Inside the Net Impact Boston Summit: a Recap by Bentley Junior, Christina Clune Persichetti

Last Friday, February 9th, I attended the Net Impact Summit hosted by Boston University. Net Impact is a non-profit organization that acts as a community for students and professionals focused on “using their skills and careers to drive transformational social and environmental change.” The keynote speaker Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine worked to find a way to turn one of the worst neighborhoods in America in to a home for urban garden development. Ritz was able to use his vision to provide fresh produce to a concrete neighborhood, educate and excite students about gardening, and provide the students with job prospects post-graduation. Ritz used very limited resources to make a positive social and environmental impact, and inspired the rest of the attendees to make their own impact while pursuing their careers.

Besides multiple inspiring keynote speakers, there were several panels of professionals from all different types of impact business. From portfolio managers, to artificial intelligence firm owners, to nonprofit coalition members, there was a plethora of information to learn and connections to make. The best thing about business aimed at making a social or environmental impact is that everyone in the industry is passionate about their work, and do all they can to help others just starting in the industry. ESG, SRI, CSR- call it what you want, but at the end of the day it’s a community full of individuals and firms hoping to leave the world a better place than the way they found it through their work each and every day. Our Net Impact chapter at Bentley is working to support business students who hope to gear their career towards societal and environmental enhancement. Hopefully more students will be able to discover this wonderful community and gain additional satisfaction and impact from their work each and every day.

If you’re interested in learning more about Net Impact and our undergraduate chapter here at Bentley, join Students for Sustainable Business towards the beginning of March for an introductory and informational session!

-Christie Clune Persichetti, Bentley Class of 2019

By Jennifer Graham
Jennifer Graham Associate Director, Undergraduate Career Development, Pulsifer Career Development Center