UCLA Anderson students gain the knowledge and tools to address society’s most pressing challenges and graduate with an understanding of how positive societal impact can be achieved across all sectors, industries and functions.
Center for Impact
Our Mission: to inspire, educate and challenge the next generation of leaders to be change makers for positive societal impact.
The UCLA Anderson Center for Impact has three goals: (1) integrate social impact and sustainability into fundamental business education, (2) engage with UCLA faculty to formalize impact measurement and nudge corporate performance, and (3) help firms, consumers, investors and stakeholders make decisions that are better for people and the planet.
Curriculum
Faculty and Research
UCLA Anderson faculty lead research in key areas, such as corporate sustainability, climate and energy, social responsibility, sustainable supply chains, equity, diversity and inclusion, and more.
Student Clubs
The Center for Impact supports the Net Impact and Energy & Cleantech Association student clubs
Signature Programs
MBA students apply theoretical concepts of business to real-world societal challenges. Student teams provide pro bono consulting in marketing, operations, finance and expansion strategy to address strategic challenges of mission-driven nonprofits and social enterprises.
Students get critical hands-on experience investing real money in mission-driven companies through an experiential curriculum consisting of two components: (1) Anderson Venture Impact Partners, UCLA Anderson's impact investment fund; and (2) an impact investing course taught by faculty with impact investing and venture capital expertise.
The Open For Good Project analyzes and rates America’s largest companies on their level of transparency based on their public disclosures of performance across the categories of Governance, People, Environment and Prosperity.
Center News and Events
Apr 30, 2025
Sustainability at Scale: Building a Corporate Career That Makes a Difference
Join Yalmaz Siddiqui as he shares insights from his nearly 20 year journey driving environmental and social sustainability at Fortune 500 companies including The Walt Disney Company, MGM Resorts and Office Depot
Upcoming Events
APR
30
Sustainability at Scale: Building a Corporate Career That Makes a Difference
Join Yalmaz Siddiqui as he shares insights from his nearly 20 year journey driving environmental and social sustainability at Fortune 500 companies including The Walt Disney Company, MGM Resorts and Office Depot
Past Events
Live Webinar: From Procurement to Disclosure: How Healthcare is Advancing Sustainable Supply Chains | Apr 2025
This webinar explored how healthcare institutions can prepare for disclosure mandates by implementing effective, data-driven supplier engagement programs that drive measurable sustainability outcomes across their value chains
From Origin to Opportunity: The Watch Duty Story | Apr 2025
For LA Climate Week 2025, John Mills shared the inspiring journey of Watch Duty, from its humble beginnings to its critical role in the recent LA wildfires and beyond
Building the Future: A Live Inevitable Podcast with Patrick Maloney | Apr 2025
For LA Climate Week 2025, we hosted MCJ Managing Partner and Host, Cody Simms, for a live recording of the Inevitable podcast. Cody shared the stage with Patrick Maloney, the Co-founder and CEO of CIV
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World-Class Faculty
The Center for Impact is proud to support globally renowned faculty who conduct research that has the power to change the way business is led. We invite you to explore their work via the UCLA Anderson Review, a window into crucial topics in business, the economy and the wider world of human existence.
The Debt Market's Indirect Antidote to ESG Greenwashing
Loans that include a sweetener or penalty tied to ESG performance seem to induce more honest reporting
Featuring Research by Judson Caskey
ESG Investors in China Focused on Profit Potential of Climate Change
Less attention to downside of nation’s carbon-neutral goals
Featuring Research by Henry L. Friedman
Can Humanitarian Aid Turn Wastefulness to Sustainability?
Seeing global crises as ongoing, rather than episodic, and applying modern supply-chain management
Featuring Research by Charles Corbett
How You Can Make an Impact
Be part of the dialogue — drive our centers ahead of the curve. Let us provide an avenue for you to remain connected to industry through UCLA Anderson. Your expertise and knowledge are invaluable in helping elevate the caliber of the school. Prepare our students to understand, succeed in and shape the complex world of global business.
Attend our events and conferences
Fund our students and their ideas
Participate as a client in one of our events
Impactful Alumni
Nike Irvin ('89), Founder, ZWN
Nike Irvin spoke to a UCLA Anderson Audience in conversation with Bhavna Sivanand (’14), director of Impact@Anderson, and Julie Ortega (’19), Net Impact's director of engagement.
Nike Irvin spoke to a UCLA Anderson Audience in conversation with Bhavna Sivanand (’14), director of Impact@Anderson, and Julie Ortega (’19), Net Impact's director of engagement.
Hugh Chang ('90), Director of Maternal Newborn and Child Health for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Gates Foundation’s Hugh Chang ('90) Put Technology to Work for Social Change
Gates Foundation’s Hugh Chang ('90) Put Technology to Work for Social Change
Sarah Valdovinos ('01), Co-Founder of Walden Green Energy
Award-winning businesswoman Sarah Valdovinos (’01) wants to develop a greener pipeline to jobs in the lucrative renewables sector.
Award-winning businesswoman Sarah Valdovinos (’01) wants to develop a greener pipeline to jobs in the lucrative renewables sector.