Will O'Brien

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Will O'Brien

Will O'Brien

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Biography

Clark University - Management

Associate Professor of Practice, Clark University
Higher Education
Will
O'Brien
Worcester, Massachusetts
Accomplished business executive with extensive global experience, change agent, entrepreneur, consultant, attorney and educator in social responsibility and sustainability management. 50 years experience in business start-ups, management, professional services, marketing and consulting.

Committed to developing current and future leaders to create shared value, reduce operating costs and environmental impact.

Current responsibilities & recent accomplishments:

* Teaching MBA, MS and graduate Environmental Science Students various Sustainability Management courses plus Corporate Social Responsibility . Program Management of MBA concentrations in Social Change & Sustainability and co-management of Dual Degree Program.

* While at Clark University, Will spearheaded the development and implementation of an MBA with a concentration in Sustainability...launched March 2012.

* Management of Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) helping small businesses to go green in Greater Worcester Massachusetts.

* Summer 2011-12: through partnerships with Energy Development Center (EDEC) in Ho Chi Minh City http://www.edec.org.vn/. In early 2012, SBN trained EDEC leadership and staff on SBLP. Summer 2012, a Clark graduate student, Chelsea Wang, interned at EDEC and helped the organization prepare to implement SBLP in Vietnam.

* June 2012, Hanoi: served as instructor at Vietnam National University in Hanoi as part of Benedictine University Asia Institute's Executive Education Program.

*June 2012, Hanoi: with Ruby Bui conducted a Green Business Seminar for 45 Vietnamese business owners to help them reduce operating costs, improve business practices and reduce environmental footprints. Sponsored by the Vietnamese Institute for Environmental Research and Duc Viet Environmental Technology Co. http://www.ducvietco.com.vn/

* July 2013, Beijing: with Chelsea Wang conducted a Green Business Seminar at Peking University in Beijing sponsored by the College of Environmental Science.

Experience

  • Clark University

    Associate Professor of Practice

    As Associate Professor of Practice for Clark University, I teach Business Ethics & Law, Corporate Social Responsibility, Management Consulting and Sustainability Consulting courses. Most of the courses are based on the experiential learning model which enables students to develop important skills while addressing client challenges/problems with creative and implementable solutions. My consulting practice enables me to bring real-world experience into the classroom.

  • Clark University

    Visiting Lecturer, Graduate School of Management

    In 2011, Will spearheaded the development, approval and implementation of Clark's MBA concentration in Sustainability which was launched in early 2012. In 2013, Clark was ranked #17 worldwide for "Sustainable MBAs" by Corporate Knights.
    http://www.corporateknights.com/reports/2013-sustainable-mba/ Currently,

    Will is also responsible for program management of Clark's MBA concentration in Social Change. He teaches several graduate courses including: Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability Consulting, Leading Change and Project Management

  • Nautilus Decisions, Inc.

    Vice President & Treasurer

    Nautilus Decisions provide a customized decision tool to assist with prioritizing projects, selecting investments, etc. by assessing potential benefits and risks. Typical clients include CIOs, CFOs and CSOs.

  • Illampú: Sustainability Epicenter

    President Of The Board Of Directors

    A non-profit with the mission to conserve biodiversity within the rainforest and Andes Mountains of Viracochasi, Perú, and support the community by building an ethical economy based on educational ecotourism and sustainable agriculture.

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute

    Chair, Board of Advisors, Center for Sustainability in Business

    Enable members of the Board of Advisors to contribute to the accomplishment of the mission of the Center for Sustainability in Business

  • Harvard Extension School

    Capstone Advisor & Instructor

    I teach an experiential learning course; i.e., a capstone entitled "Consulting in for Sustainability and Development Practice" for students earning an ALM in Sustainability as well as those working for a Master in Development Practice.

Education

  • Suffolk University Law School

    Juris Doctor

    Law

  • University at Albany

    MBA

    Marketing

  • Le Moyne College

    BS

    Mathematics

Publications

  • A Strategic Decision Model for Evaluating College and University Sustainability Investments

    Management Research Review

    Purpose - In this paper, we examine a strategic decision model and its potential value for assisting academic institutional leaders in addressing climate change by making better informed sustainability investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach - Although the vast majority of engagements have focused on IT project selection and prioritization, it will be demonstrated that there is direct applicability to capital investment decisions related to sustainability. Examples of the results are provided with instructions on how to implement a similar approach for organizations challenged with selection and prioritization of sustainability projects. Finally, the model is assessed critically in terms of challenges and lessons learned from client projects. Findings - The strategic decision model has been found to provide a broader framework for decisions; i.e., both qualitative and quantitative. At the same time, the methodology used with the model engages more stakeholders in the process to help build consensus regarding investment and project decisions. As a portfolio-based model, relative value and risk can be viewed easily to enable focus on what the stakeholders believe to be key projects. This perspective and the functionality of the application enable action to be taken by the decision maker to possibly reduce project risk and/or increase potential value of specific projects.

