My name is Light Naing, and I’m a current HBA1 student at Ivey. As an international student from Myanmar, a third-world country with immense political, social, environmental and cultural issues, I am passionate about how we can use business as a force of good in growing governments and economies. I have always wanted my future career path to integrate sustainability and positive change in some capacity, and I love exploring ways in which I can do that.

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

Sustainability, to me, means more than just caring for the environment. It involves considering environmental, social, and governance factors. While taking care of the environment is vital and a value I uphold, I'm especially passionate about ensuring fairness in society by sharing social resources equitably. To make sustainability last, we need to focus on not only protecting the environment but also on creating diverse and inclusive communities where everyone's needs are met. This means supporting policies and actions that benefit both the planet and people, ensuring a better future for everyone.

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

I completely see sustainability being at the forefront of my professional career, playing a big role in whatever I do. I hope to seek careers in corporations that are already integrating sustainable practices into their business models or are interested in doing so, and further contribute to those efforts. Within the corporate sector, I am particularly interested in sustainability communications. I hope to apply my communication skills and knowledge of environmental, social, and governance factors to help corporates effectively communicate their earnest sustainability efforts. My ultimate goal is to work for a non-profit that serves the needs of ethnocultural minorities and communities, as social sustainability work is a great passion of mine.  However, my ultimate ambition extends beyond corporate settings. My ultimate goal is to transition into a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the socio-economic disparities and injustices faced by marginalized groups. By working directly with these communities, I hope to contribute to initiatives that promote equity, inclusivity, and empowerment. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

I have been working at the Network for Business Sustainability (NBS) as the Digital Communities Specialist intern for the past year. where I maintain its digital operations, managing NBS’s website and newsletter pipeline. Through my time at the BSV Centre and NBS, I’ve engaged in a great deal of sustainability work on the backend, whether that’s publishing insightful articles on business sustainability topics or taking on projects that seek to better educate individuals on integrating sustainability into everyday corporate functions. I love knowing that I’m working towards efforts to create positive change in the world, and I hope to continue to do so.

As well, I am the Ethnocultural Support Services Coordinator at the University Students’ Council, where I lead campaigns, projects, and initiatives aimed at supporting, celebrating, and representing racial, cultural, ethnic, and religious minorities on campus. In my role, my team and I hosted Limitless: Diversity for Impact, a diversity-focused conference that seeks to facilitate students of color into impactful career positions through BIPOC speaker presentations and panel discussions. Social sustainability is a big passion of mine, and integrating the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything that i do is something I continuous work on.

Please list any sustainability-related interests you want to explore during the certificate. 

My ideal career path is one in sustainability communications, and I would love to explore how I can leverage my communication skills to raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainable practices among diverse audiences, and work with businesses to effectively communicate their sustainability initiatives. I would also love to explore how businesses can thrive financially while still prioritizing environmental and social responsibilities, a concept that determines business success. As a topic of great sensitivity, I think it’s imperative that businesses lacking in sustainability efforts understand its great importance and the means of implementing sustainability without sacrificing their bottom line. I'm keen on understanding how existing businesses can transition to more sustainable practices, and these are efforts that I would like to contribute to in my future career.