Christopher van Bergen

Biography

Christopher van Bergen joined New York University Stern School of Business as an Adjunct Professor within the Executive MBA Program in the Fall of 2019. He brings his real world experience of running a nonprofit organization focused on global decentralized supply chains to his courses focused on Responsible Sourcing, and the Operations behind Social Impact, Sustainability, and Corporate Responsibility.

As the CFO/COO of Nest, he oversees partnerships with pioneering brands from luxury fashion houses to $100B+ retail operations, including spearheading a new ethical compliance program that is providing valuable supply chain transparency to companies across multiple sectors, as well as Nest’s business training and mentorship of over 2,000 artisan and handcraft businesses across 100+ countries, and strategic initiatives to solve universal sector challenges.

In addition, Professor van Bergen oversees Nest’s research focused on both the bottom of the pyramid economics, as well as issues specific to the handcraft sector itself. This has included work to analyze the economic impacts of sourcing within the waste picking sector, climate risk within the handcraft supply chain, the economic, social impacts, and mutual benefits of sourcing within the informal economy for participating brands and producers.

Before joining NYU Stern and Nest, Professor van Bergen was an Orchestral Trumpet Player and Orchestra Administrator, with regular appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony, and many other ensembles.

Chris graduated from the Executive MBA at the Stern School of Business, specializing in Global Business, Strategy, and Leadership. He also holds a Masters of Music degree from Northwestern University, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from the University of Rochester, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music.

Research Interests

• Responsible Sourcing
• Decentralized Supply Chains
• Business Ethics
• Social Impact and Sustainable Business Practices
• Informal Economy

Courses Taught

• Operationalizing Social Impact & Sustainability (EMBA)
• Sustainability & Impact in Supply Chains and Procurement

Academic Background

MBA, Executive MBA Program, 2018
NYU Stern School of Business

MM, Trumpet Performance, 1999
Northwestern University

BA, Psychology, 1998
University of Rochester

BM, Trumpet Performance, 1997
Eastman School of Music