My name is Natasha Boyd and I have developed my passion for sustainability through my post-secondary education. Prior to Ivey, I studied in the Global Development Studies Program at Huron University College, which enabled me to develop a passion for addressing global issues across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Through my research on the UN SDGs and extracurricular involvement in social impact initiatives, I strongly believe in sustainability as a fundamental part o business both now and in the future.

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

My definition of sustainability is multidimensional, spanning across not only an environmental focus, but also social and economic factors. I believe that sustainability at its core is generating positive results for society, communities, and the environment through deliberate and focused efforts top reserve the resources around us. Sustainability is the responsibility of each individual and corporation, as everyone has a role to play in maintaining our planet’s resources for years to come. Ina business context, sustainability includes not only maintaining resources, but also actively conducting business in a manner which improves social, environmental, and economic conditions for generations ahead.

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

Prior to attending Ivey, I studied in the Global Development Studies program at Huron University College, in which I developed a deep interest in exploring global socio-economic inequalities, specifically within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).In my professional career, I hope to leverage my Ivey education and knowledge from my previous program to advise businesses on improving their practices to align with the SDGs and address economic, social, and environmental issues.

My action plan for pursuing this goal begins this coming summer. I will be interning in the consulting industry, where I hope to gain foundational knowledge and experience in advising clients to improve their business practices. Afterwards, I hope to shift into a sustainability consulting position within the firm to help clients address and alleviate sustainability issues through their organization. Ideally, I would like to help the firm expand their current sustainability practice, in which they help organizations achieve goals including decarbonization. I strongly believe that consulting firms have huge impact on their clients, and therefore I aspire to contribute positively towards a sustainable future by advising multinational organizations on improving their business practices to generate positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

Throughout my undergraduate experience, I have engaged in sustainability projects through a variety of means. Firstly, my research in my pre-Ivey program was heavily focused on the fulfillment SDGs. My research included evaluating synergies between social and environmentally focused goals, critically analyzing their implementation, and shaping recommendations to improve their global impact.

Secondly, I am an Associate with the London Social Value Fund (LSVF),Ontario’s first youth-led impact investing organization. We aim to invest in local social purpose organizations that benefit society and the environment .As an Associate, I have managed multiple fundraising portfolios to source capital for our investments into the community. Additionally, I have assisted in sourcing and evaluating local organizations to measure their impact. Through this program, I have also completed training courses in the fundamentals of sustainable finance and impact investing.

Finally, I am the lead Digital Marketing Associate for a non-profit organization, OneProsper International. In this role, I have transformed the organization’s social media platforms to enable fundraising in a virtual environment. My passion for OneProsper’s mission stems from my interest sustainable development, as donations aid in breaking the poverty cycle by enabling girls to get an education and contribute to their local economies.