Sustainability in Action: Insights From My Time at Capitals Coalition
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability has become a vital framework that organisations must integrate into their core operations. My journey into this domain began with my internship as a Strategic Advisor at the Capitals Coalition, an organisation dedicated to embedding the capital approach into business practices.
This experience introduced me to the importance of sustainability and highlighted the significant efforts made by global organisations to drive tangible impacts within for-profit businesses. My internship was in collaboration with INSEAD's Hoffmann Institute, which is committed to bringing sustainability to the core of business education.
At the Capitals Coalition, I explored the intricacies of natural, social, human, and produced capitals. These frameworks provided a comprehensive understanding of how businesses can operate sustainably while creating value for all stakeholders.
I realised that sustainability isn't just about being environmentally responsible; it's about taking a holistic view of how organisations interact with society, the economy, and the environment.
During my time there, I thrived in a collaborative environment that allowed me the freedom to work on my own schedule, accommodating my personal commitments. One of the highlights was interviewing leaders in the field, where I gathered insights that could help us enhance our educational plan. From these discussions, a few key points stood out to me:
- Collaboration between educational institutions and businesses is vital for sustainable practices.
- Actionable implementation is as crucial as theoretical frameworks.
- Partnerships bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application.
It was truly inspiring to gain insight into the mindset of those championing transformative changes to create a better world.
I shared several recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the education plan at the Capitals Coalition, emphasising the need to collaborate with educational institutions and businesses to foster a more integrated approach to sustainability education.
By forming partnerships between academia and industry, we can help ensure that theoretical knowledge translates into practical applications, driving meaningful change in how businesses engage with sustainability. Additionally, case studies of companies that have successfully integrated sustainability into their business models are potent reminders of the positive outcomes of such initiatives.
Reflecting on my journey, I'm grateful for all the valuable lessons and personal growth I experienced.
As we look to the future, I firmly believe that organisations must embed sustainability into their core, recognising how today's decisions shape tomorrow's world.
I'm committed to bringing these sustainable principles into my future work, driving positive change, and contributing to a resilient future.
This internship experience was supported by the INSEAD Hoffmann Institute Impact Internship Stipend and gifts from alumni.
