The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business empowers our students to become principled leaders and innovative thinkers poised to create lasting positive change.
Kristinko Mato ’24 helped Ithaca landlords switch to clean energy and reduce expenses for low-income renters. Heather Henyon MBA ’03 champions female entrepreneurs through her firm Mindshift Capital. Professor Todd Schmit conducted research that proved the viability of farm-to-school food programs. The examples are endless.
Our students and faculty members make positive impacts in communities near and far through research and community-centered learning. After graduation, our alumni tackle big challenges by joining—or founding—mission-driven organizations that use business as a force for good.
The directive is clear. The time is now for business schools to drive societal change.
“The world is changing at an ever-accelerating pace, delivering unprecedented societal challenges. Business education must not only address those emerging challenges, but must do so considering the impact on people and the planet at the forefront.”
— Andrew Karolyi, Charles Field Knight Dean, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Each each month’s blog Dean Karolyi shares his insights, reflections, and announcements about the many ways that our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are making an impact around the world.
United by a shared ethos of engagement and driven by mottos that embody impact, our three iconic schools make their mark on society in many ways.
“Our Business Is a Better World”
A hallmark of the Dyson School academic experience is the Grand Challenges program. This multiyear endeavor culminates with a capstone project that aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“Life Is Service”
A pioneer in hospitality business education, the Nolan School continually finds new ways to bring about positive change in the industry. Examples include using technology to develop more sustainable business practices and conducting research about food access.
“Turn Ambition into Impact”
With funded fellowship and leadership development programs, the Johnson School empowers its students to become purpose-driven professionals. Immersive learning opportunities often partner students with local and global organizations.
Every student at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is encouraged, if not required, to complete a community-based learning experience. An ideal example of the Engaged College Initiative is the Dyson School’s Grand Challenges, a four-year program rooted in doing business for good.
These are just a few of the many stories about the impact of our research on society.
Cornell professor Kaitlin Woolley ’12, found that people gauge goal progress more by enjoyment than time spent.
Romance is usually the topic on Valentine’s Day, but financial conversations offer lasting benefits in long-term relationships.
For much of the postwar era, the world bet that open markets and shared rules would deliver stability and prosperity. Maybe not.
Industry involvement. Community engagement. Expert opinion. For many scholars, service is second nature. Our faculty members serve on boards, advise civic organizations, and contribute their expertise to the media.
Our faculty are cited in more than 15,000 media stories annually.
Nine of our faculty advise civic commissions and councils.
Our faculty hold 89 seats on corporate and nonprofit boards.
In 2023, our faculty participated in 459 research collaborations across 160 cities and 32 countries. They published 250 articles in scholarly journals. Our Research with Impact report highlights and celebrates these accomplishments. In our faculty videos, our researchers share how their scholarly work connects to the world.
Our Cross-University Research Collaborations connect faculty from across Cornell to solve complex societal problems with innovation.
Some examples:
Each C&I is a hub of rich learning with a distinct vision and purpose. Individually they provide students with community engagement, and collectively they serve as an expansive ecosystem of societal impact.
Our Centers and Institutes connect students, faculty, community, and knowledge in the most surprising ways.
Integrating happiness research into courses ranging from macroeconomics to electives can benefit students, according to Johnson School professor.
New research from SC Johnson College examined how the arrival of inventors in U.S. counties influenced the growth of startups from 2000-2016.
The winning team’s reimagining of the traditional hotel bar features kava- and CBD-infused cocktails.
Hundreds of business leaders, industry experts, and other inspirational professionals visit campus each year for speaking engagements or to help shape our programs by serving on advisory boards.
industry leaders and speakers share their expertise annually.
executives serve as members of our invitation-only C&I advisory boards.
Experts in policy, business, and governance regularly visit our campus, to stimulate and inform discussions about responsible business.
The Lewis H. Durland Lecture provides a major address by a distinguished leader, impacting the world of business for the better. Established in 1983, the lecture is in memory of Lewis H. Durland, Class of 1930, who served as Cornell’s chief financial officer for more than 25 years.
The 2025 Durland Lecture featured private equity pioneer Henry Kravis in conversation with SC Johnson College dean Andrew Karolyi. Read about their discussion here.
David J. BenDaniel Ethics Lecture in Business Ethics was established and endowed in 2010 to emphasize ethical business leadership and commitment to educate moral leaders. David BenDaniel was the on and Margi Berens Professor of Entrepreneurship and professor of management and is fondly known as the Cornell entrepreneurship founding father.
The 2025 Ben Daniel Lecture featured Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, in discussion with Andrew Karolyi and Colleen Barry. Read about their discussion here.
SC Johnson College of Business Faculty Panel was launched at the formation of the SC Johnson College, to bring together faculty from the Johnson, Dyson, and Nolan schools to showcase and discuss their work on the major business and policy issues of the day. Last year’s panel focused on Business, and Values, Leadership and Business. Read about the 2025 Faculty Panel here.
Cornell Convenes Roundtables were begun in 2022. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business hosts in-person roundtables of leading practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to address society’s most pressing challenges and impactful topics. Participants engage in expert presentations followed by open discussion observing the Chatham House Rule. Read Cornell Convenes Roundtable Reports here.
On March 25, 2024, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce and SC Johnson College Dean shared informed, and sometimes opposed, perspectives in their talk “Finance, Regulation, and the Role of the Market.” Student leaders from across the political spectrum contributed insights to the discussion.
Our core values of inclusion and impact intersect as we develop innovative solutions to pressing local and global issues. Diversity initiatives across our three schools aim to close equity gaps in education, industry, and the world at large.
We take our land grant mission across the globe, encouraging collaboration and entrepreneurship that creates sustainable, shared prosperity. Here’s how we do it:
The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business was proud to host Responsible Management Education (RME) Week 2025, June 9-13 at the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City. Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), in collaboration with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Responsible Research in Business and Management (RRBM) Network, and EFMD Global, all convened their annual conferences during this transformative week, with leaders from academia, business, the public sector, and student communities.
Explore how we’re turning ambition into impact every day. Cornell Business News showcases the experiences and achievements of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners, and friends.
For more information about efforts and initiatives related to societal impact, contact the Office of External Relations and Engagement or Linda Barrington, associate dean for strategy and societal impact.