Beyond the Backlash: Deepening ESG Goals in a Challenging Climate

​PANEL DESCRIPTION

​This panel grapples with the growing political and cultural pushback against environmental, social, and governance efforts—and what it means for the future of responsible business. This panel will explore how companies, investors, and institutions can move past surface-level commitments to embed ESG goals more deeply into strategy, risk management, and long-term value creation. Panelists will discuss what still works, what needs rethinking, and how durable ESG approaches can withstand political headwinds while delivering real economic and social returns.

​Moderated by Serena Deutch.

​NATHAN STUCK, PROFITABLE PURPOSE CONSULTING

​With a firm belief that business can be a force for good, Nathan brings a passion for helping good companies become great. He’s been working with firms pursuing B Corp certification since 2016, using the B Impact Assessment to align purpose with profit, and make good business good for business.

​In addition to his experience working at a B Corp, Nathan teaches an MBA level B Corp class at UGA, founded and chairs B Local Georgia, is the Executive Director of BLD Southeast, serves as a committee chair for B Academics, and was awarded the 2020 Community Builder Award by B Lab.

​NISHAD KAPADIA, TULANE UNIVERSITY

​Professor Nishad Kapadia brings a strong understanding of international business to his work at Tulane. Originally from India, Professor Kapadia served at Rice University for six years before joining the faculty at Freeman. He has a professional background at KPMG Consulting's London and Bombay offices, where he focused on business strategy, technology and risk management consulting for the financial services industry.

​Professor Kapadia's research focuses on asset pricing. In particular his research tests theories of why some stocks or trading strategies have higher average returns than others. His papers examine why individual stocks in US markets have become more volatile over time, why small stocks and value stocks have high average returns, and whether lottery-like stocks, with a small probability of really high returns (positive idiosyncratic skewness) are "overpriced" in equity markets.

​Professor Kapadia enjoys Tulane's dedicated, hard-working students and his friendly colleagues, with whom he can engage in lively exchanges of ideas.