Written by Dr. Olesya Meskina, Head of Academic Programs SSBM Geneva.
The Students’ Sustainable Conference: Sustainability in Business – Integrating Green Practices Across All Sectors at SSBM Geneva showcased the research and applications of sustainability across industries. The event united experts and students, fostering discussions on corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental challenges, and sustainable innovation. Unlike traditional research presentations, students not only showcased their findings but also explored the process behind their research and the critical role of sustainability in modern industries.
Diverse Industry Perspectives
The conference featured student presentations across various
sectors, highlighting the interconnectedness of sustainability with business transformation, digital strategies, and technological advancements. By examining sustainability through diverse industry perspectives, students explored Change Management, Social Media Marketing, the integration of AI and emerging technologies in sustainable business models, and the ethical implications of AI-driven business analysis, corporate responsibility, and environmental impact.
Sustainability & Ethical Responsibility
Beyond research, students delved into the ethical dimensions of sustainability, questioning:
Their discussions reinforced the importance of integrating sustainability into professional development, emphasizing that future leaders must balance profitability with social and environmental impact.
Student Research Contributions:
Students presented their research, showcasing their capstone and company projects, and their sustainability reflections:
By merging academic research with real-world applications, the conference prepared students to engage critically with sustainability challenges and drive innovation in their respective fields.
The conference featured expert guest speakers sharing cutting-edge sustainability research.
A sustainability leader, co-Director of Organizational Development at Climate Bridges, and a former Regional Director at MYBLUEPLANET. With a background in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Singapore) and Sustainable Business (Switzerland), she bridges technical expertise with strategic vision. Her experience collaborating with government, industries, and major international sustainability initiatives provided inspiration and practical insights, equipping students to apply strategic sustainability principles in business leadership.
Her presentation, “Sustainability in Business: Integrating Green Practices Across All Sectors,” covered a wide range of topics. Among others were explored:
The presentation concluded with the inspiring message: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker.
Dr. Anita specializes in VP technology applications for environmental conservation and sustainable tourism. She successfully defended her DBA thesis at SSBM Geneva, analyzing VR’s impact on consumer decisions using machine learning and statistical methods on 2,207 participants. Her research confirmed VR’s strong influence on destination choices, particularly among younger consumers in Asia and North America, and highlighted the need for tailored marketing strategies.
Dr. Anita’s conference presentation, “Coral Reef Conservation through VR Technology: A Case Study of the Red Sea and Pacific Ocean Reefs”, examined:
– The impact of climate change on reef biodiversity and local environmental stressors (tourism, pollution, and fishing).
– The role of VR technology in environmental education, highlighting how immersive digital experiences enhance ecological awareness.
– Comparative analysis of conservation efforts, demonstrating VR’s role in policy support and community engagement.
Her research emphasized the potential of VR-driven sustainability initiatives, showing students how emerging technologies can support environmental policies and drive global conservation efforts.
An expert in science communication, knowledge transfer, and sustainability, Dr. Barbora holds a PhD in physics from EPFL, specializing in thermonuclear fusion. As Strategic Development Lead at IPPOG (International Particle Physics Outreach Group), she advances science-industry collaboration, ensuring research findings translate into business innovations.
Her presentation explored:
– The role of scientific research in shaping sustainable business models.
– Large-scale sustainability projects are conducted by CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory.
– Fundamental discoveries in physics—Dark Matter, Antimatter, Higgs Boson, extra dimensions, and supersymmetry.
– The transition from laboratory innovation to industry applications, emphasizing Switzerland’s leadership in global innovation.
– Switzerland’s strategic asset pathway, explaining why it consistently ranks as one of the world’s most innovative economies
Dr. Barbora’s session deepened students’ understanding of how fundamental research drives sustainable solutions, reinforcing the need for cross-sector collaboration to address global challenges.
Insights & Takeaways
During the Students’ Sustainable Conference at SSBM Geneva, participants refined soft skills, presentation techniques, and professional confidence. Engaging in discussions and presenting research helped them develop public speaking, critical thinking, and academic communication abilities.
Students also recognized the importance of showcasing their research within business and sustainability frameworks, preparing them for future conferences, industry collaboration, and leadership roles in sustainability-driven sectors.
By merging academic research with industry expertise, SSBM Geneva continues to empower students to lead sustainability-driven transformations in business.
