I’m an HBA1 student who is interested in pursuing a dual degree with Computer Science. I’m originally from Markham, Ontario, and I’m interested in working in sustainability consulting in the future. Specifically, I would love to tackle issues related to women’s rights and responsible consumption. In my free time, I enjoy working out, dancing, playing the piano, and discovering new music! 

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

To me, sustainability is about collaboration between all stakeholders— be it people, living things, organizations, or the planet. It’s about making sure that the systems and processes in place are beneficial for all parties and are equitable. Creating and enacting these sustainable practices involves active effort from all parties to understand one another and consider other perspectives when making decisions. This collective and conscious decision-making is essential for sustainability. Ultimately, sustainability is about generating optimal outcomes for all stakeholders. 

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

I hope to work in the sustainability consulting sector in the future. Specifically, I hope to help governments and corporations create a more positive impact on society by creating equitable opportunities for women and enforcing responsible consumption practices.  

As a woman of colour, creating better educational and employment opportunities for women is extremely personal and important to me. I hope to work with public organizations to identify barriers to female success and work with stakeholders to create solutions.  

Sustainable consumption is also important to me. I want to minimize waste and the negative impact corporations have on the planet. I hope to work with companies to optimize their production processes and implement more sustainable operating practices. 

Regardless of my specific career path, I would also take the time to educate myself on sustainability topics and lead sustainability initiatives at my workplace. I would try to get other coworkers involved in sustainability and spread awareness of it in the office. 

I hope that my efforts will help contribute to a more equitable and less wasteful world. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

Ivey Community Consulting Project: As a part of a four-person team, I created and presented a concrete plan of how GoodWill Industries could overcome supply chain sustainability issues. Over the course of three months, I designed and conducted interviews with suppliers and consumers, analyzed GoodWill facility operations, and performed market research. Using our findings, we then collaborated with GoodWill stakeholders to generate our recommendations. These recommendations would help GoodWill reduce the amount of clothing in landfills and spread awareness of circular fashion. This was my first time working on a sustainability project in a corporate setting, and I learned a lot about the negative impact the fashion industry can have on the environment and society. This project ignited my interest in waste reduction and responsible consumption. I hope to work on more projects in the future where I can help improve corporate processes to be more sustainable.  

Children’s Dance Studio: I founded and taught at a children’s dance studio that provides affordable dance education to young kids. I loved working with the kids and seeing them improve over time. I also loved that I was able to help more kids stay active, discover the art of dance, and build their self-confidence.