The SI-MBA Podcast

From a conversation recorded April 2025, hosts Apryl McCoy '25 and Haley Stevens '25, students in the University of Vermont Grossman School of Business Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program, sit down with Roma McCaig, Board Member for B Lab and Once Upon a Farm, for a wide-ranging conversation about sustainability, responsible sourcing, stakeholder-driven business, and transformati...

What happens when biomedical engineers step into the world of business? In this episode of the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) Podcast from the University of Vermont Grossman School of Business, students Cole Drozdek and William Wright share how they’re transforming analytical STEM backgrounds into purpose-driven business leadership. From navigating the transition into an MBA without prior bus...

Hosts Harrison Holmes and Elise Nam sit down with Jim Osgood—board member of 1% for the Planet and former CEO of Turtle Fur—to explore what it takes to lead purpose-driven organizations at scale. Jim shares how a problem-first mindset and systems thinking can guide smarter product development, why companies must integrate sustainability into core decision-making and metrics, and how leaders can al...

In this episode of the SI‑MBA Podcast, hosts Claire Saunders and Joanne Peacock sit down with Scott Tew, VP, & Global Head & of Sustainability Strategy at Trane Technologies, to explore how innovation in heating, cooling, and smart building systems is reshaping the future of sustainability. Scott shares how Trane is leading the charge through its ambitious Gigaton Challenge, aiming to redu...

Isabel Buenaga Levis and Cameron Gouldsit down with Emily Vogt (Class of 2019)—Director of Venture Development at CU Boulder and Board Associate for the UVM Grossman School of Business. Emily shares her winding career path from the outdoor industry to impact investing, angel networks, and ultimately deep tech venture development in the university ecosystem. Emily reflects on her SI MBA experience,...

What does sustainability really mean—and how can business be a force for good in the face of climate change, social challenges, and personal adversity? In this episode of the SIMBA Podcast, host Ben Chiappinelli sits down with Caroline Rooney, a member of the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SIMBA) Class of 2026 at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business, and Brooks Sherman, a SI-MBA al...

In this episode, we sit down with Alyssa Stankiewicz, a Sustainable Innovation MBA alum who made an unexpected leap from linguistics to a career in finance at Morningstar. Alyssa shares her journey of overcoming intimidation, embracing authentic networking, and discovering the power of capital markets to drive positive change. We talk about her experience in the Total Impact Portfolio Challenge, t...

In this episode, we sit down with Riley Nelson, Head of Sustainability at NASCAR Impact, to explore how one of America’s most iconic sports is accelerating toward a greener future. Riley shares her journey from a Sustainable Innovation MBA student to a sustainability leader in motorsports, and how NASCAR is embedding environmental responsibility with initiatives that build from the ground up by en...

In this episode of The SIMBA Podcast , Brooks Sherman and Heida Helgadottir sit down with Matt Dunne, founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation. With a career spanning Vermont politics, Google, and national public service, Matt shares how his diverse experiences shaped his mission to close the rural opportunity gap. From launching broadband initiatives to pioneering Google&a...

In this inspiring episode of the SIMBA Podcast, hosts Paige Flanagan and Elliot Stephenson sit down with acclaimed storyteller and producer Kristina Reed—whose career spans DreamWorks, Disney, and now grassroots sustainability work in Seattle. Kristina shares her journey from creating beloved animated films to leading change through textile upcycling and refugee empowerment. Together, they explore...

Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet joins the Si-MBA podcast to discuss companies' impacts on the environment and the world. It all started when founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and the founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, Craig Mathews, came up with the idea of businesses taking responsibility for their impacts on the environment. To do this, companies would donate 1% of their annual sales...

From this February 2024 interview, Alex Hausman tells us about his time working in corporate sustainability and how companies have adapted to an ever changing world. Recent regulations and AI advancements provide opportunities and pitfalls for sustainability reporting as companies feel more and more responsibility for the world around them. Alex's time at Google has also shown him how large i...

In this interview from April 2023, SI-MBA'23 students Nick Matys and Peter Dresch, sat down for a chat with Grant Garrison, Director of Sustainability at Rivian. With Nick and Peter he discusses the company's mission to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption and decarbonize transportation. Rivian produces electric pickup trucks, SUVs, and delivery vans, with a focus on making EVs both...

In this interview from May, 2023, SI-MBA'23 students Peter Dresch and Megan Kida, sat down for a chat with Chelsea Bardot Lewis (then COO) and Meghan VanStry (SI-MBA'21), Finance and Admin Manager, of Working Fields. Working Fields is a mission-driven staffing agency that helps individuals with employment barriers, such as past criminal convictions or addiction recovery, find meaningful...

Tu Rinsche has worked with multiple large companies and governments to fight against child labor in the chocolate industry. In this episode, she expands on her experience working with multiple shareholders and organizations to achieve a common goal. From a conversation recorded June 2023

SI-MBA'24 students, Nina Paus-Weiller and Courtney Cunningham, sat down with Grace Kim, CEO of GKC LLC and former Senior Managing Director of Good Worldwide, Inc., amongst many other endeavors. In this chat, they discuss perspectives on organizational change, personal growth, and social impact. Key themes include the importance of recognizing human dignity, breaking down long-term goals into...

Conversations in Sustainable Innovation The Simba Podcast, hosted by students from the 2023 cohort, including Nick Matys, Megan Kida, and Peter Dresch, introduces the University of Vermont's Sustainable Innovation MBA program. A diverse cohort of students shares a passion for using business as a force for good, focusing on climate advocacy, social justice, and sustainable practices. The podca...