Amber Wright, a second-year Master of Environmental Management (MEM) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) concurrent degree student, recently shared insights into why she's pursuing concurrent degrees, advice for students considering the concurrent degree path and her favorite memory so far.

Why did you choose to pursue a concurrent degree with the MEM?

The decision to pursue an MEM/MBA concurrent degree was driven by my experience working as a contract analyst in healthcare, particularly involvement in an environmental, social and governance (ESG) workgroup focused on waste reduction. Directly collaborating with the sustainability director highlighted that to be effective in working in a corporate sustainability you need advocacy skills for change, ability to educate business leaders on sustainability importance, and financial analysis capabilities to demonstrate investment impact. I recognized how the MEM would provide critical skills for addressing environmental challenges and the MBA would offer skills necessary for advocating change effectively amongst business leaders.

What skills or experiences did you gain across the concurrent degree program that WILL BE beneficial in your professional life?

Amber with mountains in background

The concurrent degree program provided valuable skills and experiences:

  • Energy foundation and analytical skills: Courses like Modeling for Electric Systems and Markets for Electric Power, taught by Dalia Pati帽o-Echeverri, provided a strong energy foundation and enhanced analytical abilities.
  • Practical application: These skills proved beneficial during internship interviews and in executing analyses during my internship.
  • Diverse project experience: Participation in the Fuqua Client Consulting Program offered opportunities to work on climate-related projects with client and to work in industries I do not have any experience in.
  • Systemic thinking: Community Engagement and Environmental Justice (CEEJ) concentration coursework taught the importance of understanding the systemic effects of business decisions.
  • Community engagement: Learned how to work effectively alongside communities.

What advice would you give to students considering a concurrent degree path or currently in the program?

For those considering or currently in the concurrent degree program, I would highly recommend pursuing the concurrent degree to overcome limitations of individual programs because of the following:

  • MBA program alone may not provide the strong foundation needed for environmental roles.
  • MEM alone may not offer the business skills you will need to advocate for to create disruptive, sustainable and equitable solutions.
  • The concurrent degree equips you with the skills needed to address complex environmental and business challenges..

What is your favorite memory from your time in the program?

My favorite memory is organizing an Energy Conference panel with (MEM students) Sydney Williams and Sadie Tetreault. Our panel explored how governments and organizations can collaborate to model best practices and foster an enabling environment for the energy transition, with a particular focus on mitigating impacts on marginalized communities. The panelists were exceptional, offering insights that deeply inspired me. I want to incorporate similar principles and approaches into my career.