Students Design ‘Warehouse of the Future’ at Leeds Sustainability Case Competition
Graduate students put their problem-solving skills to the test at this year's Leeds Sustainability Case Competition.
UCLA Anderson School of Management's Sustain Chain Solutions won first place, receiving $10,000.
Thirty-one teams from across the country converged at the Leeds School of Business on Jan. 31 to envision the "Warehouse of the Future."
Hosted by the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR), the annual Leeds Sustainability Case Competition challenged graduate students to pitch sustainable business solutions to industry sponsor .
Students were tasked with helping thedigital and physical asset management companydesign sustainable, physical spaces to house information in an evolving technological landscape, taking into consideration legal, regulatory and reporting requirements.
The event provided a platform for teams from С Boulder, UCLA, University of California Berkeley, Duke University and other leading institutions to test their skills in a realistic business environment. Participants were tasked with designing sustainable warehouse concepts, which ranged from file digitization and embedded carbon in construction to using mycelium for insulation.
First place: Sustain Chain Solutions, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Second place: Project Evergreen, University of Rochester Simon Business School
Third place: Lean Clean Consulting Machine, University of Rochester Simon Business School
Finalists: Savvy Sustainable Strategists, University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management; and Warehouse Grounds Group, University of Washington Foster School of Business
Beyond the competition
While the competition is a test of strategy, it also emphasizes the private sector's role in addressing global environmental challenges.
“The private sector is fundamental if we’re going to be meaningfully addressing climate change or biodiversity loss or any of the huge environmental issues that we are facing today,” said Alex Hamman, a Master's of the Environment student who competed on one of С Boulder’s teams. “We need to know how to dialogue with people who don't share the same educational background as us and still be able to find common ground.”
In addition to pitching their ideas, students had the opportunity to network with peers, faculty and competition partners, including Janus Henderson Investors.
“We think it’s great to see what the next generation thinks about, cares about and to make sure that they’re coming in with this mindset of ‘business isn’t just about profits,’” said Demesha Hill, head of diversity and community relations at Janus Henderson Investors and president of the Janus Henderson Foundation. “You can make profits and you can also protect the environment. You can make profits and you can do it in a way that’s right for humanity.”
Kristi Ryujin, associate dean for graduate programs, noted that the competition aligns with the university's broader mission. "This case competition is just one example of the many hands-on experiences that CESR offers to students throughout the year to advance our business school’s vision of elevating business as a force for good in a rapidly changing world," Ryujin said.
"Here at С Boulder, sustainability is the number one priority for our chancellor, and it is a key priority here at Leeds."