Student Profile

Name: Amy L. Kostelansky-Rafinski
University/College: University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
Program/Major: Master of Science in Sustainable Management
Year of Study: Graduate as of August 2024
Why did you choose to join the Summer B Impact Teams Program? I had been aware of B Corps and when I learned of the opportunity to join a B Academics B Impact Teams program, I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about the certification through hands-on experience. During graduate school, I took a responsible business class that had a significant impact on me, enforcing the importance of organizations taking ownership of their impact. Combined with my work in corporate responsibility and my experience managing sustainability certifications in the apparel industry joining the B Impact Teams program felt like a natural progression for my learning and growth.

Key Learning and Impact

What were the top three skills or insights you gained from the program?

1. Interdisciplinary collaboration can work as a tool to educate participants and solve problems/create solutions across fields of expertise.
2. I learned about social entrepreneurship during from one of our mentors and found the idea incredibly inspiring. Building a business with an integrated social mission ensures that companies are always focused on more than just the bottom line.
3. Being a part of this team helped me exercise my leadership skills. It helped me examine how I show up for the people around me and how I can be a leader and an expert in this space, while creating space for others to grow.

How did the program shape your understanding of sustainable business and impact?

I recognized that any business regardless of size or focus, can be grounded in sustainable business practices and creating positive impact. With my background in apparel production there was a focus on sourcing of physical products. However, Briyah Institute provided a service of empowering leaders, a business model without a physical product. Yet, Adriana was able to integrate responsible sourcing by supporting local businesses that also focused on social and environmental responsibility. This shift from product to people was a learning experience for me. People and services can be a supply chain as well.

What was the most rewarding part of the experience?

The most rewarding part of the experience for me was the open-arms acceptance of all participants. I felt the diversity of our group allowed for some really insightful commentary and brainstorming, resulting in thorough support of our client Briyah Institute as well as my own expanded learning.

A Day in the Life: Summer 2024

Describe your typical week as a participant in the Summer B Impact Teams program:

• We kicked off our B Impact Team by meeting with Adriana Machado of Briyah Institute. Machado shared her journey and vision for Briyah as a future certified B Corporation. This is where we learned how we could support the businesses pursuit of their B Corporation certification, as well as the benchmarks and maintenance they would need to be recertified in the following years.
• Our team met once a week, walking through our collective goals and individual tasks for the week. We would discuss our progress or any complications we were experiencing, supporting each other through brainstorming and sharing ideas. We would then meet with Adriana Machado, of Briyah Institute to ensure alignment in our tasks.
• I often joined open office hours with Rachel Haynes so I could sit in and learn what other students were working on or had questions about.
• I enjoyed the program presentations, where we were able to learn what the other B Impact teams were working on.
• We also had the opportunity to join meetings with guest speakers. These were generally members of the B Corp community who would share their experiences and how they were integrating the B Corp mission into their businesses or creating a curriculum for students interested in pursuing responsible business. 

What tools, resources, or strategies were most helpful in managing your time and responsibilities?

• Access to Briyah’s assessment
• Meeting with the Recertification team was a huge help in understanding how we could proactively guide Briyah Institute for their future recertification using the new standards.
• Having a chance to check in with Rachel Haynes and ask questions during open office hours was helpful. There was a lot of support throughout the program. I always felt like I could reach out for clarification.
• Our mentors were a great support, sharing their time and expertise with us. They were respectful of our goals and strategies, but stepped in to help us when we needed it. (Bruno even met with us after the program to share more about social entrepreneurship!)

Advice for Future Participants & Reflections

Embrace the program’s resources and the educational opportunities and join as many meetings and guest speakers as you can. These learning and networking experiences were invaluable to me and enhanced my understanding of how B Corporations can change the way businesses impact our society and environment.

What are your biggest takeaways from this experience?

You’re never too old to learn! I wasn’t sure I would be accepted into the program as a non-traditional student, but I put myself out there, and I appreciate that I was selected to participate. It was a truly wonderful experience and I learned so much.

How has the program prepared you for future career or academic opportunities?

I recently started working for the non-profit PA Fibershed. While, as a non-profit, we cannot become a certified B Corp, the organization embodies many of the values that B Lab promotes in responsible businesses. Grounded in building a sustainable and circular fiber and textile community in Pennsylvania, we are also developing programs for students in the state. I have even noticed crossover between the B Academics community and the Fibershed community, reinforcing the shared commitment to sustainability and responsible systems change. My graduate school experience, along with my immersion in B Academics and B Impact Teams, has created a natural segue into this new role.

Connect with Amy!