Students from the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ (¶¶Òõ̽̽) Grossman School of Business (Grossman School) had the opportunity to engage with Roger McClendon, executive director, , as part of the Innovator in Residence speaker series. The 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.
Engagement and Hands-On Learning
During his visit, Roger shared his professional journey that has taken him from being a McDonald’s high school all-American high school basketball player, to the first-ever chief sustainability officer at YUM! Brands and eventually to his current role. His illustrious athletic career and dedication to driving positive change across diverse corporate sectors laid the groundwork for his work where he guides the nonprofit in leveraging the power of sport to drive sustainability on a global scale.
Roger facilitated an engaging exercise, splitting the cohort into groups assigned to different host cities for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Roger challenged students to design initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and enhance sustainability, and were tasked with developing strategies, measurement frameworks, and funding plans, reflecting real-world challenges faced by organizations like the Green Sports Alliance.
About Roger McClendon
Roger’s first love was basketball. After a standout high school career, Roger chose the University of Cincinnati for their first-of-its-kind Co-op program in engineering and became a second all-time in scoring only behind the great Oscar Robertson. Roger forewent opportunities to go pro to pursue a career in engineering. He landed in Louisville, Kentucky, at Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, etc.), where he honed his problem-solving skills and quickly became recognized as a top engineer in the company.
Roger’s entry into the field of sustainability came naturally- as an engineer, implementing sustainable solutions to company problems was just common sense. As the first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer at Yum!, Roger created Blueline, a building design guide based on LEED certification that now includes more than 5,000 Yum! restaurants worldwide. Before retiring from Yum!, his parting gifts were the company being named for the first time to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.
Roger McClendon's visit left a lasting impression on the SI-MBA cohort. It deepened their understanding of sports' role in driving sustainable change and provided an example of navigating a diverse career path to emerge as a sustainability leader. His presentation and the immersive exercise empowered students to confront sustainability challenges creatively. The SI-MBA program extends its gratitude to Roger for enriching the academic experience and inspiring future leaders in sustainable innovation!
Learn more about the Sustainable Innovation MBA and Innovator in Residence speaker series.