I don't have to tell you that the US economy is in trouble. A new wave of business is necessary to pull us out of this recession, Sustainable Business. The conceptual framework for Sustainable Business is that business success is measured by environmental, societal, and economic outcomes (or what industry insiders call "The Triple Bottom Line"). I thought it made sense for this new vision for economic recovery to come out of our nation's capitol, and thus I begun a search for green and sustainable MBA programs... read more
Mills College in Oakland California (California's East Bay Area) is totally Keen For Green. Okay, I admit my bias: I am a proud alumna. And, yes, I said "alumna" not "alumnus," as Mills is a woman's college (well Undergrad, at least). Mills offers several Bachelors Degrees which prepare women for a career in the green industry. The first is a BS in Environmental Science which "is an interdisciplinary major focused on the application of scientific principles to the study of human interactions with the natural environment." It's a science degree, so it has a strong emphasis on biology, physics, and the like. But it also explores the social impact of modern-day environmental causes. Mills also offers a BA in Environmental Studies, which is essentially the inverse of BS in Environmental Sciences. It requires a general understanding of the "hard" sciences" but has an overall focus on environmental ethics, public policy, and environmental restoration.... read more
If your trying to spruce up your resume in order to work your way into the "Green" job market, one of the simplest things you can do is to obtain a certificate in your focus area. This is less time- and money-intensive than a Bachelors or Masters degree (certificates usually consist of 1-5 courses), but still demonstrates to potential employers your knowledge of green partices in your field. There are many programs to choose from.
"My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process. We will invest in solar power, wind power and next generation biofuels. We will tap nuclear power, while making sure it's safe. And we will develop clean coal technologies." - Barack Obama, November 18, 2008
Today's economic times are leading many of us to rethink our careers. Green tech seems to be the future of the economy and an MBA in Sustainable Management seems like just the tool to catapult our careers in the right direction. But spending two years in a classroom is just not feasible if your working, have kids, or don't live close to a program. There are multiple Online ("distance learning") Green/Sustainable MBA programs, all of which vary in the focus , time spent in the classroom versus online, and time of completion. Here's a summary:... read more
As the field of green tech continues to grow, so does the need for qualified professionals. At the same time, the field is becoming much more specified and a higher level of education is becoming necessary to succeed. California's Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and the surrounding Bay Area has always prided itself on being environmentally progressive and contains the largest concentration of green graduate programs.... read more
Several months back I challenged all of you to “spare a square:” to reduce the amount of toilet paper you use by 50% at each sitting and to use recycled T.P. whenever possible. This challenge was met with great response.
Now I pose a new challenge: Dust off your clothespins and reduce the use of your clothes dryer! I will share some (shocking!) facts about dryer use and the environment and my personal challenge commitment. I encourage you all to post your challenge commitments and follow-up to let us know how your doing!
Ahh, the joys of summer: sunshine, no school, long days, lemonade, beaches, sandcastles, vacations... the list goes on and on. As August approaches, we are all scrambling to fit in our last summer vacations and planning our weekend day trips. This past weekend, my husband and I passed up on spending the day at a local water park or amusement park, stayed close to home, and spent the afternoon at the Guadalupe Park Rose Garden in San Jose, California.
It was great! We did not have to leave the dog at home, and better yet, we minimized the negative impact our day trip had on the environment. Some things I keep in mind as I fill in my calendar for the remainder of the summer include staying close to home to reduce gas usage. Furthermore, I try to drive during off hours which also reduces gas consumption (AND doubles the benefit by increasing the amount of time we get to spend at our destination!). When possible taking a train, bus, or other public transit is even better, though I must admit, I am not always the best at this (in my defense, the California Bay Area has awful public transportation). Biking is even better.... read more
Healthcare reform is at the forefront of the political sphere in the U.S. right now. While most of the discussion focuses on reform of the insurance industry, greening the healthcare industry is equally important. Also called sustainable medicine, green practices reduce environmental toxins, lead to overall healthy living, and can decrease total healthcare costs.
Today's economic times are leading many of us to rethink our careers. Green tech seems to be the future of the economy and an MBA in Sustainable Management seems like just the tool to catapult our careers in the right direction. But spending two years in a classroom is just not feasible if your working, have kids, or don't live close to a program. There are multiple Online ("distance learning") Green/Sustainable MBA programs, all of which vary in the focus , time spent in the classroom versus online, and time of completion. Here's a summary:
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