Please join us for “To Starve or To Stoke? Understanding Whether Divestment vs. Investment Can Drive the Green Transition,” a talk by Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow Jacquelyn Pless, Fred Kayne (1960) Career Development Professor of Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor of Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

The hourlong event will take place at 12:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Kenan Center Room 204.

Pless will discuss the degree to which divestment versus continued investment in polluting industries might help drive the transition to a cleaner economy. Starving firms of capital can theoretically shrink the industry over time, but continuing to invest also gives shareholders a “seat at the table” that they can leverage to steer companies toward developing green solutions. She will also discuss management practices that companies can implement to effectively deliver on their promises.

Pless joins Professors Alex Edmans of London Business School, Olga Hawn of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Lubos Pastor of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Emmanuel Yimfor of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business as 2022 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellows. Together they comprise an exemplary set of global scholars committed to leveraging their individual expertise, thought leadership, research and networks to further the institute’s efforts to examine and drive solutions to issues facing business and the economy today.

This class will support the institute’s 2022 grand challenge, an exploration of stakeholder capitalism and ESG investing. As part of those efforts, Pless, Pastor and Yimfor will each pay a visit to the institute and deliver a talk that will be open to the press and public. (Note: Edmans delivered a virtual presentation April 7, available here.)

The event is free and open to the public but registration is required, as lunch will be provided for all attendees.

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• Keyword(s):
• climate change 17
• innovation 185
• stakeholder capitalism 57