Fireside Chat with Jeff Greenwald Inspires Conscious Travel at CSUMB

October 16, 2025 – The CSUMB College of Business hosted a compelling fireside chat featuring journalist and author Jeff Greenwald, who celebrated both the 30th anniversary edition of his groundbreaking book, The Size of the World, and the founding of his nonprofit initiative, The Ethical Traveler. The event, organized by the Responsible Business Innovation Lab and supported by the College’s Responsible Hospitality Program, drew students, faculty, and local community members to the Business and Information Technology Building for an evening of reflection and lively discussion.

Introduced by Dean Suzanne Zivnuska and hosted by Executive-in-Residence Kelly O’Brien, Greenwald recounted his 45-year career reporting from more than 70 countries and his early creation of the world’s first travel blog. He shared stories of his overland circumnavigation, documented in The Size of the World, a journey completed initially without the use of airplanes. Revisiting those travels through the lens of today’s technologies and environmental awareness, Greenwald noted how the world’s accessibility has increased even as its ethical responsibilities have deepened.

“Every journey is an opportunity to make conscious choices,” Greenwald said. “Travel can serve as the most profound form of diplomacy—if we bring curiosity, humility, and respect with us.”

Much of the conversation centered on Ethical Traveler, the organization Greenwald co-founded in 2003, which empowers travelers as agents of positive global change. He described how the nonprofit ranks developing nations on their human rights, social welfare, and environmental policies, and how those annual reports have inspired both travelers and governments to adopt more ethical frameworks for tourism.

Students and guests stayed after the session for informal one-on-one conversations, book signings, and photographs. Audience members praised the interactive atmosphere—Greenwald encouraged questions throughout, turning the lecture into an open discussion about sustainability, consciousness, and the moral dimensions of travel.

“Jeff’s honesty and humor made the evening unforgettable,” said MBA student Erika Lopez. “He reminded us that responsible business doesn’t stop at the border—it starts with the choices we make as individuals.”

For the College of Business, the evening underscored its mission to foster leaders who combine global awareness with ethical decision-making. As Responsible Business Innovation Lab director Dr. Kelly O’Brien remarked afterward, “Greenwald personifies what we strive to teach: that ethics and adventure are not opposites—they’re partners in discovery.”

The fireside chat closed amid warm applause, a celebration not only of Greenwald’s literary milestone but also of his enduring message: that mindful travel remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for understanding, connection, and change.