A retail industry veteran, Cara Smyth joined Fordham University as Fellow and Founder of the Responsible Business Coalition (RBC). The think tank incubates scalable business solutions that address the social and environmental impacts of fashion through its ecosystem and regular convenings of 50 chief executive officers, representing more than 275 brands, and in turn influences research and future education of business leaders.

Together with the chief executive officers, Ms. Smyth created a catalyzing ecosystem initiative called Fashion Makes Change (FMC), a project with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Bringing together industry, non-profits, and philanthropy, FMC is a multi-impact solution that engages consumers on multiple platforms including on-product sustainability attribute information, collective action via women’s education, and supply chain decarbonization initiatives.

Accenture, the global management consulting firm, tapped Ms. Smyth to lead its global ESG Retail practice, building data-driven environmental, social, and governance (ESG) protocols that help future-proof business, resetting retail as the demands of investors, regulations, and consumers demonstrate the materiality of data-driven ESG in managing business.