BT Online — Business Today Online Journal

2nd Place Winner of the Writing Competition: "Let It Be Known" by Harrison Wang

In the decades leading up to the recognition of CSR as a central pillar of business, CSR was typically viewed as an extraneous project of minor importance for businesses during a time where consumers placed a greater emphasis on the quality of a product rather than the quality of a company. However, as technology and information have become readily available and accessible to more and more of the world population, people have evolved in their consumption calculus by evaluating every aspect of the product that makes it what it is.

Leveraging the Sweet Spot Renewables has to Offer: A Time to End Fossil Fuel Dependency

Access to clean and affordable energy in Africa has been a major challenge, as most of its governments still nose-dive to source dirty fossil fuels to oil the wheels of their nation. However, renewable energy development offers the continent the option to be a global renewable powerhouse and the option to re-write its energy story.

3rd Place Winner of the Writing Competition: "With Great Beauty Comes Great Responsibility" by Mohil Chaudari

The apparel, fashion, and luxury industry (AF&L) is one of the worst-affected industries by COVID-19, with demand and supply restructuring towards consumption of essential goods and services. With both retail and online sales diminishing as people consolidate their wealth to survive the pandemic, the industry has realized that they will not be able to operate their current business until the consumer confidence revives and social distancing relaxes.

We Must Fight against Greenwashing

In recent times, consumers and investors have started to pay a lot more attention to the sustainability of the products they buy and the companies they decide to support. While this is a good thing, it gives rise to something dangerous. Greenwashing can distract people and mislead them into thinking that climate goals and sustainability targets are being met, and so we must be up on our guard to recognize greenwashing and how companies can avoid it.

Inside BT: Design Nation and the Challenges of Organizing an Online Conference

In this episode of Inside BT, we sit down with Alyssa Nguyen, the Director of Design Nation, to discuss the process of moving the DN 2020 conference online as well as her broader vision for the conference this year.

Inside BT: Founding Boost and Building Networks

On this episode of Inside BT, we speak with Emily Cheston, the Director of Boost, a new program she started within the club early this summer. Boost seeks to elevate Black executives and provide mentorship for Black students. Emily speaks to the significance of such a program for the BT community and the students we serve at large. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Boost Fellowship, Podcasts, BT EventsBusiness TodayOctober 29, 2020Boost, diversity, inclusion, initiative, BT, Business Today, Emily Cheston

Inside BT: Expanding a 300 Student Conference into the Digital Realm

The International Conference is one of Business Today's oldest programs and is in its 46th year of operation. During this episode, we chat with Felipe Bickenbach, the Director of this year's conference, on his experience transforming the flagship event into a weeklong digital event to serve three hundred students across the globe. Felipe shares the challenges and tribulations he encountered while also providing advice for students thinking about hosting digital events themselves. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Inside BT: Maintaining Accessibility and Equity in Virtual Recruiting

In this episode of Inside BT, we sit down with Katie Dykstra, the Director of Human Capital for Business Today, and hear about the changes Business Today has made towards preserving accessibility and equity in recruiting new members. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Podcasts, BT EventsBusiness TodayOctober 29, 2020Business Today, student, recruiting, recruitment, interview, capital, remote, semester, Katie, Katie Dykstra

Inside BT: Fundraising Over Zoom

Corporate Contacts, Business Today's flagship internship program, is key to BT's finances and operations. Traditionally an internship program that takes undergraduates on road trips across the country to pitch to CEOs for sponsorship and participation, this summer's program was transitioned into a virtual format. Vignesh Panchanatham, this year's Director of Corporate Contacts, speaks to the frustrations he faced and takeaways he learned in this episode of Inside BT. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

Inside BT: Managing a Global Content Team

In the last few years before COVID, Business Today had already begun transitioning to a stronger online presence, as opposed to its traditional print magazine. In 2020, our move to explore digital content creation reached new heights, though facing the challenge of leading a team residing in different places all around the globe. In our first episode of Inside BT, Amy Wang, Director of Content, speaks to her experience leading this team and what it means for the future of BT content. Inside BT is a series that was launched to reflect on how Business Today, a nonprofit that's entirely run by undergraduates, has adapted to the new digital normal created by COVID.

‘S’ for ‘Slump’: What makes the most sluggish fiscal year of Sa Sa?

