I am a third year student pursuing a dual degree between Ivey and Psychology. From a young age, I have been passionate about sustainable living. I made the decision to become a vegetarian when I was 5 years old, and have since encouraged my family to buy local and purchase green products. In addition, my interests lie in helping others thrive and succeed on a broad scale. This has been evident through my involvement in Western’s Soph program and Smart Solutions Western, as well as acting as the voice of students through the various USC positions I’ve held.
Additional Information
What is your personal definition of sustainability?
Traditionally, the aim of a business is to create value for three main stakeholders: the shareholders, customers, and employees. I see sustainability as the foundation for a fourth stakeholder: the world. To me, sustainability is a mindset of selfless innovation aimed at helping others in the long-term. Overall, I believe that sustainability is about being conscious and reflective of our actions. Understanding that what we do today directly affects our world tomorrow, and that we should always act with this in mind.
What role do you see sustainability playing in your professional career?
I am a strong advocate for using business as a tool for positive change. Both the soft and hard skills learned in business give me the foundation to create, change, and thrive in a business setting. This background will put me in places of opportunity, and as such, I feel it will be important to use what ever platform I have to take initiative by involving myself in sustainable activities and motivating others to do the same. I hope to spend time working in a social enterprise in order to gain invaluable skills and experience maintaining a successful triple-bottom line. I then hope to be able to use this experience as well as my own passion for sustainability to help integrate sustainable processes into existing business structures wherever I work.
What sustainable projects have you been engaged in?
I have always been interested in integrating sustainability into everyday business practices. Since my first year at Western, I have worked at Grocery Checkout London. One of the great things about our store is our focus on local options as well as our dedication to promoting student initiatives in line with the store’s values. For example, this year we brought in Pulp & Press to fill a student demand for healthier juice alternatives. This cold pressed juice’s ingredients are 100% organic and come from local farmers in and around London. In addition, I also spent two years involved with Western’s Smart Solutions chapter. This not-for-profit organization’s belief is that students can be empowered to take action against the most pressing problems facing the developing world through both passion and business acumen. I managed financials and helped plan events, including a conference which facilitated dialogue with researchers and entrepreneurs making an impact in international development. Its been a great opportunity to both learn and inform others about the power of sustainable business.
