How Does NYCLab Work? Teams engage in consultancies for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. The course

runs two full semesters, from August through May. Teams develop and negotiate a project agree-

ment with clients that defines the scope of work, project deliverables, deadlines, and expecta-

tions for communication and information sharing.

What Types of Projects? Bard MBA selects substantive projects with sustainability-related business problems. Clients

range from entrepreneurial start-ups to established Fortune 500 companies, to nonprofit and

governmental organizations. Projects cover strategy, operations, finance, marketing, and supply

chain management.

As a Student, What Will I Learn?Bard MBA students learn project management, issue disaggregation and problem solving, client

management and communication, team dynamics and leadership, and the value and limitations

of a consultant. They are matched with projects based on a number of factors, including student

preference, skills, and team size. Throughout the course of the consultancy, students gain confi-

dence in their ability to manage projects, solve business problems, communicate effectively, and

work in teams. They are taught Agile consulting techniques, research skills, meeting management

and client presentation techniques, Pyramid Principle, and SWOT analysis.

As a Client, What Is Expected of Me? Clients designate a primary contact to liaise with the student consulting team. The contact pro-

vides students with the information and guidance needed to effectively complete the project. The

time commitment depends on the scope as outlined in the project agreement. Student teams use

Agile consulting methodology. Through regular project updates and client verification and valida-

tion, results evolve organically over the course of the year as student teams and clients together

come to understand what is most valuable. This means:

• Clients receive initial results by January, with

the final deliverables and presentation due by

the end of May.

• Clients spend 30 to 60 minutes twice a month

with students, reviewing their early deliverables

and modifying the project as needed.

Is There a Fee? There is no fee for first-time NYCLab clients.

Student consulting teams receive small stipends to

cover incidental expenses.

LEARN MORETo submit a project proposal

or learn more about the

NYCLab consulting program at

Bard MBA in Sustainability,

e-mail nyclab@bard.edu,

or go to www.bard.edu/mba.

MBA CONSULTING PROGRAM

NYCLABBard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

www.bard.edu/mba

Photos: ©COOKFOX Architects and Pete Mauney ‘93, MFA ‘00

UNILEVER

Unilever produces consumer goods for more

than 400 brands including Ben & Jerry’s, Lipton,

Dove, and St. Ives. As part of the Unilever

Sustainable Living Plan, the company asked the

Bard MBA team to identify cost-effective and

regional renewable energy storage solutions.

Tasks included research for sustainable energy

technology, cost analysis, and the development

of business and supply chain models.

LOCKHEED MARTINLockheed Martin is a research, design, devel-

opment, manufacturing, and integration of

advanced technology systems company in the

aerospace, defense, security, and advanced tech-

nology sectors. The Bard MBA team analyzed

the challenges and opportunities in the Socially

Responsible Investing space, including insights

into stakeholders as well as the criteria for, and

impact of, including or excluding important

companies from the sustainability conversation.

By focusing on Lockheed Martin’s sustainability

assets, products, and services, the team helped

define the sustainability value proposition for

stakeholders.

UBSUBS is a global firm providing financial services

to private, corporate, and institutional clients. It

is present in all major financial centers and has

offices in more than 50 countries. The Bard

MBA team (1) assessed investment banking (IB)

engagement strategies among financial institu-

tions, (2) explored rationales for an environmen-

tal and social risk engagement strategy in an IB

context, and (3) developed criteria and success

factors for effective client engagement.

HUDSON SOLARHudson Solar is a New York–based business

that designs and installs solar energy systems

for residential, commercial, agricultural, and

municipal nonprofit organizations. The Bard

MBA team conducted market research to iden-

tify and analyze potential market segments for

new photovoltaic technology solutions. Students

identified key customer motivators as well as

the needs and requirements for each segment;

compared the economics, benefits, and capabil-

ities of innovative new technologies; and made

recommendations for marketing strategy.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL (CDi)CDi is a development-focused nonprofit organi-

zation aiming to create strong, healthy, and col-

laborative urban and rural communities through

holistically designed programs for a more prosper-

ous, harmonious, and equitable global future. The

Bard MBA team conducted a market analysis for

organic biomass briquettes that included identify-

ing a potential customer base for organic artisanal

biochar briquettes, and analyzing comparable

products and markets, and top prospective buyers.

COOKFOX ARCHITECTS—TERRAPIN BRIGHT GREENCOOKFOX Architects and Terrapin Bright Green

are architectural and environmental consulting

firms, respectively, based in New York City. The

Bard MBA team helped each company evaluate its

own sustainability. Activities included cost-benefit

analysis, developing a timeline and strategy for

improving sustainability, and creating a system to

track and report internal progress.

TRANSITCENTERTransitCenter is a nonprofit organization devoted

to promoting the use of public transportation and

other sustainable transportation alternatives in an

effort to reduce traffic congestion, preserve the

environment, and promote more livable commu-

nities. The Bard MBA team researched the sus-

tainable transportation landscape and proposed

strategies for TransitCenter to maximize its out-

reach efforts.

METROPOLITAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (MWA) brings

business and civic groups together to help trans-

form New York and New Jersey’s waterways into

cleaner, more accessible spaces for the public to

enjoy. The Bard MBA team worked with MWA to

develop sustainable policy platforms, waterfront

sustainability benchmarking reports, and sustain-

ability financing strategies for the organization.

FEATURED PROJECTS

NYCLABMBA CONSULTING PROGRAM

The Bard MBA in Sustainability is one of a select few graduate programs globally

that fully integrates sustainability into a core business curriculum. Students learn

to build businesses and nonprofit organizations that simultaneously pursue

economic, environmental, and social objectives—the integrated bottom line—

to create a healthier, more sustainable world.

In Bard’s unique NYCLab course, MBA students complete a yearlong professional

consultancy in the first year of their business program. Over two semesters,

MBA students work with corporate, governmental, and nonprofit organizations

to solve sustainability-related business problems. These small teams, mentored

by MBA faculty, are assigned clients based on students’ interests and abilities.