Ever since I was introduced to the concept of the triple bottom line, which encompasses the traditional bottom line (profits) as well as people and planet, I knew that my life’s work would somehow have to incorporate this principle. Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether attending business school would help me in that endeavor, since its teachings and applications are thought by many to be purely capitalistic and money-centric. However, because of the existence of organizations like Net Impact (a national non-profit whose mission is to enable business students to do good in the world with their skills), I took a chance that an MBA would empower me to achieve my vision of doing good and doing well. Fortunately, that chance I took panned out, and I have been provided with so many opportunities to study and gain experience in this area.

First, I became involved with McCombs’ Net Impact chapter and now serve as the organization’s VP of Communications. Through Net Impact, I have attended two inspirational national conferences in Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD where I had the chance to meet hundreds of MBAs and professionals from around the country who are actively involved with or interested in pursuing this type of work. We’ve also held many similar events right here in Austin including a tour we recently organized of the LEED certified LIVESTRONG facility, which included a conversation with its CEO. At the annual Sustainable Business Summit our chapter organized, I got to hear from speakers ranging from the head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Dell to a local Austin farmer who’s keeping our city healthy by supplying it with his delicious, organic produce. And through it all, I’ve had a chance to gain experience in a functional role I am very interested in obtaining after school: marketing/communications. Continue reading →