Corporate Water Risk and Strategy Workshop Series

Water issues have moved beyond the province of the beverage industry and water utilities. They are now an integral piece of the risk matrix for companies involved in manufacturing, those with an extractive or agricultural supply chain, and those operating in water-stressed regions.

The Corporate Water Risk and Strategy Workshop is a six-week, student-run course that provides a platform for groups of students from across Yale to collaborate and work with a client on a current water-related business or supply-chain question. In past years, the majority of students have been from the School of Management and the School of the Environment, leading to teams with a strong mix of business and sustainability knowledge; however, students from all schools across Yale are encouraged to participate. This workshop was created out of a need to better understand the complexity of water-related risk and to integrate water risk awareness into corporate and supply chain practices and decision-making. It has been student-run since 2015.

Over the 6-week course, students will strengthen their understanding of water risk and management through presentations from experts in the field and conversations with the client and stakeholders. Students will analyze the topics of water resource materiality and risk through a holistic lens, with the end goal of developing solutions that address the shared risk water challenges pose to a supply chain, from agricultural to corporate operations. The case study presented by the client will provide students with basic fluency in the terminology of water risk, as well as the relevant tools, ideas, and processes needed to improve stakeholder communication and water resource management. At the end of the course, student groups will present their findings and proposals to the client.

This workshop series provides students with a basic fluency in the terminology of water risk and insight into emerging water technologies.  Students will have the opportunity to work directly with public utilities, startup accelerators, and corporate venture arms.

Information about the course can be found below.

Enrollment in the workshop will be limited to approximately 20 students. The workshop is typically held over six Monday sessions from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the Fall 2 semester. 

This workshop is offered for 1.5 credits at YSE and 2 credits at SOM. Once you are accepted into the workshop, you will need to register for the project course by submitting an add/drop form to the YSE Registrar’s office.  YSE Add/Drop Form can be found here: https://yse.to/coursechangeform

The Workshop will be held over six Monday's sessions, 5:30 - 8:30pm ET in the Fall-2, 2025 semester, beginning October 20th.

• Session 1: Oct 20th - 5:30 - 8:30 pm – Kickoff Meeting
• Session 2: Oct 27th - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• Session 3: Nov 3rd - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• Session 4: Nov 10th - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• Session 5: Nov 17th - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• Session 6: Dec 1st - 5:30 - 8:30 pm– Final Presentations

How to Apply

The Corporate Water Risk Workshop application is now CLOSED.  

Questions? Contact Peter Waggonner (SOM ’26) and CJ Denney (YSE '26) 

Collaborating with industry leaders to tackle corporate water risks and deliver practical, innovation-driven solutions.

Water is at the center of some of today’s most pressing corporate risks, from climate-driven supply disruptions and harmful algal blooms to aging infrastructure and the resource demands of high-density industries like data centers. Addressing these challenges requires not only traditional risk management but also bold innovation. 

This workshop, hosted in partnership with ClimateHaven’s Water Innovation Hub, explores how new technologies and business models can mitigate corporate water risks while creating opportunities for resilience and growth. Students will engage with real-world challenges alongside two partners: the Regional Water Authority (RWA), a local utility managing operational and community risks, and Xylem, a global water technology company shaping corporate solutions. Together, these perspectives provide a comprehensive view of how utilities and corporates evaluate risk and drive innovation.

You can have a look at our tentative syllabus here.