HBS faculty comprises scholars and practitioners who bring leading-edge research, extensive experience, and deep insights into the classroom, to organizations, and to leaders across the globe. We asked new faculty at HBS about their background, their new roles, and their interests.
John Mulliken, senior lecturer, Strategy
What did you do before coming to HBS?
In the past few years, I’ve focused on board work, climate policy, investing in and advising early-stage climate tech companies, and working as a senior advisor at the Boston Consulting Group. Most recently I built and headed global carbon markets for Indigo Ag. Before that, I spent a decade at Wayfair running strategy, our international business, and as the CTO. Before that, I spent seven years at BCG as a principal and one of the founders of the multichannel retail group. Far back in my history I started a Ph.D in economics, but had the opportunity to be employee number one at a startup. Though that led to a wonderful career, I still think like an economist!
How have you exercised leadership in business?
Recently I’ve enjoyed my board roles; they’ve given me a terrific lens on my own work as an executive and a very different approach to leadership. I also speak to board members at other companies about assessing and acting on climate emissions risk; I wrote an HBR piece summarizing my approach. I’ve also been lucky to lead at an early-stage startup and build many products and businesses at Wayfair and Indigo Ag. Now I have the chance to help young CEOs scale, through mentoring and sharing my network.
What will you be teaching?
Strategy in the Required Curriculum. I’m also starting to develop an Elective Curriculum class on climate strategy and competitive advantage—stay tuned and reach out if you’re interested.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a professor?
I’d be growing the Carbon Zero Project, which I’ve been running for the past few years. We’ve developed approaches to gaining support for greenhouse gas emissions management and limits in the U.S. and internationally. The most advanced is the carbon scoring project, which is a Congressional Budget Office-like capability for carbon. After developing the initial concept, I raised money for strategy work and prototypes at several large DC think tanks, and it’s great to see that moving forward. I think that the real opportunity for emissions reductions, climate entrepreneurship, and climate tech can only be realized when we get efficient rational emissions management tools in place!
Where are you from?
I’m a New York City kid, but I’ve lived all over, from Oregon to the Bay Area, Minneapolis, Paris, Budapest, and several stints in London. My kids went to Red Sox games growing up, so now I say I’m from Boston.
What is something you like to do outside of your academic work?
It’s far too tough to name one thing. I love skiing and took up alpine touring during the pandemic. You can find me sailing on Buzzards Bay, road biking around Boston (and Europe), and sculling on the Charles. I’m an enthusiastic reader, a poor but avid cook, and dabble in making cider on our old farm in Rhode Island. I have two kids, and my wife teaches history at Boston University. We recently added a young golden retriever to our lives—I’m busy!
What’s your favorite book, movie, or piece of art?
Too many books to name, but for starters, those by Waugh, Isherwood, Maugham, Hardy, and Neil Stephenson. There is a Henry Moore sculpture, Two Piece Reclining Figure No.5, in Hampstead Heath in London. I love it not just for the piece itself but also for its bucolic and unexpected setting, so I like to lie on the grass near it when I’m in London.
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