Triggering Change is a two-minute pitch that uses creativity to inspire action on sustainability. Since its creation in 2022, it has involved 430 students from 80 countries.
Every semester, the pitch revolves around two UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants attend four online Prep sessions with global experts and then produce their pitch, either individually or in a pair. Before and after the project, students take Sulitest Awareness Survey, an online awareness test that measures their eco-literacy. The average increase in the SDG module over the course of the five-week duration of the project in Spring 2025 was 15%.
Winners receive a €100 Patagonia voucher. A Certificate in Sustainability is available to students who complete the pitch. (The pitch is complete when students attend the sessions, submit the pitch on time, and complete the Sulitest survey at the beginning and end of the project).
In Fall 2025, Triggering Change will focus on SDG 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, and SDG 15, Life on Land. John Cabot University students will be joined by peers from Oxford Brookes University, Richmond University, University of Arkansas’s Rome campus, Stellenbosch University, and Politecnico di Torino.
Participation requires the completion of all steps by the deadline, including registration, Sulitest Awareness Surveys, Prep Sessions, and Pitch Submission.
Participants have access to library resources that can help them gain a solid understanding of the two SDGs.
If a participant misses a prep session, a recording can made available. Since all prep sessions are followed by a Q&A, actively attending is preferable to watching the session ex post.
Registration for the next edition will open in Fall 2025. The tentative dates for the program are September 15-October 25, 2025. All students (including those working in pairs) must register individually.
Registered participants will be invited to join a shared folder that will contain all links and information for the project. For any questions, please contact [email protected].
Participants must complete the Sulitest Awareness Surveys.
Students need to finalize all the required steps by these deadlines to continue participating in the pitch and obtain the Certificate in Sustainability.
More information on the prep sessions and guest speakers will be shared soon.
Prep Session: The Liminal Space Workshop
The Liminal Space, a London-based agency, has developed this creative thinking workshop specifically for Triggering Change to inspire participants to think creatively about sustainability issues.
Prep Session: Pitch workshop, Prof. Michèle Favorite
Sharpen your pitch, refine your arguments, and submit with confidence!
Please, make sure to include all members' names in the title of your pitch.
For any questions, please contact [email protected].
How to use creative storytelling, research, and multidisciplinary perspectives to design a pitch that is disruptive, emotive, and creates a dialogue related to sustainability, leading the audience to want to create change and make the planet a better place.
The pitch consists of a two-minute video. While students have total freedom in choosing an unusual, creative, and dynamic pitch format (a dialogue, poem, performance, song, etc.) in a setting that is suitable and engaging (a street, shop, beach, forest, etc.), they are discouraged from using static PowerPoint presentations or sitting in front of a screen and reading a script.
Every pitch must be addressed to a specific audience – fellow students, children, pregnant mothers, etc.
Proposals should be environmentally, socially, and economically just and fair. A solution to a specific environmental problem in an industrialized country might have negative social repercussions in a developing country. Don’t make the solution to a challenge in your backyard someone else’s problem further afield.
The selection committee evaluates and selects the most promising pitches within the Triggering Change Pitch Competition. Each judge brings a unique perspective and expertise to the evaluation process, and will assess the pitches based on knowledge of the chosen SDG, the creativity and sustainable nature of the solution, as well as the quality of the pitch and video.
Giacomo Di Capua
Giacomo is a postgraduate researcher in Climate Health Economics at the Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (Technological University Dublin – Ireland) and an environmental advocate. He graduated from John Cabot University in 2021 with a B.A. in Business Administration and in 2020 with a B.A. in International Affairs. Giacomo is Italy's UN Youth Delegate for 2023. His experiences in the environmental sector include his role of National Director of ISEC Italy, Green Policy Advisor at Yezers, and international volunteer at Service Civil International.
Davide Ebraheem
Davide is a passionate Marketing & Entrepreneurship student at John Cabot University. He serves as Vice President of the JCU Business Society and is the Social Media Manager for the Grassroots Club. Sustainability is a central theme in his John Cabot experience, highlighted by his win in the Triggering Change Pitch in Spring 2023 and his work at the European Innovation for Sustainability Summit. Davide’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to his academic path but also to extracurricular and personal projects.
