HSE GSB freshmen learn about Sustainable Development from leading ESG expert Svetlana Ivchenko

In September, the Higher School of Economics Graduate School of Business hosted interactive master classes for more than 500 first-year students with one of Russia’s leading sustainability experts. ESG expert Svetlana Ivchenko introduced students of the flagship undergraduate programs Business Administration and Marketing and Market Analytics not only to practices and strategies of sustainable development management in major Russian metallurgical companies, but also to her personal experience of professional transformation as a top manager grounded in values. The master classes were held as part of the career guidance seminar “The Profession of a Manager in the Modern World”, organized by one of its instructors — Associate Professor Ekaterina Ivanova of the Department of Strategic and International Management, who familiarized students with the theory and practice of ethics, responsibility, and sustainability in contemporary business.

The freshmen had the opportunity to ask the invited speaker questions about Russia’s most pressing challenges from the UN 2030 Agenda and about best practices in sustainability management in both large corporations and social entrepreneurship. Students were particularly interested in Svetlana’s stories about her professional path as Head of the Sustainability Department at MMC Norilsk Nickel, how she deals with uncertainty, shapes a sustainable mindset, integrates AI into work processes, and prevents burnout through socially significant, cultural, and educational projects. The GSB audience highly appreciated the chance to engage directly with the guest speaker and continued their discussions informally even after the session ended.

Svetlana Ivchenko

ESG Expert, Business Coach, Speaker

I wanted to show how sustainability really works in large corporations and to help students see the ‘Green HSE’ within their familiar classrooms — to recognize sustainable development in their lives, their decisions, and their choices. I was very impressed by the deep questions students asked — about the values that guided my decisions, about what sustainability looks like inside a real company, and whether small individual steps can matter or if this is only a state-level agenda. Thinking about these questions develops one’s value orientation and prepares young people for the dilemmas of adult life. It also shows that the future competencies highlighted by the World Economic Forum — critical thinking, empathy, resilience — are all parts of holistic thinking for sustainable development.

Dmitrii Knatko

Academic Supervisor of the "Business Administration" program, Associate Professor, Department of Strategic and International Management, HSE GSB

It is extremely important for us that students learn to view business management through the lens of responsible leadership from the very first year. Today, as companies face global risks and the need to consider the interests of society and the planet, future managers must not only master professional tools but also develop sustainable thinking. This is why we invite business leaders and top executives — such as Svetlana Ivchenko — to share the most valuable thing with our students: practical experience and a real understanding of how values and principles of sustainability are embodied in management practice.

Ekaterina Ivanova

Doctor of Social and Economic Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Strategic and International Management, HSE GSB

From the very first days of study, GSB students are immersed in a culture of responsible business. We instill a shared system of values, shape a mindset for advancing sustainable development goals, and create a nurturing environment that enables future business leaders to realize their talents in their chosen profession for the benefit of our country. I am grateful to Svetlana Ivchenko for sharing her professional journey as a manager and her practical experience in implementing large-scale ESG transformation projects in flagship Russian metallurgical companies. This valuable exchange will leave a lasting mark in the hearts and minds of our students.