Sustaining partnerships, progress with Business Sustainability Leadership Forum

A group of people posing for a photo in a modern office space with wooden accents and large windows. They all wear name tags and are smiling towards the camera.
Attendees of the Oct. 9 BSLF meeting hosted by American Family Insurance at “The Spark” office building in downtown Madison, a space that models sustainable innovation.

One year ago, the Office of Business Engagement (OBE) and UW–Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) teamed-up with prominent businesses to spark important conversations about environmental sustainability. Known as the Business Sustainability Leadership Forum (BSLF), the group has been meeting regularly to share insights and identify common sustainability challenges.

“What makes this group exciting and unique is the diversity of perspectives and experience from industry, university and government partners that are brought together,” says Sara Braas, associate director of OBE and one of the main BSLF coordinators. “The result is a more thorough and profound understanding of the cross-sector sustainability challenges and, ultimately, the most innovative shared solutions.”

Group of people standing in a conference room, smiling and making a "W" hand gesture that represents the University of Wisconsin, with pendant lights above and paintings on the wall in the background.
The Business Sustainability Leadership Forum with UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin (center) at the inaugural full group meeting on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.

Throughout its first year, BSLF partners have been refining the group’s scope and mission. In conjunction with the Sustainability Research Hub on campus, it has developed a strong network of leading experts on campus. The work continues in tandem with UW–Madison’s RISE-EARTH initiative, which will accelerate the growth of UW–Madison’s environmental sustainability research, adding up to 40 new campus-funded hires at all levels across the university.

“Creating space for the exchange of ideas and building connections is an extremely important and valuable function,” notes Braas. “But this is a group of doers who quickly identified the desire for action.”

Four professionals are engaged in a discussion near a flip chart in a well-lit conference room with large windows and a wooden wall panel.
During an April 2024 meeting of BSLF, attendees worked in groups to discuss BSLF strategy considerations.

At the group’s last meeting in October, hosted by American Family Insurance, more than 40 representatives from businesses, campus units and governmental partners joined OBE and Nelson Institute at “The Spark” office building in downtown Madison, a space that epitomizes sustainable innovation. There, the group began to hone-in on its focus and purpose: a shared research project.

Professional presentation in a conference room with attendees seated facing two speakers, PowerPoint slides displayed in the background.
BSLF attendees on Oct. 7 in “The Spark” building discussing project opportunity mapping.

“There is a great deal of enthusiasm, insight and innovation emerging from the Forum,” says Aly Fleming, Director of Public Private Partnerships at NIES. “The participants are communicating authentically about challenges and successes and, as a result, they’ve collectively identified project work that will have a shared impact in our state and beyond.”

As the group moves into its second year, BSLF will start conducting research and collaborative projects to advance public-private partnerships in sustainability. It will also continue to welcome new members.

“We have an incredible group of top businesses from Wisconsin and the region that operate globally — but there’s more room at the table,” says Fleming. “With more diverse partnership and participation in this work, we know we’ll see successful generation and adoption of innovative sustainability practices.”

If you are a leader on sustainability at a corporation with strong ties to Wisconsin and interested in getting involved, contact OBE.