Anheuser-Busch, Nestlé and Monsanto to share earth-friendly strategies

April 13, 2009 -- When Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, calls for "corporate social responsibility" and environmentally friendly policies fell mostly on deaf ears in the business world. Today, the green movement has moved from the fringes to the mainstream of society and to prove that point, the Olin Business School chapter of Net Impact is hosting an event, April 23, featuring major corporate executives charged with promoting corporate responsibility and sustainability.

"CSR: Making an Impact on Business." (CSR is the new shorthand for Corporate Social Responsibility), will be held in Simon Hall 112, 4-5p.m. on Thursday, April 23. Panelists will include Betsy Cohen, vice president of sustainability at Nestlé; Carol Clark, vice president of corporate responsibility at Anheuser Busch; and Monsanto's Natalie DiNicola, director of international partnership development. Daniel Elfenbein, Ph.D., assistant professor of strategy at the Olin Business School will moderate.

Bethany Blackburn '09 MBA, is an officer of Olin's Net Impact chapter, "This panel will talk about how its CSR shapes the company brand and image in the minds of its customers. Each company approaches CSR differently and the panelists will elaborate on why her company has taken that particular approach." Net Impact is an international organization comprised of business professionals, MBA students, and undergraduates committed to making a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world.

Net Impact currently has 103 fulltime MBA members. In addition to sponsoring educational events, the group is dedicated to encouraging environmental sustainability on campus; providing career guidance and resources for students seeking social impact careers; and promoting curriculum changes to include social impact themes.