IBM’s Christina Shim Discusses How AI Can Support Sustainability Goals

Christina Shim is the global head of sustainability software at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and independent director for 1-800-Flowers.com, a NASDAQ-listed company.

During a recent Business of Sustainability Initiative Speaker Series event, Shim sat down with Qiuping Yu, associate professor of operations management and business analytics at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, to discuss the intersection of AI and sustainability. Shim’s role at IBM involves leading the growth, business development, and partnership strategy for the company’s sustainability software.

With almost two decades of experience in business, technology, and impact, Shim has worked with Fortune 500 and Global 3000 firms, private equity firms, and nonprofits. She has made a significant impact at IBM, having been recognized as one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Next Gen for Sustainability at Scale. 

During her conversation with Yu, Shim discussed how AI can be used to assist IBM’s clients in achieving their sustainability goals. Shim also spoke about how companies manage large amounts of data and the way in which AI has proven to be a valuable tool within this realm. Serving on IBM’s AI Ethics Board, which ensures that AI applications are used responsibly and ethically in products and services, Shim emphasized the importance of responsible AI and how IBM incorporates ethical principles into its AI software.

The event concluded with a Q&A session and a reception where Shim engaged with Georgetown students.

– Max Scheiner (MS-ESM’24)