At the end of October, Geoff Tuff joined the Sustainable Innovation MBA students as their cohort’s first Innovator in Residence. Tuff, a Principal at Deloitte, holds various roles across the firm’s sustainability, innovation, and strategy practices, including leading the U.S. Hydrogen Practice and overseeing sustainability, climate, and equity initiatives for clients in the energy and industrial sectors.
About Geoff Tuff
Tuff began the discussion by sharing the roots of his journey. Growing up in Canada, he developed a love for the outdoors and a passion for The Grateful Dead. He pursued an undergraduate degree in environmental studies and literature at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., with aspirations of becoming a writer.
Tuff’s entry into the consulting world was unorthodox; his innovative perspectives and laid-back style helped him secure a position at Monitor Group, a mid-sized consulting firm in Boston with ties to Harvard Business School. One of Monitor’s founding members, Michael Porter, is renowned as a transformative figure in modern business, reshaping frameworks and theories that continue to influence the field.
Tuff’s work at Monitor launched his consulting career, allowing him to work with clients worldwide to transform their businesses for growth and nontraditional competition. When Deloitte acquired Monitor in 2013, Tuff chose to continue his work in strategic growth, with an added focus on sustainability and energy transitions.
Getting to Scale in the Energy Transition
Tuff sees significant economic potential in scaling renewable energy, though he acknowledges the complexity of the task. In the dynamic energy market, he predicts that achieving net zero will require a balanced approach—leveraging multiple forms of renewable energy working in harmony to effectively combat climate change.
Tuff has a way of seeing the world in what feels like a fourth dimension, urging us to view change not as linear but as “exponential.” To reach net zero, he emphasizes that society must transform its transportation, energy, and industrial systems and its building practices. “Stop debating on what works best—we need to do it all and at scale,” he stresses.
Tuff also emphasized the critical role of global collaboration in addressing climate challenges, highlighting four key areas where partnership is essential. First, developing a skilled workforce and attracting talent will be crucial to drive innovation and implementation. Second, securing financing and establishing risk mitigation strategies are necessary to support large-scale sustainable initiatives. Third, advancing technology and artificial intelligence will be pivotal in creating efficient and scalable solutions. Finally, adapting business models and shaping supportive policies will enable long-term progress and foster a regulatory environment conducive to sustainable growth.
Best-Selling Author
Tuff is now a best-selling author, collaborating with co-author Steven Goldbach. Their first book, Provoke: How Leaders Shape the Future by Overcoming Fatal Human Flaws, addresses the need for leaders to move beyond narrow and linear thinking to foster greater creativity and innovation. In their second book, Detonate: Why—and How—Corporations Must Blow Up Best Practices to Survive, they explore how businesses can fundamentally reimagine their approach to creating economic value. Soon, they will launch their latest book, Hone, which focuses on the necessity of adaptability in the face of exponential change.
The SI-MBA Innovator in Residence speaker series provides an open and intimate forum for SI-MBA students to hear from and interact with thought leaders in the socially responsible business arena. Innovators in Residence share their personal experiences drawn from work in B Corporations, sustainable development, social enterprises, impact investing, socially responsible businesses and leading nonprofits. Learn more about the SI-MBA curriculum and Innovator in Residence program and past speakers.
About the Author
Ellie Penfield-Cyr, a native of Underhill, Vermont, is currently pursuing an SI-MBA at ̽̽. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Communication and Social Advocacy from Emerson College in 2018. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Ellie gained valuable experience in nonprofit development and marketing communications.
(Photos: Dylan Wintersteen)