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2008 Net Impact North America Conference

November 13 - 15, 2008 : Philadelphia, PA

Conference Newsletter June 2008

What new breakthroughs will improve our

world and create advantages today for sustainability tomorrow?

Join over 1,800 graduate business students and professionals to discuss how we can disrupt the status quo in the business word to create social and environmental value for our future. For more info, go to the conference Web site or contact us

Al Gore to Keynote 2008 ConferenceEvery Fall, Net Impact hosts a conference for business leaders and MBA's to get together and talk about using business methods to move our world in a stable and healthy direction.

This year’s conference, The Sustainable Advantage – Creating Social and Environmental Value, will feature Nobel Laureate Al Gore, along with tons of exciting panels, brainstorming sessions and a career expo.

Volunteer Excited for Upcoming ConferenceNet Impact’s conference doesn't’t happen without the help of volunteers. Emily Schiller is contributing her time and energy to help shape this year's conference.

“I am excited about the potential for student impact with respects to curriculum and speaker, career coaching and employer coffee chats. New concepts like a sustainable products fair or art show, and well-structured, fun networking events that will help students meet other students and professionals who care about the same things,” Emily said.

For Emily, the Net Impact conference is a fundamental representation of her beliefs. She believes along with Net Impact that business should be a facilitator of the principles of civic responsibility and environmental protection.

“I saw this as an opportunity to work on a project that incorporated so much of what I believe in and care about. I also believe Net Impact’s conference will help Wharton become more engaged on these issues. For me, it was a no-brainer,” Emily said.

Emily has worked hard to make sure that Net Impact’s conference offers the highest quality content. It is important to Emily because the conference is about demonstrating that the business world is filled with leaders and builders who want to not only create financial success, but success in creating a more stable

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and environmentally healthy world.

“Though we are busy, a little crazy and more than a little stressed out, as a Conference Design Team Co-chair, I am learning so much about my own leadership style, my strengths and weaknesses, and what it takes to get results. I am grateful for this opportunity,” Emily said.

What do You Want to Talk About?Net Impact works hard every year to provide attendees with an abundance of information, discussion, and debate on the latest trends for MBA's who want to make a difference.

Last year, two panels in particular provided an in-depth discussion that informed audience members about new and cutting edge trends in the business world:

● E-Waste: Business' newest environmental hazard - This panel focused on corporate waste and how companies can make an impact through EPEAT, a system where companies learn how to choose the proper computer desktops, laptops, and computer monitors that are environmentally safe. Sarah O'Brien, EPEAT Outreach Director for the Green Electronics Council, represented EPEAT during the discussion.

● Impact at Work: Workplace Volunteerism - This panel focused on volunteer programs initiated by employees that use their company’s resources in projects that serve the community. Susan Strayer, author of The Right Job, Right now, moderated the panel.

Net Impact depends on you to help us develop next Fall’s collection of enriching panels. Submit a proposal for a panel. With your help, Net Impact can once again offer a conference filled with unique and stimulating panels.

Got a great idea for a panel topic? Contact us.

Attracting Socially Responsible Business LeadersNet Impacts annual conference always attracts the best and the brightest in the business. This year’s conference titled, “The Sustainable Advantage – Creating Social and Environmental Value” is no different. This year Net Impact will host speakers from both the profit and non-profit sectors who will discuss key ideas on how to use business know-how to make the world more environmentally healthy and stable.

Among the many leaders of the profit and non-profit sector, speaking will be Al Gore, Nobel Laureate. The former Vice-President was the recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to raise awareness about global warming. In addition, he has been awarded a 2007 Honorary Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the 2007 Gothenburg Prize, and the 2008 Dan David Prize. Al Gore has continually been an advocate for global awareness of climate change and environmental issues.

Net Impact is also proud to welcome again, for the second time in a row, Chad Holliday, CEO of DuPont. The Director of DuPont was elected to the Business Roundtable's Task Force for Environment, Technology and Economy. Also, he has been chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). He has co-authored a book Walking the Talk that talks about the business case for sustainable advancement and corporate responsibility.

Net Impact is also proud to have several other well respected and philanthropic business and advocacy leaders:

● Orin Smith, CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company, whose progressive attitude toward employee relations and corporate responsibility to the community has earned him the Ellis Island Award.

● Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia—a clothing company devoted to environmental activism that commits 1% of their total sales, or 10% of their profit, to environmental groups. Since 1985, when the program was first started,

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Patagonia has donated $25 million to over 1,000 organizations. ● Marian Wright Edelman is the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund—an organization that acts

as a child advocacy and research group. She has been awarded the Barnard Medal of Distinction, the 1995 Community of Christ International Peace Award, and more than 65 honorary degrees.

Net Impact continues to seek the top people in the business world to present their arguments on how to use business resources to positively affect people and the environment. Come and join the conversation. Learn from the best on how to become the best.

Making a Difference through VolunteerismNet Impact depends on volunteers to develop and foster the creation of the Net Impact Conference. Such a volunteer is Jessica Foster. Jessica is currently an MBA student at Wharton School focusing on Business & Public Policy, Strategic Management.

She has joined the Conference design team and feels that business savvy can facilitate world change. “Success is often determined by thinking in a business savvy sense,” Jessica stated emphatically, “Business ideology helps provide a focus for achieving goals and sustainability.”

With civicly responsible MBA's like Jessica, who has worked as a consultant for The Monitor Group, and as a Legislative Aide for the Office of Senator Arlen Specter, Net Impact will achieve its goal of providing a stimulating and engaging conference.

On the other hand, Jessica is getting as much from Net Impact than they are getting from her. “Being a part of the 2008 conference gives me an opportunity to expose myself more to using business for social change,” Jessica mentioned, “It is educating me about enterprises that are using business skills to make a social impact, and that is a valuable experience. “

The key element of Jessica Foster contribution as a member of the Conference design team is not only her knowledge, skills, and experience; but, more importantly, her enthusiasm. Jessica is looking forward to the conference as much as all the people at Net Impact!

“Sharing energy and enthusiasm with the Conference Design Team has been an amazing experience because of the positive feelings when leading, inspiring, and motivating other people,” Jessica said ardently, “The 2008 Net Impact Conference will be a lasting legacy at Wharton, and I’m proud to be at the center of that.”

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