Mastercard’s Chief Sustainability Officer Talks Purpose-Driven Leadership at Iona
“A View from the C-Suite" Series Welcomed Ellen Jackowski for Engaging Discussion
The event highlighted Iona’s commitment to connecting students with industry leaders and real-world perspectives.
Students, faculty, and staff gathered at Iona University’s LaPenta School of Business earlier this month for a special installment of A View From the C-Suite featuring Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard.
Held in Henry Lecture Hall, the event brought the campus community together to hear how one of the world’s leading companies is embedding sustainability and social impact into its business strategy — and what purpose-driven leadership looks like in practice.
With a career built upon leading global sustainability and impact initiatives across major organizations, Jackowski shared how Mastercard is advancing climate action, social responsibility and long-term value creation across its global operations. She discussed how companies can align performance with purpose, pointing to ambitious climate leadership goals, including Mastercard’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, as an example of how organizations can “do well by doing good” while driving measurable outcomes.
Following her remarks, Jackowski participated in a Q&A, inviting attendees to explore how sustainability commitments are set, scaled and integrated across teams and functions.
The program concluded with a networking reception where attendees connected with Mastercard professionals — many of whom are Iona University alumni. In fact, nearly 100 Iona alumni are counted among the ranks of Mastercard, which is headquartered in nearby Purchase, N.Y.
"Iona’s partnerships with global corporations like Mastercard are a gamechanger for student success." - Johnny Hernandez '25, '26MBA
The reception offered students a chance to ask candid career questions, build professional relationships and gain firsthand insight into pathways at a global organization.
Reflecting on the experience, Iona graduate student Johnny Hernandez ’25, ’26MBA said: "Iona’s partnerships with global corporations like Mastercard are a gamechanger for student success. It turns the campus into a launchpad where we are not just learning theory; we are building a professional network before we even graduate. Forging these high-level connections gives Gaels a competitive edge, proving that Iona isn't just preparing us for a job, but for a career at the highest levels of industry.”
Hosted by the LaPenta School of Business Dean’s Office, the event highlighted Iona’s commitment to connecting students with industry leaders and real-world perspectives that prepare them to lead with purpose in an evolving business landscape.
Iona’s collaboration with Mastercard will be further highlighted on April 29, 2026, when the University honors Vice Chair Timothy Murphy at the Trustees Scholarship Award Gala in New York City. Murphy will be presented with the esteemed Iona Legacy Award in recognition of his dedication to service, opportunity and scholarship.
Learn more about Mastercard's environmental and social impact strategy here.
From left: John DeMelis, dean of the LaPenta School of Business, Ellen Jackowski, chief sustainability officer at Mastercard and Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.
Following her remarks, Jackowski participated in a Q&A, inviting attendees to explore how sustainability commitments are set, scaled and integrated across teams and functions.
The event brought the campus community together to hear how one of the world’s leading companies is embedding sustainability and social impact into its business strategy.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.