What's New in 2023 at Georgetown McDonough?
Sustainability is One of the Pillars of the MBA Curriculum
The McDonough School is founded on the idea that students should take action to protect the vulnerable, address societal problems, and promote the greater good. This goal has evolved into one of longevity for McDonough. Creating practices that safeguard natural resources while also balancing economic development with fair treatment for all. As a result, the school has made sustainability one of the pillars of its MBA curriculum.
More Than a Dozen Sustainability-Driven Courses
In previous years, the school introduced the Business of Sustainability Initiative, a collection of initiatives spanning from sustainability-related research to collaborative projects bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and academics. This year, McDonough is offering a Masters of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Management and a Certificate in Sustainable Business. Students can even participate in the Sustainable Business Scholars program, which introduces them to thought leaders and best practices in the industry.
All CEOs are Talking About Sustainability
According to Prashant Malaviya, McDonough’s vice dean of programs, all CEOs are talking about sustainability. Sustainability and sustainable business practices have tremendous opportunity for innovation and creating competitive advantage. He goes on to say that sustainability is the “duty of every citizen on the planet.” Sustainability is the future. It does not only align with McDonough’s jesuit values, but also provides MBAs with an edge in the marketplace and greater influence once they get in the door. Sustainability is gaining momentum — and is a wide-open space filled with possibilities.
“We went from interesting to must-have status, I feel, in the last 24 months,” Malaviya says. “And so with a must-have status in the market, people are still figuring out what the disciplines are and the roles and the responsibilities that are required. And I think business schools like Georgetown taking the initiative to start to really kind of mold these programs together is a really good thing, because I need more talent at my business. Every customer that I talk to, ranging from Goldman Sachs to Tishman Speyer, needs more talent. The demand for ESG expertise is outrageous right now.”
Meeting More Industry Influencers
McDonough's location is ideal for meeting industry influencers and making an impression. The institution is in Washington, DC, which gives students access to the government, policymakers, policy regulators, lawyers, and diplomats — the entire network, where many talks about sustainability take place. The people who have the capacity to either nudge companies in a certain direction or provide incentives to advance in another direction.
Aiming to Become More Global
Dean Paul Almeida outlined four main goals for the future years. The first is related to McDonough's reputation for global business and foreign affairs expertise. The school is well-known for its mandatory Global Business Experience, in which students are assigned to a company and country. Students spend a semester traveling to nations such as Germany, Morocco, and Chile to learn about local business methods and deliver a business case to senior executives. McDonough is renowned as the School of Foreign Service, but plans are in the works to provide additional opportunities for students to learn further about specific countries.
A Leader in Faculty Research
Furthermore, according to Almeida, McDonough plans to be a leader in faculty research by 2027, "not just into programs, but into the culture, into the ethos." For example, students in their first year are expected to complete a social project. Students will now learn how to walk in someone else's shoes, see the world through someone else's eyes, and examine how business and management can address larger issues, rather than simply stating the problems of society. This is how McDonough intends to incorporate their beliefs into the students' mindset.
“Fields of the Future” Program Initiative
Finally, McDonough will launch a "Fields of the Future" initiative that will prioritize study and instruction based on "what students need to know" rather than what faculty and staff know. To accomplish this, the school will provide incentives for faculty and staff to seek education in these areas, the first two of which are Business and Global Affairs and Sustainability.
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