The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) today announced Amy Skoczlas Cole will become its next Director, joining Stern as a Clinical Professor of Business and Society beginning January 2026. Skoczlas Cole succeeds Founding Director Tensie Whelan, who after a decade of visionary leadership will transition to Distinguished Professor of Practice Emerita.

The announcement was made during CSB’s 10th anniversary gala, celebrating a decade of achievements reshaping how companies understand and leverage sustainability for positive financial performance by addressing critical societal needs.

A Decade of Impact

Founded in 2016, under Whelan’s leadership CSB has:

• Built a top 10 MBA specialization among Stern students, offering more than 30 classes within its Sustainable Business & Innovation curricula;
• Developed the hallmark Return on Sustainability Investment (ROSITM) methodology to measure and monetize sustainability initiatives as core value drivers, leveraged by thousands of professionals across industries;
• Quantified the growth in sales of consumer products marketed as sustainable in the annual Sustainable Market Share IndexTM;
• Granted more than $225,000 in funding to doctoral students and faculty exploring sustainability across academic research disciplines;
• Created a global network of passionate alumni and practitioners embedding sustainability into corporate strategy, redefining good business practice and turning measurable proof points into scalable practice.

“Launching CSB a decade ago, we aimed to show current and future business leaders that sustainability is an engine of opportunity and improved financial performance,” said Tensie Whelan. “I am immensely proud of the momentum we have built for that business case and in training the next generation of sustainable business champions. I am thrilled that Amy has agreed to join CSB as our new Director and bring her strategic vision, deep expertise, and fresh perspective to leading CSB into its next decade.”

Welcoming Amy Skoczlas Cole

Skoczlas Cole joins CSB with more than 30 years of experience reimagining the economic systems that deliver sustainable food, clean energy, and strong communities. She has held executive positions across leading companies, non-profits, and foundations, spearheading the design and execution of sustainability initiatives that unlock growth, access new markets, enhance productivity, and reduce shareholder risk. Most recently, she served as President of Intelligence + Influence at the Farm Journal company, harnessing the power of predictive analytics  to scale sustainable agriculture and food supply chains in pragmatic, cost-effective ways that ensured value was shared equitably. She previously held sustainability leadership roles at eBay, American Public Media, Pentair, and Conservation International, building a variety of programs that leverage data analytics and behavioral science to drive profitable, sustainable growth.

“There is no doubt that we’re in the midst of significant economic and societal transformation. The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, with its track record of quantifying sustainable value creation, is perfectly positioned to help navigate this unique moment,” said Amy Skoczlas Cole, incoming Director of NYU Stern CSB. “I am honored to be named as CSB’s next Director, and am excited to tap into its substantial expertise to harness the ingenuity, scale, and impact of the private sector to unleash growth and create opportunity by addressing the critical challenges of our time.” 

Looking Ahead: CSB’s Next Decade

Entering the next era, CSB will build on its first decade of success by scaling proven approaches while tackling the new challenges and opportunities of a shifting global landscape — from extreme weather and shifting supply chains to technological breakthroughs, evolving capital structures, and social expectations of corporations.

CSB will expand its portfolio of applied research translating sustainability into bottom-line financial returns; grow educational offerings to prepare the next generation of C-suite leaders for the future they will navigate; deepen corporate collaborations to accelerate the adoption of sustainable business practices and quantify the subsequent impact; and continue to demonstrate that sustainability is, fundamentally, good business management. 

With its established strengths and new leadership, CSB is well positioned to meet the moment and amplify its impact.

“Over the past decade, Tensie Whelan has transformed Stern’s sustainability education programming into a leading institution that attracts students, employers, alumni, and corporate partners alike,” said Batia Wiesenfeld, Director of the Business & Society Program at NYU Stern. “We are thrilled to welcome Amy Skoczlas Cole, whose inspiring vision and proven expertise make her the ideal successor to lead CSB into its next era. With her leadership, CSB is poised to build on its many strengths and seize the opportunities ahead.”

About NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business

NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business (NYU Stern CSB) was founded in 2016 with a vision of better business for a better world. Through pioneering practical research, educational programming, and corporate engagement, CSB combines academic rigor with real-world application to help companies leverage sustainability to future-proof strategies, quantify financial performance, and develop the next generation of leaders. Learn more at www.stern.nyu.edu/sustainability or LinkedIn @NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business.