  • A Strategic Decision Model for Evaluating College and University Sustainability Investments

    Management Research Review

    Purpose - In this paper, we examine a strategic decision model and its potential value for assisting academic institutional leaders in addressing climate change by making better informed sustainability investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach - Although the vast majority of engagements have focused on IT project selection and prioritization, it will be demonstrated that there is direct applicability to capital investment decisions related to sustainability. Examples of the results are provided with instructions on how to implement a similar approach for organizations challenged with selection and prioritization of sustainability projects. Finally, the model is assessed critically in terms of challenges and lessons learned from client projects. Findings - The strategic decision model has been found to provide a broader framework for decisions; i.e., both qualitative and quantitative. At the same time, the methodology used with the model engages more stakeholders in the process to help build consensus regarding investment and project decisions. As a portfolio-based model, relative value and risk can be viewed easily to enable focus on what the stakeholders believe to be key projects. This perspective and the functionality of the application enable action to be taken by the decision maker to possibly reduce project risk and/or increase potential value of specific projects.

  • "Sustainability in Higher Education"

    Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge, U.K,

    A book entitled "Sustainability in Higher Education"​ published August 2015 includes a chapter by Joseph Sarkis and myself entitled "U.S. and International Community-based Sustainability Projects for Deep Learning". The chapter uses a generic framework for deep learning to help evaluate how one such higher education program located at Worcester Polytechnic Institute fits this framework. Data on learning outcomes, provides quantitative support from sustainability-related, community-based projects conducted on an international level. The use of such projects dealing with sustainability issues both locally and globally is detailed with potential application to similar programs as part of a sustainability education curriculum. This analysis provides an opportunity to identify and characterize community-based sustainability projects and their contribution to higher order, integrative and reflective learning. Lessons learned and directions for further research and practical implication are presented.

  • A Strategic Decision Model for Evaluating College and University Sustainability Investments

    Management Research Review

    Purpose - In this paper, we examine a strategic decision model and its potential value for assisting academic institutional leaders in addressing climate change by making better informed sustainability investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach - Although the vast majority of engagements have focused on IT project selection and prioritization, it will be demonstrated that there is direct applicability to capital investment decisions related to sustainability. Examples of the results are provided with instructions on how to implement a similar approach for organizations challenged with selection and prioritization of sustainability projects. Finally, the model is assessed critically in terms of challenges and lessons learned from client projects. Findings - The strategic decision model has been found to provide a broader framework for decisions; i.e., both qualitative and quantitative. At the same time, the methodology used with the model engages more stakeholders in the process to help build consensus regarding investment and project decisions. As a portfolio-based model, relative value and risk can be viewed easily to enable focus on what the stakeholders believe to be key projects. This perspective and the functionality of the application enable action to be taken by the decision maker to possibly reduce project risk and/or increase potential value of specific projects.

  • "Sustainability in Higher Education"

    Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge, U.K,

    A book entitled "Sustainability in Higher Education"​ published August 2015 includes a chapter by Joseph Sarkis and myself entitled "U.S. and International Community-based Sustainability Projects for Deep Learning". The chapter uses a generic framework for deep learning to help evaluate how one such higher education program located at Worcester Polytechnic Institute fits this framework. Data on learning outcomes, provides quantitative support from sustainability-related, community-based projects conducted on an international level. The use of such projects dealing with sustainability issues both locally and globally is detailed with potential application to similar programs as part of a sustainability education curriculum. This analysis provides an opportunity to identify and characterize community-based sustainability projects and their contribution to higher order, integrative and reflective learning. Lessons learned and directions for further research and practical implication are presented.

  • The Potential of Community-based Sustainability Projects for Deep Learning Initiatives

    Journal of Cleaner Production

    This paper to be published in January 2014 describes the impact of the Sustainability Consulting Projects experience and learning. You may access the paper at no charge through January. "The Potential of Community-based Sustainability Projects for Deep Learning Initiatives" by Will O'Brien & Joseph Sarkis, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 62, 1 January 2014, Pages 48–61; Special Issue: Higher Education for Sustainable Development- Emerging Areas. The paper may be of value for: • Consultants to help reduce clients’ operational costs and pollution. Described is a proven methodology, tools, templates as well as examples of Sustainability Action Plans. The method has been used successfully 100+ times at four institutions of higher learning in eastern United States. • Educators searching for innovative approaches to integrate Sustainability Consulting into graduate level curricula for business, environmental science or environmental engineering programs. Provided is a generic framework for deep learning using community-based projects for implementation in the classroom or via delivery on-line.

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