Sa Sa, the Hong Kong-based beauty retailing giant, had never published a fiscal deficit since the days of SARS due to a proactive expansion strategy in both physical stores and digital outlets. Everything changed in 2020 when a new coronavirus emerged, but Journalism Fellow Hypatia Wu’s analysis reveals that its financial slump had begun even before the global pandemic.

Marketing 101: Lessons from Cadillac and "The Penalty of Leadership"

In a competitive world where “emulation and envy are ever at work,” many companies find it hard to use advertising as a space to break free from the rigid rules of business. However, those that invest in creative and inclusive styles of marketing often find the most success because consumers are looking to buy much more than a physical product; they are looking to buy an identity.

Fueled by Fuel? The Future of the Paris Agreement as Economies Reopen

2020 was anticipated to be a decisive year for climate action before COVID-19 hit, yet unlike most of its harmful effects elsewhere, the pandemic has brought about an unexpected silver lining with a dramatic reduction in GHG emissions. However, the global economic recovery in the post-COVID era could quickly undo this progress as countries look to fossil fuels to lift them out of the recession.

Catalyzing Businesses for Climate Action with Amanda North, CEO of Plan C Advisors

Public service and resilience have been at the heart of Amanda North’s career as Founder & CEO of Plan C Advisors. In her interview with Summer Journalism Fellow Anastasiia Tokar, North describes the role of purpose in strategic entrepreneurship and key steps for the corporate world to prioritize meaningful climate action in their business models, emphasizing the need for stable environmental policy in facilitating the transition towards a sustainable future.

The Changing Creative Landscape of the Media Production Industry with Vico Sharabani, Founder and Executive Creative Director of The-Artery

Vico Sharabani, Founder and Executive Creative Director of The-Artery, is one of the content industry’s leading technologists whose diverse body of work spans feature films, episodic television, and branded content. He speaks about the interplay between human touch and technological advances in the creative space. He also shares how The-Artery takes the vision of its clients to the next level with an example of a visual production his team did for Mercedes Benz.

Technology, InterviewsPeyush KarelSeptember 25, 2020content, technology, creator, innovation, art, editor, director, technologist, visual effects, sound, industry, movie, film

The Future of Travel Insurance and the Tourism Industry During COVID-19

COVID-19 has raised risks associated with travel, from prolonged exposure to other people to last-minute cancellations before getting on a flight. Typically, people buy travel insurance to mitigate risks when visiting places outside of their home country. However, the current state of traveler’s insurance may not be enough to cope with the aforementioned pandemic-induced risks. Summer Journalism Fellow Charlotte Ehlers proposes a plan where federal governments set up their own travel insurance plans and market them alongside preexisting COVID safety measures to restimulate the tourism industry.

Examining our Experience: A Conversation about the Creative Realms of Graphic Design with CEO David Lai, Part II

Storytelling —and by extension design— is often about revealing what's already there. David Lai continues the second half of his story as CEO of Hello Design with Summer Journalism Fellow Ashleigh Fields, emphasizing the value of building holistic brand relationships, balancing the digital and physical in the customer experience, and bringing creativity to the forefront of genuine marketing.

Not-so-friendly Nationalism: The Great War on Trade

The “Skirmish Era” of antagonistic policies and strained interactions between the U.S. and China seems to have extended to the third decade of the 21st century, and the rift between the two economic superpowers is leading the world to yet another cold war. Summer Journalism Fellow Peyush Karel looks at how the rest of the world responds when two nationalistic agendas collide.

Journalism Fellowship, News & Analysis, US, PoliticsPeyush KarelSeptember 4, 2020US and China, trade wars, nationalism, Trump, biden, tariffs, policy, economy, IP

“Lift as You Climb”: Gene Waddy on Diversity in Business, Mentorship, and Education

Gene C. Waddy is an entrepreneur and co-founder of DIVERSANT LLC, the nation’s largest African-American owned IT staffing and solutions firm. In many ways, DIVERSANT is a reflection of Waddy’s professional expertise, personal drive, and his commitment to helping others. The company has developed a reputation for excellence among numerous Fortune 500 companies.

Examining our Experience: The Creative Realms of Graphic Design with CEO David Lai, Part I

The strongest business relationships are built on effective communication, which often begins with the most basic of greetings: “hello.” In the first half of his interview with Summer Journalism Fellow Ashleigh Fields, CEO David Lai of Hello Design shares how the simple yet powerful philosophy behind “hello'“ has driven his lifelong passion for design and the creation of meaningful value for clients through innovation and cross-team collaboration all across the board.