Cecile L.

Background

About Cecile L.

When I was obtaining my Bachelor's Degree, I had the immense privilege of meeting with the Dalai Lama to discuss the natural world and our place in it as humankind. Through that once-in-a-lifetime experience, I discovered my interest in mindful impact, especially in relation to human activity on the current climate crisis. After graduation, I spent time traveling and pursuing new hobbies. It was through gardening that I gained a deeper appreciation for environmental issues - I learned more about the importance of water quality, soil microbiome, and pollination. Until then, I had not realized how much of an impact human activity made on the current climate crisis. To combat my own personal footprint, I tried to zealously live with minimal waste to reduce my personal impact. However, I quickly discovered that living “zero waste” is nearly impossible without immense personal resources. As the urban population grows higher than ever, living a self-sufficient and low-footprint lifestyle is evidently inaccessible and unrealistic to most people today. Personal lifestyle changes alone can not be solely relied upon to combat the climate crisis. Living in the modern world, we are often disconnected from the harsh environmental ramifications of our actions on the climate. As a city-dweller, I heavily rely on corporations and industry giants to support almost every aspect of my daily life. I could not realistically live without their products. Unfortunately, many brands fail to practice sustainable and ethical business practices. I was stumped and, even worse, I was disheartened. I felt as though I was supporting unsustainable and unethical corporate agendas because I had no other choice. So, during the pandemic, I took action. I dove back into academics to learn about Sustainability and Project Management. As a conscious consumer, I wanted the brands and businesses I trust and rely on to undergo a whole systems upgrade. I want companies to understand that utilizing ethical best practices will not only improve quality of life but also that sustainable changes will result in positive returns in the long run as more people demand social change and corporate responsibility. I love engaging with people and connecting with others to collectively create the change we want to see.