Celina Chen, HBA ’21, and Vicky Jiang, HBA ’23, two leaders who demonstrate impact through action, shared invaluable lessons with HBA Sustainability Certificate students during a recent visit to Ivey. Chen and Jiang work at LEAP | Pecaut Centre for Social Impact where they advance systemic social impact by scaling high-impact social ventures in collaboration with their leaders, and partners in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. They spoke to students in the Assessing the Broader Impact of Business course taught by Diane-Laure Arjaliès, an associate professor of Managerial Accounting and Control and Sustainability. Below, two Sustainability Certificate students, Mo Adeniyi and Sam Lin, reflect on key takeaways from the discussion.
Reflections from Sam Lin, HBA ’25 candidate
Unsure where to take your career? Explore!
A common experience for students, particularly those interested in social impact, is uncertainty over what direction to take their careers. Many students can relate to the career journeys shared by Chen and Jiang, whose diverse experiences include working in professional and financial services, the public sector, and even research roles at Ivey’s Sustainable Finance Lab, before landing their current roles at LEAP.
Jiang discussed how a summer internship at a bank was a key turning point that made her realize how crucial true impact was to her work. Though she gained valuable skills, she saw the pros and cons of advocating for change in a large organization where sustainability was not core to the business functions. Following this experience, Jiang sought roles that better aligned with the positive change she wanted to contribute to.
In addition to Chen’s consulting role, she volunteered to lead significant social impact initiatives, where she advocated for corporate social responsibility within the company. She created a vision for sustainable finance and impact assessment, boldly pushing innovative approaches to various social issues in her community. After more than two years, Chen said she decided she wanted to focus more on social impact as the next step of her career.
Chen and Jiang told us how their rich array of opportunities allowed them to understand impact creation and determine a holistic approach to work aligned with their values, and eventually be excited about the new roles they play at LEAP.
Mentorship makes the world go round
The goal of creating impact through your work can feel like an isolating and uncertain journey, with no rulebook to provide specific steps to land your first role. That’s where mentors come in.
Jiang described how, early in her undergraduate program at Western University, an older student introduced her to Ivey’s Social Impact Club, where she eventually gained new perspectives on what impact work could entail. Similarly, Chen shared that an Ivey alum she met in her first consulting role invited her to participate in social impact bond research, which led to subsequent opportunities to lead social impact projects in the company.
Hearing how these mentors made significant impacts on their career journeys, taught us the importance of seeking supportive mentorship and giving back to mentees whenever possible.
Reflections from Mo Adeniyi, HBA ’25 candidate
Prioritize what truly fulfils you
Finding a fulfilling career often involves navigating through a complex web of competing priorities. We heard how the journeys of Chen and Jiang began in consulting and finance respectively, but they soon found themselves searching for work that felt more purposeful and sustainable in terms of work-life balance and creating impact.
Only after both took significant turns in their careers – Chen departing from consulting and Jiang deciding to pivot away from sustainable finance – did they start to connect their daily tasks with their genuine values. They both expressed no regrets about their choice to embark on careers in these fields, having gained invaluable transferable skills and a deeper insight into the business landscape. However, they told us that transitioning to LEAP – a mission-driven, impact-first organization – enabled them to remain committed to their purpose while preserving their personal time.
Their experiences raise an intriguing question: what is the true essence of professional satisfaction? The solution is more complex than it appears at first glance. Achieving professional satisfaction is often intricate; it can involve challenging conventional roles and creating a niche that resonates with your personal values. It may entail giving up certain conveniences from positions that might not provide as much satisfaction. In the end, it is up to individuals to identify what genuinely connects with them and offers a more profound sense of meaning.
Know your impact limits
Transforming large corporations may seem inspiring at first glance – until you encounter the unavoidable obstacles. Despite the enticing allure of grand promises and substantial budgets, organizations frequently cling to traditional methods of operation.
Chen said she faced significant challenges while attempting to increase social impact, as leaders frequently expressed interest, but did not have the time to put these initiatives into action. On the other hand, Jiang said she faced a challenging dilemma as she navigated the complexities of evaluating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks, all while being aware that many of these organizations were employing deceptive greenwashing strategies disguised as genuine ESG investments.
The lesson? Recognizing the boundaries of your influence involves acknowledging that, due to existing frameworks and institutions, achieving total transformation is significantly constrained. As an individual within a large organization, it is important to acknowledge the level of impact you may be able to create. We learned that understanding the right moments to advocate for change, as well as recognizing when to pause and reflect, is crucial. These are lessons we will take with us on our future career journeys.
