<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=16i8Yc_1Go0107000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16i8Yc_1Go0107000" width="1440" height="810" ></figure>Real-World Impact Drives Grossman School of Business to the No. 1 Better World MBA in the U.S. and No. 3 WorldwideVermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont's Grossman School of Business has once again been recognized among the world's leading sustainability-focused business schools, earning a place in the global top three of Corporate Knights' 2026 Better World MBA ranking. The Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) ranked #3 worldwide among 173 MBA programs evaluated, marking the second consecutive year the program has been recognized among the top three Better World MBA programs globally. The ranking assesses how effectively business schools prepare graduates to address environmental, social, and economic challenges through business leadership. The 2026 methodology placed increased emphasis on alumni outcomes, doubling the weight assigned to alumni impact from 10 percent to 20 percent while reducing the curriculum component from 90 percent to 80 percent. Despite the more outcome-focused methodology, the Grossman School of Business improved its overall score from 73 percent to 86 percent while maintaining its position among the world's leading programs. The ranking reflects the Grossman School of Business's continued commitment to preparing leaders who can create long-term value for organizations while advancing positive outcomes for society and the environment. "This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary community that defines the Sustainable Innovation MBA," said Vikas Anand, dean of the Grossman School of Business. "What makes this achievement especially meaningful is the increased emphasis on alumni impact. Our graduates are demonstrating every day that business can be a force for positive change. Whether they are working in corporations, nonprofits, startups, government, or mission-driven organizations, they are applying what they learned in the SI-MBA to address complex challenges while creating lasting value. Remaining among the top three programs globally reflects both the strength of our curriculum and the impact of our alumni community."<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0MTdAv_1Go0107000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0MTdAv_1Go0107000" width="750" height="229" ></figure>Designed for professionals seeking to drive meaningful change through business, the one-year Sustainable Innovation MBA combines rigorous business fundamentals with systems thinking, sustainability, innovation, and experiential learning. Throughout the program, students work alongside faculty, industry leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to address real-world challenges while developing practical leadership skills. A defining feature of the SI-MBA experience is its emphasis on applied learning. The program culminates in a practicum project, where students partner with organizations to tackle complex sustainability and innovation challenges and deliver actionable recommendations with measurable impact. "This ranking reflects the intentional design of the SI-MBA experience," said Srini Venugopal, director of the Sustainable Innovation MBA program. "From the first day of the program to the final practicum presentation, students are challenged to think across disciplines, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and develop solutions that create long-term value. Our goal is not simply to teach sustainability, but to prepare graduates to lead change wherever their careers take them." The increased emphasis on graduate outcomes highlights a key strength of the Sustainable Innovation MBA. Corporate Knights evaluates the proportion of graduates working in organizations and roles focused on advancing environmental and social progress, recognizing programs whose impact extends well beyond the classroom. Grossman earned an alumni impact score of 50 percent, placing it among just six schools worldwide to achieve an alumni impact score at or above that level. The result reflects the influence of SI-MBA graduates across industries and sectors as they apply sustainable business principles to address real-world challenges. The Sustainable Innovation MBA's emphasis on impact begins the moment students enter the program and extends far beyond graduation. For Ellen Tierney, SI-MBA Class of 2026 graduate and class speaker, one of the program's defining strengths was its ability to bring together people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to address complex challenges collaboratively. "I found SI-MBA, and for the first time, I realized that maybe belonging isn't about arriving with the right background. Maybe it's about finding a community that helps you discover why your background mattered all along," said Tierney during the 2026 graduation ceremony. Tierney, whose background is in visual arts, reflected on initially questioning where she would fit within a graduate business program before discovering a community that valued diverse perspectives and equipped students to tackle complex challenges through collaboration and innovation. That sense of purpose and impact extends well beyond graduation and is reflected in the career paths SI-MBA alumni pursue long after earning their degrees. For alumnus Ben Tacka, SI-MBA Class of 2015 graduate, 2026 SI-MBA commencement speaker, and current Commercial Development Lead at Phaidra Prism, the program's influence continues to shape his professional journey more than a decade after graduation. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1o78J6_1Go0107000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1o78J6_1Go0107000" width="750" height="422" ></figure>"The SI-MBA showed me that sustainability isn't a separate function within an organization. It's a lens for understanding how business decisions create value for people, communities, and the environment. More than a decade after graduating, I still draw on the lessons I learned in the program. The experience taught me to listen first, think across stakeholders, and approach complex challenges with both optimism and practicality. Whether I'm working with organizations to improve performance or helping advance innovative solutions, I'm guided by the same mindset I developed at UVM: that meaningful change happens when strong business fundamentals are paired with a commitment to making a positive impact." Tacka's experience reflects a defining characteristic of the Sustainable Innovation MBA: graduates leave with not only a strong foundation in business strategy and leadership, but also a commitment to applying those skills in ways that create meaningful value for organizations, communities, and the environment. Today, alumni are advancing sustainable business practices across industries, helping organizations improve efficiency, strengthen resilience, and navigate complex environmental and social challenges. As organizations across sectors confront increasingly complex environmental, social, and economic challenges, demand continues to grow for leaders who can align business performance with long-term societal value. The Sustainable Innovation MBA is designed to prepare graduates for that responsibility by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to lead meaningful change. The Corporate Knights ranking reinforces the position of the Sustainable Innovation MBA among the world's leading sustainability-focused graduate business programs. It reflects not only the strength of the curriculum and experiential learning opportunities available to students, but also the growing impact of alumni who are applying sustainable business principles to create meaningful change across industries, organizations, and communities around the world. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4CKaIy_1Go0107000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4CKaIy_1Go0107000" width="750" height="422" ></figure>About the Sustainable Innovation MBA The Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) at the Grossman School of Business is an accelerated, one-year, full-time graduate program that prepares students to lead purpose-driven organizations and drive innovation in an increasingly complex world. Through immersive coursework, experiential learning opportunities, and hands-on consulting projects, students develop the knowledge and skills required to create lasting value for businesses, communities, and the environment. November 5, 2026. UVM. https://www.uvm.edu/To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists &amp; Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!</div></body>

Block Source: vermontbiz.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

Real-World Impact Drives Grossman School of Business to the No. 1 Better World MBA in the U.S. and No. 3 Worldwide. Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont's Grossman School of Business has once again been recognized among the world's leading sustainability-focused business schools, earning a place in the global top three of Corporate Knights' 2026 Better World MBA ranking.

UVM MBA program ranks #1 nationally

NewsBreak

Real-World Impact Drives Grossman School of Business to the No. 1 Better World MBA in the U.S. and No. 3 Worldwide. Vermont Business Magazine The Universit

UVM MBA program ranks #1 nationally

Comments