Donnie Benjamin

Donnie says his service abroad made him particularly aware of how environmental protections, or lack thereof, have a direct effect on the quality of living.

“My experiences in the military showed me that densely populated countries with few natural resources can protect their environment and their people while still having a thriving industrial economy”

During his first semester at HBS, Donnie was particularly interested in a case study in Finance 1 that evaluated the feasibility of carbon markets. A separate case study in Technology and Operations Management had a different, but equally compelling subject: A comparison of sustainable agriculture and industrial farming.

Donnie’s interest in sustainability led him to join the Energy and Environment Club at HBS, which organizes an annual Energy Symposium. He also joined the BEI Student Advisory Board, where he helps determine what role sustainability will play on campus and in the curriculum.

The Board aims to bridge faculty and student interests in environmental issues. Recently they met with a faculty member to brainstorm potential course titles and content for a new Elective Curriculum (EC) course.

“We worked to figure out what course topics would draw a lot of students,“ Donnie says, adding that it will likely be a mix of information on funding, innovation and sustainability.

Donnie is currently considering internship opportunities for the summer. “Whatever roles I find myself in this summer and after graduation, I foresee working with sustainability teams, whether on a paid or volunteer basis.”