Vice President of Strategy at Robert Burke Associates. I am tasked with developing solutions for how brands and retailers think through growth, positioning, consumer engagement and relevance. I travel often to cities all over the world to assess opportunities for brands, and determine optimal strategies for entering new markets. I also regularly advise investors who want to understand whether or not certain brands and retailers are viable investment targets.
2. What have you found in your field that needs to improve and how do you intend to do so once you achieve your degree?
I have worked in fashion and retail developing strategy for over a decade, and continue to be disappointed and concerned by the lack of awareness or action within the industry around sustainability. I would like to use my degree to help brands navigate realistic sustainable goals that will ultimately improve their businesses, while taking responsibility for their environmental and social impacts.
3. What do you think is the most important sustainability challenge?
I believe the most important challenge is clearly communicating what sustainability means and getting people to understand why it’s critical from a business perspective.
4. How have you applied what you’ve learned in the program so far?
I was able to introduce the GRI framework to a client and help them develop a materiality matrix for defining what issues relating to sustainability were most important to the company. This served as the foundation for the company to develop a sustainability report and establish clear, measurable goals.
5. What do you think is the most beneficial aspect of the MSSM program related to your career?
I think the program has given me the tools to help integrate sustainable practices across all business units in the retail industry. I often interact with a variety of teams who work in silos (design, marketing, logistics, finance, etc.) and rarely communicate with each other. I have a better sense of how best to create a realistic sustainability plan that can be applied to an entire organization, and identify where to generate the most impact. I feel comfortable discussing the value of having a sustainability strategy within the context of dollars and cents, which is what all business leaders ultimately care about.
6. Beyond the classroom, what extracurricular sustainability related have you engaged in with your fellow sustainability management students?
I’ve enjoyed going to a few happy hours outside of classes. The students in our program come from so many backgrounds and places around the world, and everyone is eager to share what they know. I’ve found that most students are very generous with making connections to people who might be able to offer some professional guidance or insight. It’s a very welcoming environment.
7. What is your favorite class in the MSSM program so far and why?
Having the experience to work on a real problem with my fellow students was extremely valuable, having the opportunity to travel to Butte, Montana, in Lynnette Widder’s Responsiveness and Resiliency in the Built Environment class was great preparation for Capstone. Also I got to spend more quality time with a few of my classmates.
8. What tips do you have for your fellow students who are looking for a job in sustainability?
Every person that you meet in the program is a possible resource or connection. Ask questions and learn about what people do and who they might know. Also, the professors and lecturers are very committed to helping students, so don’t be shy about asking them about tapping into their network.
9. How has collaborating with your fellow students in projects in the classroom benefited you professionally and personally?
It’s been really valuable to work with people who have a completely different frame of reference and skill set than me. The idea of sustainability touches on so many parts of an organization, so it’s been really good to better understand how different professionals approach issues and solve problems. I feel confident that I can effectively communicate with CEO’s, architects, scientists, investors, engineers, marketers and everyone in between.
The M.S. in Sustainability Management, co-sponsored by the Earth Institute and Columbia’s School of Professional Studies, trains students to tackle complex and pressing environmental and managerial challenges. The program requires the successful completion of 36 credit points. Those credit points are divided among five comprehensive content areas: integrative sustainability management, economics and quantitative analysis, the physical dimensions of sustainability, the public policy environment of sustainability management, and general and financial management. Visit our website to learn more.
