Our Full-time MBA students take part in a variety of extra-curricular activities to supplement the academics of the programme.
In February our Full-time MBA Class of 2026 embarked on the inaugural Impact Trails, Walking the Talk on Sustainability trip, held at Port Sunlight Village Trust in Liverpool.
ESG initiatives
This initiative aimed to provide participants with hands-on learning about the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in business operations and community development. Led by Metri Wulandari, Vice President of ESG and Community on our Class of 2026 Student Council, the project engaged the MBA cohort alongside 14 other students, fostering collaboration and practical ESG application.
It offered them a rare opportunity to witness how sustainable business strategies can drive both social impact and environmental preservation.
The historic village, founded by William Lever, showcases a pioneering approach where businesses provide housing, healthcare, and green spaces to improve the quality of life for their workers.
Lever sought to build a new kind of civilisation for his workers, who previously lived in conditions far from hygienic. Disease spread easily, and there were few facilities for washing or proper toilets. Lever claimed that Port Sunlight was an exercise in profit sharing. However, rather than distribute profits directly, he reinvested them into creating a village that was both 'liveable and healthy' for his workers.
MBA students engaging with sustainability in practice
Metri emphasised the significance of this visit, stating, "Impact Trails is designed to bridge theory with real-world practice. Learning about how Port Sunlight applied sustainability and governance principles helps us understand what it means to be truly stakeholder driven."
"Seeing businesses succeed by prioritising their workers and the environment offers valuable lessons for our future careers, particularly in creating long-term positive impact.
"This initiative reflects the broader goal of the Full-Time MBA programme at Alliance MBS, which actively encourages its students to engage with sustainability in practice."
The Full-time MBA programme aims to develop leaders who possess original thinking, enabling them to create long-term sustainable and positive impacts in their industries and communities. Through experiential learning opportunities like Impact Trails, students are better equipped to translate complex ESG concepts into actionable strategies for the future.
What happened during the trip
During the day-long trip, students participated in a guided tour of the village, explored the Port Sunlight Museum, and engaged in group discussions on how ESG principles could be implemented across various industries.
Many attendees highlighted how the experience helped deepen their understanding of sustainability beyond classroom lectures.
One participant, Vaibhav, reflected: "Being passionate about ESG, I found the visit to Port Sunlight incredibly insightful. William Lever's vision of a fair and respectful corporate culture is still evident today, over a century after his passing.
The community continues to honour his legacy, and it shows how treating employees well can empower them to drive societal transformation."
"Port Sunlight is a powerful example of how culture shapes impact and long-term sustainability."
The Impact Trails initiative is driven by its core mission: 'Explore, Learn, and Create Impact.' It forms part of Alliance MBS's commitment to fostering leaders who are equipped to drive sustainability and social responsibility in the real world.
