SUSTAINABILITY
In addition, the 1,000 Trees Project sharpened participants’ awareness of their urban environment. “I never paid attention to the trees on the street,” says Mannheim graduate Yi-Hsuan Peng, who was part of a team scouting locations. “By working on this project, I came to realise that the beautiful environment we live in is the result of many people’s hard work.” Peng’s classmate, Upamanyu Sengupta adds: “I realised that small-scale initiatives like planting trees can have a significant cumulative effect in creating a more sustainable and liveable city. This awareness has inspired me to be more conscious of my personal choices and actively engage in environmental efforts, for example by advocating for green spaces.” The City of Mannheim also provides positive feedback, with Gauer comparing the quality of the students’ work and site analysis reports to that of a planning consultancy. “We saved time and money and at the same time gained valuable input,” he concludes. In helping to shape a greener future for Mannheim, the cohort has much of which to be proud. There was also external recognition for their efforts when the 1,000 Trees Project was shortlisted in the Best CSR and Sustainability Initiative category of this year’s AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards, receiving a “Highly Commended” accolade from the jury at January’s ceremony in London. “Considering that AMBA & BGA evaluated projects from business schools worldwide, this recognition is an outstanding accomplishment,” comments Nina Landauer, director of degree programmes at Mannheim Business School. “In terms of the scope, duration, impact and depth of student involvement in both planning and implementation, the school’s Social Class Project is virtually unique. With more than 170 projects completed, the initiative demonstrates just how much business schools, as communities of responsible and committed professionals, can give back to society and contribute to the greater good.”
In some residential areas, locals initially reacted with curiosity or concern to the sight of groups of international students taking measurements and photographs in their streets. However, once the project’s objectives had been explained, the feedback was generally positive. The data collected by the student teams was then consolidated into a single comprehensive document and delivered to the City of Mannheim for implementation. The city has since planted a large number of trees in areas identified by the school’s MBA students. Cultivating collaborative & responsible mindsets A key outcome of the 1,000 Trees Project was the sense of satisfaction felt by cohort members in working together to achieve a tangible result, as Wessels details. “Despite initial obstacles in understanding and analysing the satellite data, our team remained resilient, leveraging our collective expertise and problem-solving skills to deliver impactful results. Our efforts not only raised awareness about the environment but also cultivated a deeper understanding of the importance of working together towards a common goal.” “What is often overlooked in this particular Social Class Project is how much genuine enjoyment our class took from implementing it,” Herrmann points out, before adding how this has impacted his subsequent approach to the SCP component. “My key takeaway is that it is worth encouraging each class to choose not only an impactful project, but also one that they truly enjoy and that strengthens their sense of community: in turn, that noticeably amplifies the overall outcome.”
Bettina Meltzer helps bring the “Mannheim Experience” to life, telling stories from the school’s degree, customised and open certificate programmes. Meltzer joined Mannheim Business School in 2016 and is also a diversity manager at the institution
26 Business Impact • ISSUE 3 • 2026
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