Professor Michèle Favorite
Helping students become ESG literate is a priority for Michèle as a teacher of Business Communication, Public Relations and Marketing at John Cabot University. Michèle has a background in the oil and gas industry (she was Head of Foreign Media at ENI) and in managing consulting (she worked with Monitor Company). She also consults to private businesses on storytelling and strategic content management on environmental sustainability issues.
Asia Guerreschi
Asia is a Ph.D. Candidate for Sustainability and Wellbeing focusing on circular economy and decarbonization for production cooperatives at the University of Ferrara, a circular economy advisor, and an environmental advocate. She graduated from John Cabot University in 2016 with a B. A in Communication and a minor in Business Administration. She holds a Master of Science in Physical Geography from King's College London. She is a Climate Reality Leader and in 2020 she founded Rethinking Climate, a youth-led nonprofit that works to improve environmental communication for climate action through research and engagement.
Professor Carola Hieker
Professor Carola Hieker is a Professor for Organisational Behaviour at the American University in London, an Honorary Professor for Transformation Leadership at UCL. Next to her university obligations she is the Managing Director of HIL Coaching - a small change management consultancy with a global client base. Her publications in diverse journals and books reach out to scholars and practitioners and focus on responsible leadership, coaching and diversity. Next to her academic qualifications she is certified in a range of diagnostics and psychometrics to support leadership development.
Professor Tanja Lanza
Tanja is an entrepreneur and a senior strategy consultant at the European Institute of innovation for Sustainability where she designs innovative strategies for organizations and individuals. She’s teaching as adjunct professor at John Cabot University, Politecnico di Milano School of Management, American University. She graduated from University of Trieste with a BA in International Studies and Diplomacy, followed by a Master in Marketing Management from LUISS Business School. She’s a circular economy ambassador. Her main interest is making the environment part of the marketing and business conversations of the 21st Century.
When does the registration period to participate in Triggering Change start?
The registration period will be open in Fall 2025. The tentative dates for the program are September 15 - October 25, 2025.
What steps do I need to fulfill for completion of the program?
All participants must complete all the steps by the deadline:
If you do not complete these steps by the deadline, you will not be able to continue in the program.
When is the submission deadline for the Triggering Change pitch?
In Fall 2025, the pitch competition is expected to end by October. Late submissions will not be accepted. When submitting, make sure that your video is uploaded on the Master Folder. For team submissions, include all members' names in the file's name.
Can I participate in Triggering Change if I miss a Prep session?
Attendance at all Prep sessions is mandatory. However, if you have a valid reason for missing a session, you can access the recording of the session in the Master Folder.
Is the Sulitest Survey mandatory? Is it graded? What does it involve?
The Sulitest Online Survey is a learning and knowledge-assessment tool intended to increase participants’ eco-literacy. You are required to take the survey to participate in Triggering Change. Not completing both sessions will result in not receiving credit for the pitch and not being eligible for the Certificate in Sustainability. The results of the Sulitest are anonymous and have no impact on your grade.
What are the key elements to cover in my Triggering Change pitch?
Your pitch should focus on one of the SDGs and address a specific issue related to it. Ensure that your pitch is actionable, relevant, and demonstrates a clear understanding of both the problem and the potential impact of your proposed solution. Here are some ideas to consider:
Why is the environmental or social issue important to your chosen audience?
Are there specific guidelines for audio and visual quality when recording?
Ensure both audio and visual quality are excellent, especially when recording outdoors. This might affect the evaluation of your pitch.
Can I participate in Triggering Change to earn the Certificate in Sustainability?
Yes, once you have completed the requirements (completion of both survey sessions, prep session attendance, on-time submission of pitch), you are eligible for the Certificate in Sustainability.
What format should my Triggering Change pitch take?
Your pitch should consist of a two-minute video, either done individually or in a pair. No PowerPoint presentations or static monologues in front of a screen are acceptable. Be creative! Choose an unusual venue and a creative format that help engage the audience and make it want to act! In this order, you can choose a format and method appropriate to your idea, which might include a dialogue, prototype, or even a performance held in an engaging space. Be creative and catch your audience’s attention!
What are the judging criteria?
The judging criteria include:
Who is on the selection committee?
The selection committee comprises:
