Bard MBA NYCLab

How Does NYCLab Work?

Teams engage in consultancies for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. The course runs two full semesters, from August through May. Teams develop and negotiate a project agreement with clients that defines the scope of work, project deliverables, deadlines, and expectations for communication and information sharing.

Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York www.bard.edu/mba

What Types of Projects?

Bard MBA selects substantive projects with sustainability-related business problems. Clients

MBA CONSULTING PROGRAM

range from entrepreneurial start-ups to established Fortune 500 companies, to nonprofit and governmental organizations. Projects cover strategy, operations, finance, marketing, and supply chain management.

As a Student, What Will I Learn?

Bard MBA students learn project management, issue disaggregation and problem solving, client management and communication, team dynamics and leadership, and the value and limitations of a consultant. They are matched with projects based on a number of factors, including student preference, skills, and team size. Throughout the course of the consultancy, students gain confidence in their ability to manage projects, solve business problems, communicate effectively, and work in teams. They are taught Agile consulting techniques, research skills, meeting management and client presentation techniques, Pyramid Principle, and SWOT analysis.

As a Client, What Is Expected of Me? Clients designate a primary contact to liaise with the student consulting team. The contact provides students with the information and guidance needed to effectively complete the project. The time commitment depends on the scope as outlined in the project agreement. Student teams use Agile consulting methodology. Through regular project updates and client verification and validation, results evolve organically over the course of the year as student teams and clients together come to understand what is most valuable. This means: • Clients receive initial results by January, with the final deliverables and presentation due by the end of May. • Clients spend 30 to 60 minutes twice a month with students, reviewing their early deliverables and modifying the project as needed.

Is There a Fee? There is no fee for first-time NYCLab clients.

Student consulting teams receive small stipends to cover incidental expenses.

NYCLAB

LEARN MORE To submit a project proposal or learn more about the NYCLab consulting program at Bard MBA in Sustainability, e-mail nyclab@bard.edu, or go to www.bard.edu/mba.

Photos: ©COOKFOX Architects and Pete Mauney ‘93, MFA ‘00

The Bard MBA in Sustainability is one of a select few graduate programs globally

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL (CDi)

that fully integrates sustainability into a core business curriculum. Students learn

CDi is a development-focused nonprofit organi-

to build businesses and nonprofit organizations that simultaneously pursue economic, environmental, and social objectives—the integrated bottom line— to create a healthier, more sustainable world.

zation aiming to create strong, healthy, and collaborative urban and rural communities through holistically designed programs for a more prosperous, harmonious, and equitable global future. The Bard MBA team conducted a market analysis for

In Bard’s unique NYCLab course, MBA students complete a yearlong professional

organic biomass briquettes that included identify-

consultancy in the first year of their business program. Over two semesters,

ing a potential customer base for organic artisanal

MBA students work with corporate, governmental, and nonprofit organizations to solve sustainability-related business problems. These small teams, mentored

by MBA faculty, are assigned clients based on students’ interests and abilities.

biochar briquettes, and analyzing comparable products and markets, and top prospective buyers.

COOKFOX ARCHITECTS—TERRAPIN BRIGHT GREEN COOKFOX Architects and Terrapin Bright Green are architectural and environmental consulting firms, respectively, based in New York City. The

FEATURED PROJECTS

NYCLAB

MBA CONSULTING PROGRAM

Bard MBA team helped each company evaluate its

UNILEVER

UBS

Unilever produces consumer goods for more

UBS is a global firm providing financial services

than 400 brands including Ben & Jerry’s, Lipton,

to private, corporate, and institutional clients. It

Dove, and St. Ives. As part of the Unilever

is present in all major financial centers and has

Sustainable Living Plan, the company asked the

offices in more than 50 countries. The Bard

Bard MBA team to identify cost-effective and

MBA team (1) assessed investment banking (IB)

regional renewable energy storage solutions.

engagement strategies among financial institu-

Tasks included research for sustainable energy

tions, (2) explored rationales for an environmen-

technology, cost analysis, and the development

tal and social risk engagement strategy in an IB

of business and supply chain models.

context, and (3) developed criteria and success factors for effective client engagement.

LOCKHEED MARTIN Lockheed Martin is a research, design, devel-

HUDSON SOLAR

opment, manufacturing, and integration of

Hudson Solar is a New York–based business

advanced technology systems company in the

that designs and installs solar energy systems

aerospace, defense, security, and advanced tech-

for residential, commercial, agricultural, and

nology sectors. The Bard MBA team analyzed

municipal nonprofit organizations. The Bard

the challenges and opportunities in the Socially

MBA team conducted market research to iden-

Responsible Investing space, including insights

tify and analyze potential market segments for

into stakeholders as well as the criteria for, and

new photovoltaic technology solutions. Students

impact of, including or excluding important

identified key customer motivators as well as

companies from the sustainability conversation.

the needs and requirements for each segment;

By focusing on Lockheed Martin’s sustainability

compared the economics, benefits, and capabil-

assets, products, and services, the team helped

ities of innovative new technologies; and made

define the sustainability value proposition for

recommendations for marketing strategy.

stakeholders.

own sustainability. Activities included cost-benefit analysis, developing a timeline and strategy for improving sustainability, and creating a system to track and report internal progress.

TRANSITCENTER TransitCenter is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting the use of public transportation and other sustainable transportation alternatives in an effort to reduce traffic congestion, preserve the environment, and promote more livable communities. The Bard MBA team researched the sustainable transportation landscape and proposed strategies for TransitCenter to maximize its outreach efforts.

METROPOLITAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (MWA) brings business and civic groups together to help transform New York and New Jersey’s waterways into cleaner, more accessible spaces for the public to enjoy. The Bard MBA team worked with MWA to develop sustainable policy platforms, waterfront sustainability benchmarking reports, and sustainability financing strategies for the organization.