University at Buffalo School of Management

12 Buffalo Business | According to Ananth Iyer, dean of the School of Management, faculty research is playing a crucial role in provid- ing businesses with the data needed to adapt and build climate resiliency. "As consumers demand action and as businesses across every industry reassess the impact of the environment on their business and their carbon footprint, our faculty research and data equip businesses with knowledge to align climate and financial goals," says Iyer. AI-powered solutions Shayna Arrington, JD/MBA '11, chief risk officer at Servbank, recently attended the American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking Conference, where a panel discussed what it will take to lead effectively in a new era of banking that includes generative AI, all while address- ing regulatory pressures. Iyer From classroom to community How one UB MBA helped a local company reduce climate risk M atthew Mullens, MBA '25, selected the UB Carbon Reduction Challenge, a seminar-style course, as a way to combine his business acumen with his passion for sustainability. "I saw the course as an opportunity to refine leadership skills, build a rapport with a client and make a real impact in the community," says Mullens. In the course, students collaborate directly with companies to design, pitch and implement creative strategies, aimed at guiding companies toward reducing their carbon footprint. "Through these projects, students don't just learn — they create real-world impact by developing action plans that drive positive change in our community," says Ryan McPherson, UB chief sustainability officer, who co-teaches the course with Elizabeth K. Thomas, associate professor of earth sciences. Mullens and a teammate, Zedechiah Tingiecieh, a master's student from the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, worked with the Lexington Cooperative Market — Buffalo's largest community owned grocery store. The goals were to help the company reduce environmental risks, add value for consumers and co-op members, and make meaningful environmental impacts without compromising financial health of the store's Hertel Avenue location. The students began by visiting the market to understand its carbon footprint and sustainability goals, followed by a comprehensive review of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions — the classification system for greenhouse gases. We provided the Lexington Co-op with a climate action plan and a simple carbon emissions calculator to estimate the footprint of products sold to help the organization understand and track future impact. MATTHEW MULLENS, MBA '25

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