Featured Panelists:
Lee Addams: Practice Expert / Engagement Manager in McKinsey & Company.
Dan Bena: Director of Sustainability, Health, Safety, and Environment for PepsiCo.
Peter Karlen: Vice President of EarthWater Global, LLC.
Sharon Nunes: Vice President of Big Green Innovations in IBM Systems & Technology Group.
Michael Dworkin: Director of the Institute for Energy and the Environment and Professor of Law (Moderator).
The water panel engaged the audience on a very difficult yet timely question of how business leaders should think about water scarcity. The panelist presented some of the multidimensional implications that water shortage has imposed on topics related to global health, food security, energy calamity, among other things. But they also shared their insights on how these auxiliary concerns along with the main issue of water shortage can be overcome with the right combination of talent, innovation, and partnership.
The panel represented companies that deal with water issues in vastly different ways. For example, Dan shared how PepsiCo, though not a big user of water from an operational perspective, is concerned about water from supply management perspective. Sharon provided a completely different viewpoint for IBM, which does not provide any goods related to water, but utilizes large amount of water in its operations. Peter of EarthWater demonstrated how innovation has allowed his company to deliver water from previously untapped sources to developing countries in a cost-effective manner. Lee shared how McKinsey advises business institutions and regulatory agencies on innovative ways to navigate within and tackle the water issue. And Professor Dworkin brought to light the interconnectedness of water and energy issues how these problems cannot be viewed in isolation. Though the panel highlighted different vantage points, the panelists were all in agreement that the situation can be improved if we act quickly, intelligently, and collaboratively to solve this pressing issue.
To read more about the topic, please find below the resources mentioned on the panel:
http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/water_management/ideas/
http://earthwaterglobal.com/documentary.htm
http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/water/charting_our_water_future.aspx
http://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Environment/Water.html
http://www.circleofblue.org/
http://www.globescan.com/
http://www.sustainability.com/
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth’s Business & Society Conference brings together leaders from a wide range of fields to discuss the important role that business leaders can play in creating a more sustainable world.
Water shortage is both a crisis and an opportunity. For most people it is a crisis but for entrepreneurs it is an opportunity to build new business. It is also an opportunity basically for innovation which most people will later benefit. My great influence, Michael Geffrard is a successful finance professional. He inspires me to think critically in crisis management. I see things positively to attract positive results. I know sometimes it is stressful to make a negative, a positive but if you have a great idol like Michael Geffrard you’d always have something beautiful running in your mind.
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