Hi, I’m Mateo! I grew up in Hamilton, Ontario and attended Western University, studying Political Science in my first two years. As someone interested in both business and government, I have become interested in looking at how I can contribute to building sustainable development in both the private and public sector. Through the Sustainability Certificate program, I aim to learn more about how I can further incorporate sustainable practices in professional settings, providing me with additional skills to advocate for a greener future as I enter the workforce. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy learning languages, playing tennis, and reading. 

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

To me, sustainability consists of altering day-to-day life to ensure that activities are capable of being maintained without posing a significant risk to the environment. Outside of protecting the environment, sustainability also entails changing practices to ensure that all can benefit. That is, sustainable political and business practices should allow the marginalized to progress socio-economically, thereby breaking free from a vicious cycle of oppression. Given this, my definition is broad in scope, seeking to reform society in a sustainable manner, environmentally, socially, and economically. In doing so, the wellbeing of current and future generations is improved.

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

I think sustainability will be present in every job I have, regardless of the industry. From ESG reporting to integrated reporting of firm performance, sustainability is growing in importance and will only continue to do so in the future. Granted, while I may not work in a position with an explicit focus on sustainability, it is still going to have a growing role in projects I take on. In my case, for example, I am interested in public policy, so when developing legislation, I will need to take into account things that were ignored in favour of short-term gain. Because of this, significant reform is required to ensure that future generations do not suffer the consequences of poor decisions made in the past. This includes reducing emissions, environmental degradation, and contributing to Indigenous reconciliation by respecting the Nation-to-Nation partnership, among other things. More specifically, I am interested in helping cities shift away from a society based on car dependency to creating livable, walkable communities, contributing to a greener future and improving societal wellbeing. Regardless of what career path I choose, I am certain that it will be based on a trajectory of creating high impact and aiding societal change. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in? 

As a pro-bono analyst with Enactus Western, my team helped a local startup producing sustainably sourced granola bars develop a strategy for attracting venture capital. The project included researching the current prevalence of venture capital funds with an explicit focus on supporting the growth of sustainable practices in the food and beverages sector. This helped show the one-dimensional approach that is widespread, in which crucial externalities are ignored in favor of exclusively focusing on returns to investors. The project allowed me to see the burgeoning potential of sustainable solutions in the private sector, helping me realize that change among private firms is happening in the present, and not in the distant future.

I was also reminded about the how sustainability encompasses much more than environmental stewardship when I travelled to São Paulo, Brazil to support a charity project for local children. I was exposed to the injustices and inequalities within local communities and the glaring need for initiatives that sustainably break a cycle of violence and poverty that prevents the marginalized to progress in society. This trip solidified my belief that sustainability projects need to be all-encompassing by looking beyond the numbers and focusing on improving societal wellbeing.