Kurt Kipka

Kurt Kipka has a diverse work experience spanning over different organizations and roles. Kurt currently holds the position of Chief Impact Officer at the Apparel Impact Institute since June 2022. Prior to this, they served as the Vice President of the same company from July 2018 to June 2022.

Before joining the Apparel Impact Institute, Kurt worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council from May 2015 to June 2018 as a Senior Project Manager. In this role, they focused on improving the environmental performance of supply chains in emerging economies, specifically in textile mills. Kurt collaborated with government entities, non-government organizations, and large private brands to implement the Clean by Design program.

Kurt also has experience as an Independent Consultant in Supply Chain and Sourcing Sustainability from April 2015 to June 2018. As a consultant, they specialized in supply chain sustainability and traceability, emphasizing driving organizational and industry change.

Prior to their consultancy work, Kurt held various positions at Target. Kurt served as the Environmental Sustainability Manager for Global Sourcing from January 2012 to March 2015. In this role, they established a team and implemented strategies to enhance the efficiency and environmental performance of Target's global supply chain. Kurt also played a key role in collaborating with industry stakeholders to implement projects and tools for supply chain optimization.

Kurt's earlier roles at Target include Product Manager for Global Sourcing (Footwear) from July 2010 to January 2012 and Senior Business Analyst for Sourcing from June 2007 to June 2010. These roles involved managing teams, negotiating costs, overseeing inventory flow, and mentoring team members.

Overall, Kurt Kipka's work experience showcases their expertise in sustainability, supply chain management, and strategic planning for multinational organizations.

Kurt Kipka earned a BA in Management from Saint John's University from 2003-2007. Kurt later pursued an MBA with a focus on Strategy & International Management from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management from 2009-2012.