For the longest time, I believed that social impact and business were mutually exclusive concepts. As I continue to challenge myself, I have learned that the intersection of them are critical necessities towards paving the way for a sustainable future. My goal is to drive change in everything I do to create a ripple effect – finding the right balance of meeting our current needs without jeopardizing the future generations’ ability to do the same.  

As a second-generation immigrant, I am interested in leveraging my passions to explore opportunities in social entrepreneurship and creating positive change in the communities around me.  

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

To me, sustainability is a term that constantly evolves alongside our understanding of the world. Sustainability is about more than just the environmental impacts of our actions – we’ve come to learn that it encompasses various social facets that are not as visible to the naked eye.  

I believe that sustainability is a three-dimensional concept that addresses the environmental, social, and economical needs we currently face while allowing future generations to do the same. In order to truly embody the definition of sustainability, these three pillars need to be upheld and thoroughly addressed to enable impactful change. 

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

Marketing, consulting, and social entrepreneurship are three fields I am especially intrigued by, and I hope to keep advocacy for sustainable development at the forefront of everything I do. 

 As I enter the workforce, I believe sustainability will play a key role because alignment with my core values is a critical factor in determining where I work. In marketing, my goal is to bridge the gap between consumers and organizations by spearheading campaigns and initiatives that will create a collaborative solution towards future prosperity. I am also drawn to human capital consulting as a way to initiate positive change in corporations, propelling them towards sustainability while mitigating the negative effects of large-scale organizational transformations. My hopes are to gain a better understanding of the intersection between business and social impact and expand my influence by creating sustainable organizations. 

Leveraging these experiences will allow me to pursue a career in social entrepreneurship, where I aim to start my own business with a strong mission and vision behind me. Regardless of what I pursue in the future, sustainability will be at the core of everything I do and woven into my professional career to set future generations up for success. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in? 

My interest in social impact first started in high school, where I spearheaded change initiatives as the President of the Stop Trafficking of People (STOP) organization. Seeing the impact of my work in advocacy for Ratanak International pushed me to continue seeking opportunities and expand my impact on the communities around me. 

I recently was involved with Ivey’s Community Consulting Project, where I got to work alongside AIESEC to establish a plan revolving around mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on the organization. I established a marketing strategy with my team and developed a new business service so that AIESEC can continue to make a strong impact on business leaders by offering cross-cultural learning opportunities.  

Currently, I am involved with the Ivey Social Impact Club under the Communications portfolio. I worked with ambassadors all across Canada to launch a manifesto for the Canadian Business Youth Council, which advocates for sustainable business development among young business leaders. I also develop promotional campaigns to drive awareness and accountability within business students, encouraging the future generation of business leaders to be cognizant of the impact they choose to have.