Connected for Better
AACSB connects business schools, industry, nonprofits, and government to drive positive societal change in the world.
AACSB Accelerators
“Business cannot be a bystander in a system that gives it life.”
—Paul Polman and Andrew Winston
To solve society’s global challenges requires new thinking and leadership skills as businesses shift to a triple bottom line that includes people, profit, planet.
AACSB Accelerators bring together diverse groups of leaders in an immersive, online experience over a three-month period. Participants learn from each other and contribute to a larger body of knowledge and thought leadership that rapidly builds the societal impact leadership framework and competency structure. At the end of an accelerator, participants benefit by:
- Gaining a deeper understanding of their organization’s strategy for societal impact and how to achieve it.
- Engaging with Advisory Circle members that bring unique expertise in emotional intelligence, social capital, and related perspectives to innovate thinking and ideation.
- Building Societal Impact Leader competencies.
- Developing strong and lasting relationships with other passionate senior leaders.
- Expanding perspectives on societal issues and having renewed energy and a sense of purpose.
- Imagining new possibilities for systemic change initiatives and future collaborations.
Explore the outputs from each accelerator as AACSB works alongside societal impact leaders to design the next approach to business leadership.
Who Participates in AACSB Accelerators?
Leaders of large multinational corporations, social enterprises, nonprofits, governments, and business schools, including:
- Heads of organizations that lead strategy for sustainability, environmental, and social issues (chief executives, presidents, vice presidents, board members)
- Chief learning officers and heads of training and talent development
- Heads of human resources and recruitment
- Student organizations
- Student leaders
- Government leaders
- Business school deans
Accelerator Two
- Erik B. Foley, Director, Center for the Business of Sustainability, Penn State Smeal College of Business
- Manuela Brusoni, Associate Professor of Practice of Government, Health and Not for Profit, SDA Bocconi School of Management
- Roel Beetsma, Dean, University of Amsterdam Faculty of Economics & Business
- Jan Beyne, Researcher Sustainable Transformation Lab, University of Antwerp
- Elena Beleska-Spasova, Pro-Dean for Education and Innovation, University of Reading Henley Business School
- Henry Bradford, Associate Dean, IE University, IE Business School
- Randall Bass, VP Strategic Education Initiatives & Professor, Georgetown University
- Steven Cady, Director, Doctorate Program in OD&C, Bowling Green State University, Schmidthorst College of Business
- Shona Quinn, Director, Social Consciousness, Eileen Fisher
- Joel Hollenbeck, VP of Sales & Partnership, Wiley
- Rohan Nipuge, Young Impact Leader, UC Denver
- Sophia Rodriguez, Young Impact Leader, National 4 H Council
- Leia Ross, Young Impact Leader, Appalachian State University
- Daius Steiner, Young Impact Leader, Simon Fraser University & Re_Generation
Accelerator One
- Michiel Bakker, Vice President, Global Workplace Programs, Google
- Jan-Willem Vosmeer, Global Manager, Sustainable Development & Stakeholder Engagement, Heineken
- Erik Thrasher, VP Strategic Partnership & Global Lead DE&I Publishing, Wiley
- Olivia Scriven, Federal Disaster Recovery Officer, FEMA
- Steve Kappler, President, Enactus
- Katie Pedley, Director R&D Liaison, Global Higher Education, ETS
- Austin Okere, Founder and Vice Chairman, CWG Plc
- Dr. Kristin Joys, Chair, Teaching & Curriculum Innovation, B Academics
- Heather MacCleoud, Chief Network Officer, Ashoka U, Ashoka
Imagine an opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a fun learning experience. You are with the coolest, most inspiring group of people you can imagine, and you have a sense of both purpose and freedom in the time you spend together. In short, you are back at summer camp. You will contribute to a community of learning that is sharing in how to make the world a better place in the most meaningful ways, by the way you and your organization act in the world. You will learn incredible lifelong lessons, and you will leave each session feeling energized and ready to face the challenges that you encounter as you try to have a positive impact on society in a complex landscape. I cannot recommend this Accelerator enough.
Not only did we explore how to reimagine the future of business school education—one focused on social impact, sustainability, and regeneration—leveraging the power of business as a force for good, truly benefitting people, the planet, and prosperity... the carefully curated series of workshops & working groups illuminated potentials & possibilities for our own organizations & leadership journeys. I now find myself more aligned with a sense of purpose & meaning, and more clear about my path forward, educating & empowering the next generation of leaders & changemakers.
Being part of this accelerator was enlightening for me both personally and professionally. The process allowed me to really look deep at who I am as a leader, and what I want to do moving forward to maximize the impact I have on people and the planet. The group and the discussions were incredibly motivating, and really got to the heart of what is needed to be a societal impact leader. In a career spent helping people achieve educational and workplace success, this is some of the most rewarding work I have done.
