Speakers at the March 24 Sustainability as a Solution to Global Challenges Conference called for change to meet the challenge of sustainability. Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and dean of the Jindal School, began by discussing the topic’s importance and also the difficulty in achieving it. In one example, he pointed out that in Germany, power plants are now being reinstated. “We have to think about the social and public implications of the actions we take,” Pirkul said.

Presented by the Naveen Jindal School of Management of The University of Texas at Dallas in partnership with the Ann & Jack Graves Foundation, the conference emphasised the Jindal School’s commitment to not only prepare students to be industry leaders, but to shape the world in which they will live.

The two-day event at the Student Union brought together scholars, practitioners, policymakers and students to discuss sustainability, corporate social responsibility and global entrepreneurship.

Navid Hanif, assistant secretary-general of economic development in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, spoke virtually about financing inclusive growth. He shared the UN’s Common Agenda, which focuses not only on sustainability in delivering global public goods, but goals such as human rights, management of critical global communications and equitability.

Dr. Habte Woldu, a co-chair of the conference and director of the Global Sustainability Initiative at JSOM, introduced Mike Redeker, MBA’97, MS’01, administrator of the Ann and Jack Graves Charitable Foundation, who moderated the second session. Woldu commented later, “This is the beginning of a larger discussion of sustainability that has been long overdue. We are able to bring a speaker from the UN. The companies here are serious about being a part of the solution; businesses have their obligations, but there is also the obligation to the world.”

Dr. Mike Peng, a conference co-chair, executive director of the Center for Global Business and the O.P. Jindal Distinguished Chair at the Jindal School, said he hopes this is just the beginning for UT Dallas and the sustainability community.

Dr. Dorothée Honhon, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and a professor in the Operations Management Area at the Jindal School, spoke about the school’s locally successful initiatives. The University has eight LEED certified buildings, extensive composting and is implementing more electric vehicle charging stations. Another goal is to become single-use plastic free.

Hubert Zydorek, a co-chair of the conference and director of the Center for Global Business at the Jindal School, praised this focus on local issues in addition to global ones. “It’s encouraging when you hear about how the students are motivated to change the campus through sustainability initiatives,” he said. “You even had the mayor of Richardson participating this morning, even though he has many things to do as he wraps up his time in office.”

Peter Greer, president and CEO of HOPE International, spoke virtually. “I am so inspired by the entrepreneurs around the world,” Green said of those who turn limited resources into successful results. “Just because people are in poverty does not mean they are not very capable.”

In the third session, Bhushan Joshi, head of sustainability and corporate responsibility at Ericsson in North America, said his company’s multilayered plan for sustainability includes expanding connectivity. When you are connected, he said, “it’s a matter of “actually having the skills to leverage the power of connectivity,” the next step. Increasing STEM education programs at many levels and improving opportunities for women in STEM are also key to Ericsson’s sustainability goals, Joshi said.

Subjects of other sessions ranged from sustainability in higher education to overcoming supply chain challenges.

At the conference’s conclusion, Woldu said the success of the conference lay in not only addressing the challenge of sustainability, but creating an interface between academics, corporate leaders and professionals. This interface helps support the role of UT Dallas as a global solutions driver.

“From the outcome of the conference,” Woldu said, “it is fair to conclude that all human beings who care about the sustainability of the planet should evaluate the societal, economic and environmental set objectives and their actions, whether as individuals, organisations or nations. We learned from the speakers that, as a society, if we seek to have an impact on the current global turmoil, our approach should be holistic, i.e., our thoughts and actions should address the social, economic and environmental objectives.”