Sustainable Business Lab

S-Lab students pose with Grupo Familia in Colombia.

The benefits of becoming a host organization

Imagine that sustainability is a core operating principle for every business. It’s possible. By hosting a team of S-Lab students, you will be taking an important step toward a more sustainable future for all of us. For 6-8 weeks, our highly qualified students will assess a new initiative or tackle a longstanding sustainability challenge in your company.

  • S-Lab teams bring a fresh and grounded perspective to your organization’s strategy and decision making
  • Teams add short-term capacity to your firm, conducting analysis that can spur further investment and capability building
  • S-Lab projects connect your organization with MIT research, providing insight and rigor to your sustainability strategy

The MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative carefully sources hosts and projects with an eye towards building long-term partnerships. Ideally, we seek projects sponsored by MIT Sloan alumni, but always are on the lookout for S-Lab projects that lead to future engagement with us through internships and other research.

The Sustainability Initiative team works with host organizations to identify potential projects, and provide guidance to student teams on project scope, schedule and deliverables. Each team works remotely from MIT. Hosts include large and small companies, investors, non-profit institutions, and government agencies.

Host organizations do not pay S-Lab students any salary or compensation. MIT policy prohibits full-time students from receiving compensation for course-related work. 

Becoming a host

S-Lab is highly competitive. Not all host candidates are matched with a student team. 

Host timeline

  • November

    Hosts schedule a project scoping call with the Sustainability Initiative at MIT Sloan. Contact: sustainability@sloan.mit.edu.

  • December

    Final S-Lab project proposals due from host organizations using our online system. 

  • January

    MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative holds a host problem formulations workshop prior to releasing projects to students for bidding. 

  • February

    Student teams are matched to projects, and establish scope and schedules with hosts. Teams formalize the problem definition and research methodology in consultation with host and faculty mentor. 

  • March

    Teams conduct secondary data analysis and develop a detailed work plan for primary research. 

  • April

    Student teams execute primary research and develop recommendations. 

  • May

    Student teams present final deliverables to host organizations.

If you have questions, reach out to the MIT Sloan Sustainability at sustainability@sloan.mit.edu

S-Lab host voices

  • Donnie Hodge, CEO, Alta Gracia

    "I am so impressed with what [the S-Lab Team] accomplished in a short time period. I live in the real world and sometimes I think there is a broad expanse separating that world from academia but you bridged that gap. Your work is among the best I have seen. In fact I am already incorporating the idea of comparing to industry standards into our marketing. You have been a pleasure to work with.”

  • Erika Karp, CEO, Cornerstone Capital Group

    "It was terrific; the team was outstanding; they took guidance beautifully; and it will produce an important contribution to the public good.”

  • Jake Kritzer, Environmental Defense Fund

    "It’s always a great experience! I'm continually impressed by the diversity of backgrounds, dedication, enthusiasm and high caliber of the students. These projects give me access to expertise I don't have, and allow me to explore ideas and issues I would not be able to otherwise."

  • Vance Merolla, Colgate-Palmolive Company

    "The S-Lab program, focused on solving real-world sustainability problems, is a great way to bring in new thinking and ‘jump-start’ leading-edge initiatives. The student team was highly motivated and self-directed and brought diverse perspectives to the assigned problem. Overall, a very productive and satisfying experience for our company. Would highly recommend to others."

  • Erika Karp, CEO, Cornerstone Capital Group

    "It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with such an articulate, analytical, proactive, organized and forward-thinking group! The ‘purpose-driven’ nature of the project allowed for terrific energy and creativity as the team truly embraced the principles of "sustainable" finance … The fact that the project represents a real life opportunity for alignment across the capital markets, was truly taken to heart by our team.”

  • Neha Singh, former senior director of operations, Girl Scouts of the USA

    "This project was so valuable because the team provided actionable recommendations, which we are currently working on implementing. We can't wait to see what our energy savings look like!" 

  • Marina Velez, The Nature Conservancy

    "Very positive experience, a pleasure to be working with very professional and action driven individuals. In a way, their collaboration and Project felt a bit like a luxury to us, especially since they provided a perspective and information edge that we currently do not have for the Project. The conversations with the students and the project in turn forced us and our local partners to think differently about the situation at hand and to dig deeper for the information we require to ‘take a next step’ in our conservation efforts and sustainable lobster management. Thanks again, it was a pleasure.”

  • John Sterman, Jay W. Forrester Professor in Computer Science, professor of system dynamics and engineering systems

    "To make a difference in the climate change challenge, we have to change the way everybody thinks about their personal energy choices.”