Tracy Gray, president of UNA-Atlanta, speaking on the importance of the Sustainability Focus by TiE
By Tracy Gray, President
I extend my sincere thanks to the TiE Atlanta Board for inviting me to serve as a featured speaker at the successful launch of the TiE Atlanta Global Sustainability Awards (GSA) 2026. The event brought together more than 70 participants, including corporate leaders, civic officials, academic partners, nonprofit organizations, mentors, and students. The strong turnout and thoughtful program confirmed the initiative's relevance and momentum. For more information, contact www.tieatlanta.org
It was especially encouraging to see TiE’s five pillars—mentoring, networking, education, incubation, and investment—translated into a practical, scalable platform for student engagement. By centering innovation, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship, the GSA program reflects the spirit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the growing commitment of Atlanta’s ecosystem to prepare the next generation of global problem-solvers.
The collaboration among corporate partners, universities, civic leaders, and community organizations demonstrates what is possible when sectors align around a shared purpose. Initiatives like GSA create meaningful pathways for students to develop ideas, access mentorship, and contribute solutions to real-world challenges.
UNA-Atlanta is proud to be a partner in this effort. We look forward to supporting the program’s continued growth and to working with TiE Atlanta and its partners to empower young innovators who will help shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for our city and the world.
I extend my sincere thanks to the TiE Atlanta Board for inviting me to serve as a featured speaker at the successful launch of the TiE Atlanta Global Sustainability Awards (GSA) 2026. The event brought together more than 70 participants, including corporate leaders, civic officials, academic partners, nonprofit organizations, mentors, and students. The strong turnout and thoughtful program confirmed the initiative's relevance and momentum. For more information, contact www.tieatlanta.org
It was especially encouraging to see TiE’s five pillars—mentoring, networking, education, incubation, and investment—translated into a practical, scalable platform for student engagement. By centering innovation, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship, the GSA program reflects the spirit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the growing commitment of Atlanta’s ecosystem to prepare the next generation of global problem-solvers.
The collaboration among corporate partners, universities, civic leaders, and community organizations demonstrates what is possible when sectors align around a shared purpose. Initiatives like GSA create meaningful pathways for students to develop ideas, access mentorship, and contribute solutions to real-world challenges.
UNA-Atlanta is proud to be a partner in this effort. We look forward to supporting the program’s continued growth and to working with TiE Atlanta and its partners to empower young innovators who will help shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for our city and the world.
Tracy Gray presents the Global TiE Sustainability Award to Nehal Sahu of Wheeler Magnet School, Photos: Tre Brown/TiE
