Smart corporations are looking for ways to incorporate sustainable operations and have a positive impact on society while carrying out their operations. This paradigm shift has some corporations re-evaluating how they do business – and is giving a competitive edge to others. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Melissa Carrier, executive director of the Center for Social Value Creation, discusses how creating social value is an important business strategy.

College Park, Md. – Aug. 17, 2009 — The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced it was named the newest member of the Global Business School Network (GBSN), joining more than 30 other world-leading business schools that make up the international nonprofit organization’s membership. The schools in the network are dedicated to building business leaders in developing economies and share resources and thought leadership to accomplish this mission.

MBA students, faculty and nonprofit leaders gathered at the Robert H. Smith School of Business on May 5, 2009 to discuss the efforts of these parties to enhance the future for several organizations.

While governments and businesses are fighting economic disaster with huge bailouts and loans, the microfinance industry is tackling poverty the same way it has for many years: with small loans to entrepreneurs around the world.

College Park, Md. – March 11, 2009 — The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced the launch of the Initiative for Social Value Creation, a push to engage every student in courses and experiential learning programs that build leadership and an understanding of how businesses can create both economic prosperity and transformative social change. Melissa Carrier, executive director for Social Value Creation, will lead the effort, which will support the groundwork for establishing a center dedicated to social value creation.

Surprises come with the territory when working in international development across India. As senior engagement manager at Sattva Consulting, Rahul Shah, PTMBA ’15, MFin ’15, must navigate uncertainty as he works across all domains with all types of stakeholders on a diverse subcontinent.

Few business problems are more basic than delivering clean drinking water to thirsty customers. Yet solutions remain elusive in the United States and elsewhere.

So you want to put your money where your values are. Then the latest in growing investment trends – impact investing – might be for you.

Images of vast islands of garbage in the oceans and recent revelations that much of the world's recycling isn't being recycled at all have some experts wondering whether society might be heading for a revolution in plastics and packaging.

Setting your sales goals for the new year? The best way to get everyone motivated is to get them invested from the start. Smith School professor Christine Beckman recently studied how the process of setting budget goals is the key to motivating individuals to hit their numbers.