Hi! My name is Cindy and I am currently an HBA2 student who studied International Relations prior to Ivey. I have always been very curious about history, politics, and how various parts of the world are interconnected. I became interested in sustainability from my biology courses in high school and then went on to learn about environmental theories in my International Relations courses. There are so many ways that sustainability manifests itself, whether it is in politics, biology, or business. Outside of school, I am interested in fashion, sustainability (obviously), digital marketing, platform technologies, reading, and billiards.

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

Everyone's definition of sustainability is different because we grow up with different values. For example, my mom never threw away a plastic bag and always reused it as a garbage bag because it was cheaper that way. Sustainability, to me, is the active decision to do something that will benefit the generations to come, even if it is as small as a garbage bag. Tome, sustainability is seldom glamorous and always challenging work. These hard choices we make must come at a sacrifice that intersects with the way we buy things, the way we travel, and more.

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

As I mentioned in previous questions, sustainability has been a huge part of my academic career. I learned about the science behind climate change and how different feedback cycles make our mistakes exponentially worse as time goes on. I also learned about how sustainability impacts the way the world works because rich countries produce most of the carbon, do the least in removing it, and suffer the least consequences from climate migration. This trend will continue into my professional career as I consider paths in marketing, technology, and consulting. In the future and even now, companies cannot function without considering the impact of their operations on the planet. Whether it be social or political repercussions, consumers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for sustainable products. I know that having advanced knowledge of how sustainable practices work and how they may create paradoxes/tensions within a business will allow me to make better, more informed decisions. It will also give me the background I need to continually learn new innovations within the sustainability space that can be applied in the place I work.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

I have never been engaged with a project whose sole purpose was to be sustainable. However, I have helped plan and execute on a fashion show that participates in the circular fashion economy. Western's CAISA Fashion Show is Canada's largest student-run charity fashion show, having donated over $350,000 to Children's Health Foundation in London. As a stylist on the show, I helped source over 36 outfits by borrowing clothes from local businesses and thrifting from thrift stores. After these clothes were used, we would sell the clothes through a closet auction and encourage people to buy second hand.

Furthermore, my internship this past semester was at Three Ships, a sustainable skincare startup in Canada. As a marketing intern, I worked with the entire team to ensure the people I was reaching out to embody our sustainability values. I helped source over 50 influencers for our campaign when we launched at Credo, a clean and sustainable beauty retailer in the US.