Karen Greenbaum has been named chief operating officer and managing director at Nixon Peabody. Greenbaum has more than 25 years of operations experience from Mercer and has managed a broad range of functions, including finance, human relations, marketing, technology and corporate social responsibility. She has a special interest in environmental issues.
PBN: How has Nixon Peabody addressed corporate social responsibility?
GREENBAUM: The culture of corporate social responsibility at Nixon Peabody was one of the big attractors to me, and includes the firm’s environmental initiatives, pro bono legal work, volunteerism, charitable contributions, and high ethical standards. The firm has embraced sustainability in its legal practices [and] … in the community, … and firm-wide we’re looking at ways to make smarter choices in the way we use resources and generate waste.
PBN: What are the biggest issues for corporations seeking to be “green”?
GREENBAUM: Corporate leaders need to first understand what “green” means in their lines of business … and make environmental responsibility part of the corporate culture. … Manufacturers are choosing energy-efficient models when replacing machinery. Corporations are taking a hard look at their transportation footprints. … The cost associated with sustainable practices is much less of an issue.
PBN: Is environmentalism a tough sell for corporations?
GREENBAUM: It’s not a hard sell. The decision to be environmentally responsible is the right thing to do, and some very simple practices can reduce a company’s environmental impact and save money. Printing two-sided copies conserves paper, reduces waste, and has no associated cost. Neither does turning out the lights upon leaving a room. … Many organizations are taking a fresh look and have found that many measures are self-funding and even cost-saving. Public expectations are beginning to play a part in corporate environmental impact decisions as well. •
