May 28, 2025

KFC Sustainability Chief Speaks at UMD

KFC Chief Sustainability Officer Nira Johri spoke to UMD students about global sustainability strategy, sharing career insights and discussing how companies like KFC are aligning environmental and social responsibility with business goals across international markets.

On April 22, 2025, students at the University of Maryland heard from Nira Johri, KFC’s first chief sustainability officer, during a guest lecture in BMGT468, a management and organization course taught by Nima Farshchi.

More than 80 students registered for the event, with an additional 20 students from the class in attendance. Johri shared insights from her career and discussed KFC’s global Done the Right Way strategy, which focuses on making a positive impact on people, food and the planet.

With experience at Unilever, Rich Products and through partnerships with companies such as Mars, Nestlé and Cargill, Johri discussed how businesses are working to be more sustainable. She also spoke about her time in the Obama administration, where she worked on Asia-Pacific policy.

Students learned how KFC is approaching sustainability differently in markets around the world and what trends are shaping the restaurant industry today. Johri emphasized the importance of aligning business goals with environmental and social responsibility.

Media Contact

Greg Muraski
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301-405-5283  
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu 

About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

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