A pivotal moment during Eric Saarvala's time in the Ivey EMBA program forever altered the trajectory of this seasoned consultant and executive’s career path.
As the Head of Corporate Sustainability at Raymond James Limited and the Executive Director of the Raymond James Canada Foundation, Eric Saarvala, EMBA ’17, wears two hats, leveraging his expertise to make a difference.
Recently appointed as the Co-Lead of the Ivey Alumni Sustainability Community alongside Christine Ward, Eric aims to foster engagement, connections, and knowledge & resource sharing among Ivey alumni.
The spark of inspiration at Ivey
Oana Branzei’s EMBA sustainability course ignited Eric's passion for the broader implications of sustainability in one's professional and personal life, as well as the world at large. He acknowledges her role in fuelling his sense of purpose and expanding his understanding of the challenges of sustainability beyond environmental concerns to encompass social and governance factors, and how these challenges are deeply interconnected with business functions.
“I credit her with pouring the gasoline on my purpose.”
This newfound perspective prompted Eric to pursue a certified sustainability practitioner certificate and a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, solidifying his commitment to championing a more sustainable future for all.
Sustainability as a guiding principle
Eric has now integrated the “many different pillars in sustainability” into both his professional and philanthropic endeavors. It has become a foundational value, shaping the expansion of his consulting practice to include sustainability offerings that assisted organizations in incorporating purpose, environmental, social, and governance and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) considerations into their strategy and operations.
In his dual role as Head of Corporate Sustainability, and Executive Director of Raymond James’ corporate foundation, Eric oversees the development, implementation and execution of the company’s sustainability strategies, corporate responsibility programs and collaborates on a sustainable investing program. Utilizing pillars such as green workspaces, green procurement, and green transportation, Eric is connecting sustainable thinking to the business decision-making processes. An example of this is, Eric will encourage colleagues to support and purchase from community members and local businesses through a sustainable procurement and supplier diversity approach such as social enterprises or businesses run by newcomers to Canada, as a way to embed sustainability values in workplace procedures.
“You could potentially be creating a positive social impact for individuals, some that may face barriers to employment, and being that impact amplifier for your supplier and your organization..”
Practical advice for students and change-makers
Eric urges individuals to explore unconventional paths beyond typical sustainability-minded roles such as finance or consulting to drive sustainability in the workplace. He emphasizes that “there is a lot of opportunity to go into businesses and play the role of a sustainability intrapreneur,” someone who can influence change internally. Whether in operations, strategy, communications, or any other role, Eric encourages people to think about how to bring sustainability into the conversation and the business function.
Giving back to the Ivey community
Expressing profound gratitude to the Ivey community for its transformative influence on his work and life, Eric has taken on the role of Community Co-Lead for the Ivey Alumni Sustainability Community.
“There is so much to learn by engaging with our alumni who are subject matter experts in the work that they do. There’s an opportunity for all of us to learn as sustainability continues to evolve.”
He encourages all Ivey alumni, students, and staff to become lifelong learners and to support one another by participating in the alumni community.
To connect with fellow alumni, join Ivey's LinkedIn Sustainability Community.
