UBC MBA alum finds success in labour market hungry for climate action expertise

Irene Korinetz is leveraging her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the UBC Sauder School of Business to combat climate change. As a Senior Program Manager with TELUS’ Environmental Solutions team, she helps develop businesses that are solving environmental challenges and creating a healthier planet. While her work days are intense and involve constant problem-solving, Korinetz says she is always learning, which is deeply satisfying.

Applying entrepreneurial skills and technology to solve environmental challenges
 

It’s been about 18 months since Korinetz joined a newly-minted team tasked with identifying and investing in high-potential companies that are delivering environmental benefits. With a UBC MBA degree that she earned in 2009, as well as certifications in Project Management and Change Management, Korinetz applies her broad leadership experience to a job that she loves.

“Fifteen years ago, when I was thinking about going back to school, I was debating doing an MBA versus a Master’s in Sustainability,” says Korinetz from her home office in Langley, B.C. “I’ve always been interested in the environment, so it’s amazing that my career has led me here. I get to channel all of my skills and passion into work that’s making an impact on people and the planet, and that feels really good.”

The first project Korinetz and her team tackled was the acquisition of an Alberta-based company called Shakti, which specializes in tree planting, tree sourcing, seed collection, and site preparation in B.C. and Alberta. The company recently rolled out technologies that track each tree planter’s location, record and collect accurate and real-time data from the field, streamline communications and online training, and manage projects.

Supporting business students in becoming climate leaders
 

Companies large and small are looking for solutions in response to widespread concern over the negative impacts of climate change. Since the federal government pledged in 2021 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, businesses, governments, and educational institutions are rising to the challenge by partnering and innovating.

UBC Sauder has launched a program to equip MBA students with climate knowledge. The specialized Climate Career Track provides future managers and leaders with an understanding of climate impacts on organizations, how to reduce them, and how to report on them. With courses such as Climate Economics and Markets, Impact Investing, Climate and ESG Accounting and Reporting, Indigenous Relations and Climate Economy and more, students are developing the acumen to lead change through sustainable business practices.

Korinetz believes the market will welcome MBA graduates with academic credentials in environmental business solutions. “There are so many opportunities in this space, and not just for entrepreneurs, but in areas like policy, consulting, project management, marketing, procurement, and supply chain management, which is critical because there has never been so much pressure on businesses to reduce CO2 emissions.”

The power of teamwork and diversity of thought
 

Looking back on her own MBA experience, Korinetz says the payoff continues to this day.

“My salary immediately doubled after doing my MBA at UBC Sauder,” she recalls. “I also gained new skills and tools that I apply every day, especially from my finance and accounting courses.”

In addition to academics, Korinetz’s classroom experience led to deeper insights, such as the value of having diverse perspectives among team members.

“My classmates were all different ages and included a doctor, a lawyer, and a personal trainer. Everyone had something to contribute,” she recalls. “When you are young and inexperienced, I don’t think you know how to leverage people’s diverse backgrounds and skillsets to the fullest. I learned how to do that at UBC Sauder. Today, one of my biggest strengths is relationship management; partnering with people and maximizing everyone’s unique talents to get stuff done.”

Turning to the next generation for ideas and execution
 

Korinetz believes she landed in the environmental solutions space at just the right time. 

“A few years ago, it was hard to get people to care about climate change, but the tide is turning,” she observes. “People are starting to see the financial cost of not protecting the environment. And with all the attention on climate change, investment dollars are flowing in and more and more entrepreneurs want to develop climate-action solutions. We are finally moving in the right direction.”

One of the perks of her job is collaborating with younger professionals whose energy and commitment make even the most complex business challenges solvable. 

“Younger generations are so important in this space. They’ve grown up with environmental challenges and they’ve also grown up with technology. They’re the ones building start-ups and creating the technology solutions to fight climate change and clean up our planet,” she says. “We need their ideas and we need their passion. I truly believe young people are the ones who are going to turn things around.”