I am a third-year HBA student, who previously studied Global Development Studies at Huron University College. Since I was young, I have had a passion for sustainable development, and have been involved in numerous volunteer and extra-curricular activities that focus on making the community around me a better place. My hope for the future is to pursue a career that allows me to combine sustainable development, business and my love to travel. I have been to over 13 countries and counting!

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

My definition of sustainability is that it is a value-system that incorporates social and environmental impact into any decision-making process. The concept of sustainability includes understanding needs of today without compromising the generation of tomorrow. However, I think the true value of sustainability is derived only when it becomes more than a theory or definition to a person, but engrained in day-to-day choices.

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

The world around us is changing, and climate change is becoming increasingly apparent. People and governments have been pushing for change, and it’s only a matter of time before businesses must follow suit.  I see sustainability playing a significant role in my career as I believe all businesses, regardless of the type of organization, will need to incorporate sustainable practices into their strategies and operations to remain successful.

In the future, the one thing that will remain stable in this era of disruption, is the critical need to think about the environmental and social impact in any business or personal decision. The ability to understand and implement sustainable practices in business is skill that will be demanded by organizations as they begin to navigate climate change. That is why I hope to be the person that champions and facilitates that change for organizations and help incorporate sustainable practices into any job I pursue.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

In the past, I have been involved with a local nature conservancy in Oakville, including facilitating tree planting and pollinator garden events, and educational workshops for community members, which sparked my passion for both the environment and sustainability.

I also volunteer at a not-for-profit that screens companies for against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Venture for Good. The goal of this is to create a network of information about new ventures that will help maximize their potential impact. I analyze businesses against an impact assessment framework for potential, net-negative, net-positive, and intentional alignment to the SDGs. This is important for ventures, as it adds to their competitive advantage, and for investors in making better investment decisions, and understand impact-related risks. My involved with Venture for Good has also given me the opportunity to lead a workshop for other Ivey students, teaching the importance of impact assessment and the UN SDGs.

My time at Ivey has also allowed me to join the Impact Consulting Project, where I helped a local non-profit expand their marketing strategy to promote community engagement. The organization I worked with helped Londoners refresh their work and education skills, which is crucial in the changing job market.