Kelsey Niehoff ’24 Named 2023 ClimateCap Fellow
Niehoff is among a select group of MBA students in the inaugural cohort of the fellowship, which is intended to help prepare a new generation of climate leaders.
Kelsey Niehoff ’24 is among a select group of MBA students named inaugural 2023 ClimateCap Fellows. The fellowship is intended to help develop a new generation of climate leaders over the course of an immersive, year-long experience.
The fellowship, which is managed by the ClimateCAP program team at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, is open to full-time MBA students. This year the fellowship will run from January to December 2023. Key elements include learning and development sessions, networking, and self-directed project work, which will take place in parallel with the students’ MBA studies at their home universities. The inaugural cohort includes 12 students.
As a fellow, Niehoff will be exploring topics including sustainable land use, consumerism, and waste management systems. She is also interested in exploring how regulatory bodies and emerging technologies can drive lasting behavior change, she said.
“The ClimateCAP Fellowship is a unique opportunity to advance my knowledge by not only participating in cohort-based learning, but also through a self-directed climate project that translates my learning into reality,” Niehoff said.
After graduating from Yale SOM, Niehoff hopes to focus on driving sustainable innovation in the fashion industry. “I want to focus on the apparel system, from revolutionary material innovations to supply chain transparency and worker’s rights,” she said.
During the fellowship, Niehoff also hopes to explore the role of education in mitigating climate change.
“The first step in change management is preparing others for the change,” she said. “My self-directed project will explore how to educate consumers on the impact of their footwear and garment purchases. I want to prove to fashion industry consumers that their purchasing and ownership behaviors matter, specifically with regard to climate change.”
The 2023 fellowship will be conducted virtually this year, with the exception of the ClimateCAP Summit, which will take place this month in Austin, Texas.