How an MBA can help you pivot into the sustainability field

Full-time MBA alum Max Frank shares how his learnings from the programme helped propel his career in the field of sustainability.

“That was the first day I realized that, wow, I could actually do something that’s not just about making money, but doing some good for the planet and society,” says Max Frank.

It was 2015 and Max was working in commercial real estate in Los Angeles, attracted by the glitz and glamour of million-dollar deals, when he came across the world of sustainability consulting via McKinsey & Company’s website while cold calling firms.

After graduating with a degree in political science and a minor in biology from the University of California, Irvine, Max found himself in a role at financial services firm Northwestern Mutual before moving to LA and working for an IT company as an account manager.

But it wasn’t until he started researching further into some of the great work being done in sustainability consulting that he finally found his calling, and aimed for a career path that would help move the world towards net zero.

With the help of an MBA at Warwick Business School, the 36-year-old is now surrounded by the beautiful pine trees of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado, while working as a consultant specializing in sustainability for Capgemini.

“The beauty of it is that we can break down these big goals into manageable pieces,” says Max. “We start by helping clients measure their carbon footprint and set targets. Then, we build a strategy to get them there. It really is very fulfilling to help companies become more sustainable.”

When Max had his lightbulb moment, he was ahead of the curve for sustainability but didn’t have the work experience to make the transition – he needed an MBA. However, when looking for an MBA course that included the subject, it was primarily in Europe where business schools were teaching business and sustainability together.

“In the US at the time, there weren’t many programs focused on sustainability,” says Max. “That’s when the idea of an MBA abroad really took root.”

By then Max had moved to Austin, Texas, working as a software salesman in the tech industry. Once he had paid off his student debt Max decided to take the plunge and his research led him to choosing Warwick Business School.

In 2020, he enrolled into its Full-time MBA program and plunged into the hours of study, group work and intense essay writing that the course entails.

“It was a big leap, especially during the peak of COVID,” says Max. “But I knew this was my chance to pivot my career. I had planned to go a couple of years earlier, but I met my now wife in Austin, so I wanted to get to know her.

“She came out to the UK at the end of my MBA and we lived in London for a year and a half together after finishing it, which was great.”

The MBA proved to be a turning point for Max. He not only gained valuable business acumen but also honed his understanding of sustainability, both in terms of environmental sustainability and implementing sustainability in an organization.

One particular conversation with John Colley, Professor of Practice and strategy expert at Warwick, stands out in his mind.

“I was on the fence about consulting,” says Max. “Professor Colley advised me that consulting would allow me to experience a variety of sustainability issues and clients. That way, I wouldn’t pigeonhole myself too early.”

This advice resonated deeply with Max. He landed a role with Capgemini Invent, a leading consultancy firm, a few months after graduating. Here, he found his niche in advising firms on their net-zero strategy.

“I leverage the strategy expertise from my MBA and the sustainability knowledge I gained at Warwick,” says Max. “We help clients develop net-zero or climate strategies. Help them set realistic targets without affecting the bottom line too much and look at the business decisions around operations and the supply chain that will help them get closer to those targets.”

Max finds immense satisfaction in his work promoting sustainability, seeing the tangible benefits his consulting has on businesses and, consequently, the environmental impact.

Looking back, he acknowledges the perfect timing of his career shift. The demand for sustainability expertise is rapidly growing, and Max is at the forefront of this movement.

“I think I entered the field at the right time,” says Max. “It’s not oversaturated yet, but there’s a growing awareness of the need for corporate sustainability expertise.

“Moving to the UK and doing an MBA at Warwick was a perfect move for me. At the time US MBA courses were focused on the finance industry and so Europe was the best place to do an MBA focusing on sustainability.

“The MBA at Warwick really gave me international exposure with Professors who live and work from all over the world, and my class-mates were from so many different countries as well.

“Plus, I had always wanted to travel Europe and see different cultures. The MBA at Warwick allowed me to do that.

“It has given me the foundational knowledge on sustainability, the energy transition and strategy tools to shift into a job that I love doing.”

This article was originally featured on Poets&Quants.

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