Stephanie Bertels

  • Professor, Business and Society
  • Area Coordinator, Business & Society

SEGAL

Room: SGL 4850

Phone: 778.782.5163

Email: stephanie_bertels@sfu.ca

Credentials

Ph.D. (Calgary); M.Sc.1999(Stanford); B.Sc.1997( Queen's)

Biography

Stephanie is the VanDusen Professor of Sustainability and the founder of the Embedding Project  - a unique public-benefit research project that brings together leading global firms across a broad range of industries to help them embed sustainability across their operations and decision-making and contribute to positive systems change. She is a regular thought partner for the executive teams and boards of global companies interested in improving their sustainability performance. 

Her research and teaching examines how companies understand their reliance on the environmental and social systems where they operate and how they embed sustainability into their operations, strategy, and governance systems.  Her research examines organizational and institutional change towards sustainability as well as the work of internal change agents and is published in leading journals including Organization Science, the Journal of Mangement, Organization Studies, and the Academy of Management Perspectives.  She has also produced an extensive set of publicly available resources and tools on embedding sustainability. 

Research Interests

Embedding sustainability into organizational culture, sustainable innovation, strategic change towards sustainability, resilience and reliability

Selected Publications

articles and reports

Shahbaz, M., & Bertels, S. (2024). Packaging Waste: A Getting Started Guide. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Packaging-Waste-a-Getting-Started-Guide.pdf

Shabaz, M., Bertels, S., & Fabbro, A. (2024). Product and Materials Stewardship: A Getting Started Guide. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Product-and-Materials-Stewardship-a-Getting-Started-Guide.pdf

Shahbaz, M., Bertels, S., & Dekker, R. (2024). Zero Waste: A Getting Started Guide. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Zero-Waste-a-Getting-Started-Guide.pdf

Bertels, S., & Shahbaz, M. (2024). Getting Started Guides: An Introduction. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Getting-Started-Guides-an-Introduction.pdf

Bertels, S. (2024). Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions - are they on your radar? Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. https://www.cpacanada.ca/business-and-accounting-resources/other-general-business-topics/sustainability/publications/scope-3-ghg-emissions

Dekker, R., Shabaz, M., & Bertels, S. (2024). EDI Leading Practices: A Guide for Companies. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/resources/edi-leading-practices/

Watt, J., & Bertels, S. (2024). Collaborating for value chain decarbonisation: A scope 3 guide. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/resources/supporting-scope-3-value-chain-decarbonisation/

Feront, C., Feront, C., Bertels, S., Hamann, R., & Hamann, R. (2024). With Privilege Comes Responsibility: Why some privileged insiders transform institutions for societal benefit. Organization Studies. http://doi.org/10.1177/01708406241298392

Bertels, S., & Toews, B. (2023). Taking a Credible Position on Nature. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Taking-a-Credible-Position-on-Nature.pdf

Bertels, S., & Dekker, R. (2023). Life Cycle Thinking: A Guide. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Life-Cycle-Thinking.pdf

Bertels, S., & Mabunda, M. (2023). Addressing scope 3: A start here guide. Embedding Project. https://embeddingproject.org/pub/resources/EP-Addressing-Scope-3.pdf

Dekker, R., & Bertels, S. (2022). Respecting Human Rights in Your Supply Chain: A Tip Sheet for SMEs. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19416491

Bertels, S., & Dekker, R. (2022). Sustainable Procurement: A Tip Sheet for SMEs. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19422290

Bertels, S., Watt, J., & Fabbro, A. (2022). Getting Started on Incorporating Sustainability Into Public Procurement: A Guide. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19424357

Feront, C., & Bertels, S. (2021). The Impact of Frame Ambiguity on Field-Level Change. Organization Studies, 42(7), 1135-1165. http://doi.org/10.1177/0170840619878467

Feront, C., Bertels, S., & Hamann, R. (2021). Becoming an Agent of Change: A Guide. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14378792

Bertels, S., & Dekker, R. (2021). Scan: A Comprehensive List of Sustainability Issues for Companies. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14983656

Bertels, S., & Strandberg-Salmon, M. (2021). Climate Change and Climate Risk Oversight: A Guide for Corporate Leaders and Directors. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14428076

Bertels, S., & Dobson, R. (2020). Embedded Strategies for the Sustainability Transition: Setting Priorities and Goals Aligned with Systems Resilience. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12071769

Schulschenk, J., & Bertels, S. (2019). Shaping Your Organisation's Narrative Infrastructure. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11362895

Toews, B., & Bertels, S. (2019). Next Generation Governance: Emerging Trends in Climate Position Statements. Embedding Project. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.8859527

Bertels, S., & Brandon, T. (2018). Next Generation Governance: Developing Position Statements on Sustainability Issues - A Guidebook for Supporting your Board. Publisher Unknown. http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7037459

Hamann, R., & Bertels, S. (2018). The Institutional Work of Exploitation: Employers’ Work to Create and Perpetuate Inequality. Journal of Management Studies, 55(3), 394-423. http://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12325

