New York and London – (March 2025) – AccountAbility, a globally recognized leader in sustainability advisory services, standards, and research has partnered with the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York (CCNY) to launch the AccountAbility Sustainability Lab (“S Lab”). This groundbreaking initiative will provide a unique, immersive learning experience that prepares the next generation of forward-thinking leaders to advance the sustainability agenda across organizations and deliver a positive impact on global society.

AccountAbility has made a commitment to contribute material financial and in-kind support for the next four years to launch the “S Lab” in partnership with the Colin Powell School. This robust investment will fund program development, student stipends, research resources, and faculty costs.

"As we confront shifting economic realities, technological advancements, and social change, a new and 'different' kind of leadership is required,” stated AccountAbility CEO Mr. Sunil A. (Sunny) Misser. “The AccountAbility 'S Lab' pioneers the development of a new generation of resilient, capable, and principled leaders who can effectively address the foremost issues in the world of tomorrow.”

Empowering Students Through the "S Lab" Fellowship

At the core of the AccountAbility Sustainability Lab is the “S Lab” Fellowship, a year-long program designed to integrate academic rigor with real-world ESG challenges. The fellowship offers CCNY students a structured curriculum, professional mentorship, and industry exposure to position them for successful careers in sustainability. 

Key components of the program include:

• Fall Credit-Bearing Course: A three-credit course led by a Colin Powell School faculty member, developed in collaboration with AccountAbility subject matter experts. The curriculum covers pressing sustainability challenges, including strategy, measurement & reporting, regulatory developments, and emerging topics     such as artificial intelligence and geopolitics.
• Spring Capstone Course: Fellows will engage in a “hands-on” project designed in partnership with AccountAbility, providing practical application of sustainability concepts in a real-world company setting.
• Financial Support: Each fellow will receive a financial stipend to support and facilitate their participation.
• Mentorship: Fellows will be paired with professionals from AccountAbility for one-on-one guidance and career support.
• Paid Summer Internships: Fellows will receive priority consideration for internships through the AccountAbility Fellowship Program, with additional financial support provided.
• Industry Exposure: Students will gain access to sustainability practitioners, corporate executives, and policy leaders through site visits and networking events.
• Cohort-Based Learning: Fellows will engage in a supportive, community-driven learning experience that fosters collaboration and professional growth.

“The AccountAbility Sustainability Lab is a transformative opportunity for our students, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to excel in the fast-growing field of ESG and sustainability,” said Dr. Andrew Rich, the RichardJ. Henley and Susan L. Davis Dean of the Colin Powell School. “My sincere thanks to Sunny Misser for his vision and leadership in making this possible for our students.”

‍

‍

The AccountAbility Sustainability Lab will launch with key milestones to ensure a structured and impactful program. Recruitment of "S Lab" Fellows will occur through Spring 2025, with Mentors assigned to support the Fellows this summer.

In its inaugural year, the "S Lab" Fellowship will support a select number of students, with plans for future expansion.

"At the Colin Powell School, our mission is to prepare our diverse, talented students — who are often hindered by financial and societal constraints — to be tomorrow's leaders,” said Ms. Linda Powell, co-Chair of the Colin Powell School Board of Visitors and Executive Vice President, SAG-AFTRA. “We are proud to collaborate with a global leader like AccountAbility to prepare the next generation of ethical, forward-thinking professionals. Through this partnership with AccountAbility, our students will gain unparalleled access to industry leaders, real-world projects, and career pathways that will empower them to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond.”

Mr. Marco Antonio Achón, co-Chair of the Colin Powell School Board of Visitors, Global Head of Corporate Banking, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking, echoed Ms. Powell’s appreciation for the new partnership with AccountAbility.

“Last year, I had the pleasure of introducing Sunny to Dean Rich — and he immediately grasped the importance of the work we are doing at the Colin Powell School,” said Mr. Achón. “He has now translated this understanding into a generous and substantive partnership that will provide extraordinary opportunities for our students.”

The "S Lab" will “kick-off” in Fall 2025 with a special launch event at AccountAbility’s offices on Madison Avenue in New York City, where "S Lab" Fellows will be the guests of honor.

AccountAbility and the Colin Powell School will also host a Sustainability Forum in Spring 2026, bringing together Fellows, AccountAbility practitioners, and Industry Experts.

“Our partnership with the Colin Powell School through the AccountAbility Sustainability Lab is part of our commitment towards investing in the future generation of leadership by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience needed to navigate the evolving international sustainability landscape,” Sunny Misser stated. “By combining academic rigor with practical application, we are not only preparing future leaders but also hoping to make a lasting, positive impact on society.”

About AccountAbility

Established in 1995, AccountAbility is a leading global consulting and standards firm dedicated to advancing the sustainability and ESG agenda. The firm works with businesses, investors, governments, and multilateral organizations to improve sustainability performance, drive innovation, and create lasting impact. Operating as a Public Benefit Corporation, AccountAbility has a global presence with offices in New York, London, Riyadh, and Dubai. The firm has been recognized by the Financial Times, Forbes, and Capital Finance International for its excellence in sustainability, strategy, and governance and its website is archived by the United States Library of Congress.

For more information on the AccountAbility Sustainability Lab (“S Lab”) and partnership opportunities, please visit www.accountability.org

About the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership

Established in 2013, the Colin Powell School is home to the social science departments at CCNY as well as the core leadership development and public service programs of the College. With 4,000 students, and graduating the most CCNY students annually, the Colin Powell School mission is to transform the nation’s most diverse student body into tomorrow’s global leaders. Half of our students are immigrants; more than seventy percent are first-generation college students. Eighty percent are people of color. Most come from lower income backgrounds. The Colin Powell School and City College remain among the most effective engines of economic and social mobility in the United States. The School is led by a faculty dedicated to the highest standards of research and to the university’s democratic and public obligations. Read more about the Colin Powell School.

About The City College of New York

Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence.

Labor analytics firm Lightcast puts at $3.2 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.

‍