Coming from an economics background, I learned of the many social barriers that affect access to food, water, education, and many other things I took for granted. Learning in depth about these issues have increased my overall awareness and even more prominently, has highlighted the role I can play in creating sustainability. I am passionate and highly motivated to create long-term solutions that are not only good for business, but also good for society and the environment. I am a firm believer that everyone can improve upon not only themselves, but the environment in which they live.

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

Personally, sustainability is incorporating activities into daily life that help support environmental and socially sustainable efforts. It is my belief that it does not take an exuberant amount of resources to accomplish sustainability, but instead it is consistent, conscious effort. Whether this comes in the form of turning off lights, walking instead of driving, or even large corporations finding ways to reduce their environmental footprint or contribute to social efforts around the globe. Every little bit helps make the world a more sustainable place to live, increasing the quality of life for everyone in the process.

What role do you see sustainability playing in your professional career?

I hope that sustainability can play a major role in my professional career. I believe that everything can be done more efficiently, it just takes time and a little bit of effort in order to reap the benefits of sustainability. Alternatives that give the most sustainable outcome, be that in terms of environmental or social aspects, should be considered heavily despite potential foregone revenues. Sustainability can be a true differentiator and with growing social trends can be leveraged into the defining characteristic of a company. I understand that I might not be able to make a large contribution in entry level positions, however I hope to leverage the perspective way of thinking that Ivey teaches to influence upper management to choose more sustainable friendly alternatives. Working towards a position where I can make a large difference is something I am pushing myself towards in the long-term. Having the capabilities to lead a company in a direction where both profits and sustainable practices are held to the same level of importance is my ultimate end goal.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

Throughout high school I was fortunate enough to hold an executive position on a club called “Youth in Action”. The main goal of the club was to raise both awareness and funding for various organizations including WWF, refugee aid, and the Halton Learning Foundation. These initiatives opened my eyes to the world of sustainability, and the impact I could have, which I continued through spearheading a ‘Coats for Kids’ drive among other initiatives. During my time at Western I have participated in O-serves planting trees and held an executive position in the Feed the Children club. While these initiatives all serve a greater cause in the scope of sustainability, I recognize that I could be doing much more. This is one of the reasons I applied to the Africa Service Learning program, which I have been accepted into for this upcoming summer. I hope to leverage this opportunity to expand my knowledge of social sustainability issues and develop ideas for the future on how not only I can better support sustainability but also how I can assist others in doing the same.