Faculty

Profile

Raz is an Assistant Professor of Strategic Design and Management at the School of Design Strategies, where he explores sustainable business models and how companies can respond effectively to the climate crisis. Currently, he serves as an Associate Director of the BBA Strategic Design & Management  Program. His new book “Rethinking Corporate Sustainability in the Era of Climate Crisis - A Strategic Design Approach” was published by Palgrave Macmillan in July 2021.

Raz teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in innovation, leadership, sustainable systems, business models, and strategic design. He is involved in research projects focusing on developing sustainable business models, climate action, and sustainability-as-unusual tools and frameworks for business (Sandbox Zero). He also led a collaboration between Parsons students and refugees in Berlin, working together on entrepreneurial initiatives to address refugee needs in cities and refugee camps. Between 2015 and 2018 Raz served as the Co-Director of the graduate program in Strategic Design and Management.

Raz is the co-founder of two green startups (Hemper Jeans and Eco-Libris) and has been writing regularly on issues related to sustainable business, climate change and strategic design. He holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Communication and Economics from the Hebrew University.

Recent Publications

Book (July 2021): Godelnik, R. "Rethinking Corporate Sustainability in the Era of Climate Crisis - A Strategic Design Approach". Palgrave Macmillan.

Book chapter: Raz Godelnik and Jen van der Meer, “Sustainable Business Models in an Entrepreneurial Environment” in Sustainable Business Models: Innovation, Implementation and Success, ed. Annabeth Aagaard (Plagrave MacMillan, 2019), 239–76.

Papers: 

Godelnik, R. 2021. "Designers and the Fight against Climate Change: A Design Knowledge Framework for the Age of Climate Crisis." The International Journal of Design Management and Professional Practice 15 (1): 21-42. doi:10.18848/2325-162X/CGP/v15i01/21-42.

Godelnik, R. (2020, May/Aug.). The sharing economy dilemma: the response of incumbent firms to the rise of the sharing economy. International Journal of Innovation - IJI, São Paulo, 8(2), 176-203. https://doi.org/10.5585/iji.v8i2.17391.

Latest articles:
Will this be the sustainability trend that defines 2022?, Medium, January 2022

To shop or not to shop in the holidays? That is the (wrong?) question for the climate warrior, Medium, December 2021

How the climate crisis is transforming the meaning of sustainability in business, The Conversation, October 2021

The guide for awakened sustainability warriors - part 1 (the roles), Medium, August 2021

It's time for a new vision for business: Awakened sustainability, Medium, July 2021

How to fix corporate sustainability? Start with dark matter, Medium, June 2021

Forget about the business case for sustainability, Age of Awareness, May 2021

The battle of narratives: Five new sustainability narratives for business, Noteworthy - The Journal Blog, April 2021

The end of sustainability-as-usual is in sight, Medium, March 2021

Are companies taking climate change seriously? A new tool helps you figure it out, Medium, December 2020

A New President is Not Enough to Fight the Climate Crisis. We Need a New Theory of Change, Medium, November 2020

Are Corporations Fighting Climate Change the Wrong Way?, Medium, September 2020

It's Decision Time: Reimagine or Kill the Circular Economy, Medium, August 2020

Performances and Appearances

Latest media appearances/interviews:

Interviewed for the podcast Climify ("Let's write a new story about sustainability"), November 2021.

Interviewed for the podcast environmentenlist ("New Narratives for Corporate Sustainability"), October 2021.

Interviewed for the podcast The Deep Dive ("Sustainability as usual is dead"), September 2021. 

Interviewed for a Fortune article on Salesforce's sustainability efforts ("How Salesforce wants to make its supply chain more sustainable"), June 2021.

Interviewed for Glossy's article on sustainability in fashion brands ("'Secret Sustainability': Fashion brands are learning to master initiatives before marketing them"), January 2021.

Interviewed for Bloomberg's story on Amazon's climate pledges ("Amazon Nixed 'Green' Shipping Proposal To Avoid Alienating Shoppers"), March 2020.

Interviewed for the podcast The Deep Dive ("Climate Crisis and Brand Story"), February 2020. 

Interviewed for the podcast Nordic Foodtech ("Designing For The Climate Crisis"), February 2020.

Research Interests

corporate sustainability, climate change, business models, strategic design, circular economy, sharing economy, platform coops, refugee crisis.