Outreach To Organizations

The importance of building sustainable organizations in our communities cannot be overstated. Falling under the “Outreach to Organizations” umbrella are several projects, each focused on a different aspect of the business community. These programs are closely linked to our Research Program in that the research accomplished through these programs are both derived from the business community and the results are provided back to that community. By taking this approach, the David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise creates a symbiotic relationship with these businesses. We take data provided by businesses, synthesize it and provide them with the results as a way to assist them with sustainable ideas and programs.

Corporate Round-table and Shared Learning

Corporations have some of the greatest ability to affect change and have an impact on creating a sustainable world community. To that end, the David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise invites corporate leaders as well as more entrepreneurial business executives into dialogues about major environmental and social issues. This allows us to learn about the steps being taken at different levels and discern where major gaps exist. Moreover, this process provides an opportunity for green leaders to share their success and for companies to learn from their peers.

If you would like the opportunity to attend one of the quarterly roundtable meetings, please contact us.

Sustainable Enterprise Leadership Workshop (SEL)

What are the basic concepts of sustainable development and sustainable enterprise? How can sustainability be used to create competitive advantage and profitability? Business leaders need to answer these questions for their own companies. The SEL workshops are designed to help corporate leaders understand the challenges and benefits of sustainable development, develop holistic sustainability strategies for their companies, and embed sustainability into the core of their business. Participants learn ecological and social sustainability trends and their corporate implications. They learn demonstrated ways for businesses to move towards sustainability, and how to create ecological efficiencies in designing products/services, operations, logistics and human resources. They also explore how organizations can become more competitive, save costs, and improve their “triple bottom line”. It’s a hands-on, practical approach to uncovering the benefits of the ecologically, socially and economically sustainable business.

If you would like the opportunity to participate in one of the SEL workshops, please contact us.

Creative Sustainability Workshops

Enterprise sustainability requires employees and managers to be creative in enacting solutions. Creativity is one of the hardest qualities to implement in organizations, because it is rooted in the arts. The David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise designs workshops for participants to experience creativity in dealing with sustainability challenges. The sessions go beyond intellectual understanding and use arts-based methods to express challenges and demonstrate solutions or paths to solutions. This approach evokes participants’ passion for sustainability through holistic mind, body and emotional engagement. Lead by artists, designers, aestheticians, and crafts-persons participants apply their creativity skills and sensory awareness to sustainability issues.

If you would like the opportunity to participate in one of the Creative Sustainability workshops, please contact us.