Investing in the future: Reflections on the Leeds Sustainability Case Competition

A challenge rooted in real world impact

We asked student teams to envision a “Warehouse of the Future” that met all our requirements for safety and security while improving efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. This was not just a theoretical exercise. In our Records and Information Management business, our warehouses are specialized environments that must meet strict requirements for fire safety, security, and environmental controls to safeguard client records.

Thirty-one teams across the U.S participated, each offering unique and innovative ideas on how the warehouse of the future might support a more sustainable future. The students provided recommendations that balanced customer requirements and financial impacts with our core values, specifically our focus on safety and security. It was inspiring to see how they integrated our sustainability commitments, including our goal to reach net zero by 2040, into scalable designs that anticipated evolving global regulations.

Collaboration across the supply chain

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have: it’s a competitive necessity. To achieve meaningful change, we must move beyond individual goals toward system-wide cooperation. This spirit of partnership was reflected in the judging panels. The qualifying rounds were evaluated by business leaders and sustainability professionals from different industries and disciplines. We had a great time engaging with everyone in attendance, many of whom serve as both suppliers and customers of Iron Mountain, reinforcing the strength of our professional ecosystem.

Engaging the next generation of talent

One of the most rewarding aspects of the competition was the chance to engage with future leaders. While Dan, Chris, and I reviewed the final presentations for the $10,000 top prize, one of our HR leaders, Katie Reagan, staffed our booth during the networking sessions.

Katie had lots of visits to our table from soon-to-be master's graduates from all across the country. We’re looking for individuals who act with integrity and take ownership—people who want to help us transform information into intelligence and assets into advantage. These students represent the future of our industry, and their fresh perspectives are vital as we work to make sustainable practices easy and expected for everyone.

Building lasting partnerships

Future business relationships rely on transparency and shared goals. By sharing our climate scenario planning and the specific actions we take to mitigate physical risks such as extreme weather, we demonstrate our commitment to being a stable, reliable partner to our customers.

I was impressed by how these students used operational data to create clear, actionable strategies. When data leads to shared success, it creates the kind of lasting partnership that Iron Mountain has been known for over the last 75 years. Seeing the talent on display at the University of Colorado Boulder gives me great confidence in our collective ability to design a more resilient, sustainable world.