NHH students tackle nature-related risk
CEMS students at NHH got hands-on experience with sustainability when Deloitte hosted a seminar on nature-related risk and business development.
Two consultants from Deloitte, a case assignment, six group tables in the Aula, and countless cups of coffee set the stage for an interactive session on how businesses are linked to nature and sustainability.
"It’s great to be part of a seminar where we get to apply theory in a practical way," says Mäe Vernet. The Canadian-born student is currently pursuing her master’s degree at NHH and is one of 27 CEMS students taking part in the seminar. "On top of that, we get a real insight into a consultant’s everyday work and how they approach challenges," she adds.
Vernet moved from Montreal to Bergen after being persuaded by four Norwegian students she shared an apartment with during an exchange in Singapore.
Understanding business in nature’s context
Vernet’s group of five students was tasked with assessing renewable energy projects, including a wind power initiative in Sri Lanka and a solar park in Germany. By applying the LEAP methodology developed by TNFD, the students worked on recommendations to the fictitious client.
"When the students have completed the seminar, I want them to have a stronger understanding of the relationship between business and nature, and how this is directly linked to economics," says Tora Lindheim, Nature Lead in Deloitte’s sustainability team. "This connection will only grow in importance, as nature comes under increasing pressure and businesses face greater uncertainty in the natural resources they depend on," she adds.
Reward that outweighs the effort
Today’s seminar is one of eight that students take part in during their year in the CEMS program. The topics vary, but all are hosted by CEMS corporate partners. In this way, students gain first-hand knowledge of global companies and the people working in them. "I find the seminars and the other learning opportunities to be an enormous enrichment. Pursuing CEMS involves extra work because you do it alongside a regular master’s degree, but the benefits are so significant that it’s absolutely worth the effort," says Vernet.
Advice for tomorrow’s leaders
Lindheim believes sustainability now holds a far more central place in companies than it did just a few years ago. She points out that this is the result of both regulatory requirements and the expectations of investors and other stakeholders.
She has one piece of advice for future leaders:
"The most important thing is simply to get started – not to try to take on all the complexity at once – and then work systematically on improvements as the insight grows," she says.