It’s not breaking news that business schools across the country are paying attention to issues of sustainability, responsibility and ethics.  Even before the financial crisis the market demand existed for such programs; prospective students asked pointed questions and administrations scurried to build programs that would lure the new wave of socially conscious students.  As a BusinessWeek article put it, these students viewed sustainability as “more than just a catchphrase. It was a core value.” One of the aspects that drew me to my own program at Georgetown McDonough School of Business was the opportunity to help build a robust sustainability and responsibility initiative with impact on a global scale.  The Global Social Enterprise Initiative launched just last year with the aim of preparing leaders to make decisions that create both economic and social value.  To to do this, GSEI partners companies and nonprofits with leading professors and ambitious MBA students to tackle challenges with social impact. At its core, this is what the new wave of responsible MBAs is looking for: win-win opportunities where markets can be harnessed to drive social and environmental change. The breadth of new sustainable MBA programs is astonishing, and I implore companies to think outside the box for recruitment.  This new breed of MBA has cross-functional knowledge and innovative skills sets that set them apart. For example, at University of Michigan more than 100 students are now enrolled in a dual degree program at the Erb Institute, a partnership between the business school and School of Natural Resources and Environment.  Students are knowledgeable about issues like sustainable agriculture and alternative energy, and they have the management skills to complement their passion for sustainable business. The list of responsible elective courses available across the country continues to multiply.  At Brandeis University, students in their Socially Responsible Business MBA track take classes like “Managing the Triple Bottom Line” and “Investing in Energy.”  Notre Dame’s business school boasts nearly 100 electives, all of which integrate social, ethical or environmental issues. So what does this mean for employers?

1. Think outside the box: Sustainability-minded MBAs are masters of innovative thinking. But youneed to think outside the box as well—these students are qualified for far more than “green” roles. They can help infuse new thinking into traditional paths like brand management and finance.  The analytic thinking required to solve sustainability dilemmas is a concrete, transferable skill.
2. Question the contrapositive: Question students who have not taken any courses on sustainability about their choices.  There isn’t time for students to take every course offered, but students with no openness to sustainability initiatives could become a liability.  Pepper a question into interviews about how the candidate would handle a sustainability challenge; see how he/she performs.
3. Think globally: Sustainability is a global challenge.  For multinational companies, these fresh young candidates can also help manage risk abroad—many of them have international development experience that could help build businesses in emerging markets.

  Becky Meisels is a 2^nd year MBA candidate at Georgetown McDonough School of Business where she serves on the board of her Net Impact chapter and works with the Global Social Enterprise Initiative. Prior to business school, Becky worked in communications consulting with experience in crisis management, strategic planning, brand management, and media relations for both private companies and nonprofits.  She can also be found on Twitter @IdealistBiz