., Chief Sustainability Officer for leading U.S. fiber manufacturer , visited the Grossman School of Business (GSB) on October 6, 2023 for the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program's monthly Innovator in Residence series which bring leaders and trailblazers in sustainable business to campus in Burlington, VT. In this series, SI-MBA students hav the opportunity to hear real stories of triumphs and setbacks, ask thoughtful and engaging questions, and grow their network with some of the most prominent thinkers and doers in the space.
Over the last 30+ years, George has been at the forefront of executing the comprehensive concepts and practices of sustainability for multinational corporations and NGO’s working for a brighter future for all. Throughout his career, he served as the head of circular economy at Amazon; chief sustainability officer for Mohawk Industries; vice president of sustainability for Interface, where he worked under the leadership of the visionary sustainability leader Ray Anderson; and the sustainability officer for the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
George talked with SI-MBA students about his work with Darling Fibers, which is known for cutting-edge and innovative market leading sustainable solutions for the fiber, packaging, non-woven and fashion industry. He shared insights, noting that he was in the ‘giving season’ of his career to our MBA students who are at the starts of their journeys. George talked about listening to and respecting lessons from nature as we look to solve our biggest social and environmental challenges. He also emphasized how it’s important to seek out and hear from those who have opposite views to better understand their perspectives as you formulate your own arguments, along with the importance of taking time to celebrate the victories achieved while doing this difficult work — something he mentioned he wished he had learned earlier in his career.
George covered many other topics during his talk. SI-MBA students were grateful for the time, wisdom, and inspiration George shared, and look forward to having him back on-campus in the future.