Bertels, S., & Lawrence, T. B. (2016). Organizational responses to institutional complexity stemming from emerging logics: The role of individuals. Strategic Organization, 14(4), 336-372. http://doi.org/10.1177/1476127016641726

Bertels, S., Schulschenk, J., Ferry, A., Otto-Mentz, V., & Speck, E. (2016). Being an effective change agent. Embedding Project. https://www.embeddingproject.org/system/attachments/documents/000/000/047/original/EP_Being_an_Effective_Change_Agent_Guide.pdf?1464205639

Bertels, S., Schulschenk, J., Ferry, A., Otto-Mentz, V., & Speck, E. (2016). Supporting your CEO and their decision-making around sustainability. Embedding Project. https://www.embeddingproject.org/system/attachments/documents/000/000/045/original/EP_Supporting_your_CEO_Guide.pdf?1464205582

Bertels, S., Howard-Grenville, J., & Pek, S. (2016). Cultural molding, shielding, and shoring at Oilco: The role of culture in the integration of routines. Organization Science, 27(3), 573-593. http://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2016.1052

Bertels, S., Hoffman, A. J., & DeJordy, R. (2014). The Varied Work of Challenger Movements: Identifying Challenger Roles in the US Environmental Movement. Organization Studies, 35(8), 1171-1210. http://doi.org/10.1177/0170840613517601

Bertels, S., Cody, M., & Pek, S. (2014). A responsive approach to organizational misconduct: Rehabilitation, reintegration, and the reduction of reoffense. Business Ethics Quarterly, 24(3), 343-370. http://doi.org/10.5840/beq20147212

Maguire, S., & Bertels, S. (2012, December). Chemistry and business that are benign by design: Leveraging the Canadian chemistry industry's leadership on sustainability. Catalyst: The Magazine of Canada's Chemistry Industry, Winter 2012, 19-20.

Bansal, P., Bertels, S., Ewart, T., Ewart, T., MacConnachie, P., & O'Brien, J. (2012). Bridging the research-practice gap. Academy of Management Perspectives, 26(1), 73-92. http://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2011.0140

Robinson, M., Kleffner, A., & Bertels, S. (2011). Signaling Sustainability Leadership: Empirical Evidence of the Value of DJSI Membership. Journal of Business Ethics, 101(3), 493-505. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0735-y

Bertels, S., van der Byl, C., Dillabough, J., & Bowen, F. (2011). Lessons for environmental regulatory compliance: Suncor's creative sentence - The Firebag case. Haskayne School of Business - University of Calgary. http://wcmprod2.ucalgary.ca/haskayne/files/haskayne/Bertels%20Exec_Briefing_Mar%2015%202011.pdf

Miller, K., Bertels, S., Graves, S. A., & Purkis, J. (2011). Embedding sustainability into the culture of municipal government. Network for Business Sustainability. http://www.naturalstep.ca/embedding-sustainability-into-the-culture-of-municipal-government

Bertels, S., Papania, L., & Papania, D. (2010). Embedding sustainability in organizational culture: A systematic review of the body of knowledge. Network for Business Sustainability. http://www.nbs.net/wp-content/uploads/dec6_embedding_sustainability.pdf

Herremans, I. M., Herschovis, M. S., Herschovis, M. S., & Bertels, S. (2009). Leaders and laggards: The influence of competing logics on corporate environmental action. Journal of Business Ethics, 89(3), 449-472. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-0010-z

Bertels, S., & Peloza, J. (2008). Running to stand still: Managing CSR reputation in an era of rising expectations. Corporate Reputation Review, 11(1), 56-72.

Graham, R., & Bertels, S. (2006). Achieving sustainable value sustainability portfolio assessment. Greener Management International, 57-67. http://doi.org/10.9774/GLEAF.3062.2006.su.00010

Bertels, S., & Vredenburg, H. (2004). Broadening the notion of governance from the organization to the domain. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 15(Autumn), 33-47. http://doi.org/10.9774/GLEAF.4700.2004.au.00006

books chapters and monographs

Bertels, S., & Vredenburg, H. (2018). Broadening the notion of governance from the organisation to the domain: A study of municipal water systems in canada. Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Governance: Global Perspectives (pp. 24-40). Routledge.

Howard-Grenville, J., Bertels, S., & Lahneman, B. (2014). Sustainability: How it shapes organizational culture and climate. In Schneider, B., & Barbera, K. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Organizational Culture and Climate (pp. 257-275). Oxford University Press. http://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199860715.013.0014

Howard-Grenville, J., & Bertels, S. (2012). Organizational Culture and Environmental Action. In Bansal, P., Hoffman, A., & Hoffman, A. J. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Business and the Natural Environment. Oxford University Press. http://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199584451.003.0011

Graham, R., & Bertels, S. (2009). Achieving sustainable value: Sustainability portfolio assessment. In Galea, C. (Ed.), Consulting for Business Sustainability (pp. 152-166). Greenleaf Publishing. http://doi.org/10.4324/9781351279482

Related Teaching Material

Bertels, S., van der Byl, C., & Bowen, F. (2013). Environmental compliance at Suncor Energy's Firebag facility. Case ID:Ivey ID: 9B13M032..