Honest Tea cofounder Seth Goldman put the tea in Kogod’s Gamechangers in Sustainability speaker series, kicking off the yearlong program on February 22.
Cosponsored by the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics—funded by a gift to the Change Can’t Wait campaign—the initiative builds on the reputation of the master’s in sustainability management, the school’s fastest-growing graduate program, which is being updated for fall 2023 with enhanced curriculum and a 12-month online modality. The series features eight innovative Fortune 500 CEOs, small-business founders, and investors who are making an outsized impact on sustainability.
“As one of the only business schools in the nation to house a sustainability management program, our school trains future leaders to operate at the nexus of business, government, and society,” Kogod dean David Marchick said. “This speaker series enables business leaders to share their story about how they are creating a more sustainable world.”
Marchick, who moderated the session, called Goldman, chief change agent of snack company Eat the Change and chair of the Beyond Meat board of directors, “the most successful sustainable entrepreneur in the country” and the perfect gamechanger to kick off the program.
Goldman cofounded Honest Tea in 1998. A decade later, Coca-Cola bought 40 percent of the Bethesda, Maryland–based company, before purchasing the rest in 2011. He went on to launch two ventures with Top Chef alumnus Spike Mendelsohn: restaurant chain PLNT Burger and Eat the Change, which debuted its new Just Ice Tea line last September, shortly after Coca-Cola announced plans to discontinue Honest Tea.
Just Ice Tea, which recently became Whole Foods Market’s best-selling brand of tea, marks the second time Goldman has captured lightning in a bottle. By the end of its first year in production, Honest Tea was also the bestseller in 17 Whole Foods locations. At the time, the brand wasn’t sweet enough to garner a spot in more mainstream markets—but as organic foods started appearing on their shelves, Honest Tea slowly began slurping up market share.
“We were the best-selling tea in the natural foods industry, but we wanted to move beyond that,” Goldman said. “The mission had always been to democratize organics, not to just sell healthy food to healthy people.
“We need two-and-a-half Earths to feed the planet the way the United States feeds itself,” he continued. “We have to find ways to deliver nutrient-dense foods that are delicious and environmentally friendly.”
Gamechangers in Sustainability has also welcomed Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International; Monica Pearce, founder of Tenth Ward Distilling; Nicole McGrew, founder of Threadleaf; and Sara Polon, cofounder of Soupergirl. The series will resume during the fall semester.
Green Power Brokers
Kogod has assembled more than two dozen leading executives—experts in climate risk, supply chain management, human rights, governance and stakeholder engagement, and sustainable investment—to help elevate the school’s focus on sustainability management and expand networking and experiential learning opportunities for students.
The Kogod Sustainability Advisory Council, which will meet biannually, includes:
- Mimi Alemayehou, senior vice president, Mastercard
- Roxanne Brown, international vice president, United Steelworkers Union
- Seth Goldman, cofounder and CEO, Eat the Change
- Brian Keane, SPA/BA ’89, founder and president, SmartPower
- Marcene Mitchell, senior vice president of climate change, World Wildlife Fund
- Larry Selzer, CEO, Conservation Fund
- Stacy Swann, Kogod/MBA ’05, CEO, Climate Finance Advisors
“Sustainability is one of the fastest-growing fields in business. The Financial Times recently highlighted how leading companies are having a hard time finding enough qualified applicants,” says Kogod dean David Marchick. “We are fortunate to benefit from members of the advisory council to help prepare our students for successful careers in the field.”