Dynamic undergraduate students choose to pursue the Certificate in Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) in addition to their BS because it allows them to study how stakeholder value fits into the business world.
Meet Carmen Rodriguez Garcia and Jacob Hahn. Both of these graduating seniors are excited to champion ways for business to lead on environmental and social impact as they pursue careers in real estate and apparel.To learn more about Leeds students, and connect with those who are currently looking for internships and job opportunities in impact-driven business, please be in touch with CESR. We would love to introduce you.
Carmen Rodriguez Garcia BSRelEst ‘21
Why did you decide to get an SRE Certificate? What made you choose Leeds?
I decided to get the SRE Certificate because I noticed that all the professors that talked about people and the planet (in addition to profit) were in the Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) department. I started talking to a few of them during office hours and I realized that I had found a passionate group of people who were asking questions about stakeholders that I had never even considered. That's when I realized that I wanted to expand my knowledge on social responsibility and pursue the certificate.
I grew up in a neighborhood called Westwood in Southwest Denver. I was drawn to Leeds because there is a lot of financial aid provided for low-income students like myself. I was also smitten with the Flatirons at first sight!
What was something you learned while at Leeds that surprised you?
There's tons, but the one that sticks out to me comes from my Sustainable Operations class. We talked about so many facts and figures that were mind boggling, such as 70% of the world's emissions are created from 100 companies, and facts about recycling that might seem mundane but really impacted me and the way I do things. I now know to look at the number inside the recycling symbol to know where I can dispose of it.
I realized that I had found a passionate group of people who were asking questions about stakeholders that I had never even considered. That's when I realized that I wanted to expand my knowledge on social responsibility and pursue the SRE Certificate,
says Carmen
What accomplishments are you most proud of from your time at school?
I'm super proud of the communities I've built in my time as a Resident Advisor (RA) [in the residence halls]. Naturally, they happen organically, but it is so heartwarming to see residents from my floor moving in together after their freshman year and continuing to hangout. I have a lot of pride in the communities and friendships I've helped start in my time as a Darley RA.
To become an RA I applied my freshman year and had to submit a thorough application with essay questions as well as an interview. This is my third year doing it! I was a regular RA for my sophomore and junior years and then I applied to be the Senior Resident Advisor for my building. I also went through an interview process for that. So now I am a liaison between the RAs and the Hall Director (our boss) and I have a few additional responsibilities.
What kind of work do you want to do and why does it appeal to you?
I want to go into a job where I can talk to people! Collaboration kind of scares me, but I want to step out of my comfort zone. I love getting to know people in my personal life, and would love to extend that to my professional life. My emphasis is real estate so I've been applying to jobs in the industry, mostly property management or customer relations. I am currently an HR intern at Ball Aerospace.
What is one thing that you would like others to know about you?
One thing that I'd like people to know about me is that I am one of the best Mario Kart players you'll ever meet. I got into Mario Kart because my older brother had a Wii and when I was bored I would play. Eventually, I got really into it and joined a few tournaments where I ended up winning first place!
Jacob Hahn BSBusAcct ‘21
Why did you decide to get an SRE Certificate? What made you choose Leeds?
I chose to attend CU Boulder and Leeds because of the emphasis that the school places on ethics. I am somebody who likes business but is very wary of its flaws. When I entered college, I was debating between international affairs and business, and I chose business because I felt that my impact could be greater as a business student.
Once I entered Leeds, I knew that I was going to complete the SRE Certificate no matter what. I entered Leeds with a desire to reform the ethical and sustainable aspects of the fashion supply chain. I believed that the SRE programming and courses would give me the understanding needed to achieve my dreams.
I think that my time at Leeds really prepared me to have difficult conversations about how the current approach to business leaves a lot of populations behind. While these certainly are not easy conversations, I am comfortable and prepared to have them in a professional setting,
says Jacob
What was something you learned while at Leeds that surprised you?
I genuinely was shocked at how many students actively supported and believed in the power of the shareholder approach. In SRE programming, and personally, I have learned a lot of the advantages to a stakeholder approach; how the benefits really go beyond profits, and can support communities, at all points in the value chain.
What accomplishments are you most proud of from your time at school?
The summer after my sophomore year I had enough money saved up from work to go backpacking through Southeast Asia for a month. So, when I saw a good deal on flights, I booked them. I spent a month backpacking Hong Kong, Thailand, and Cambodia. It was one of the most challenging experiences of my life as I was backpacking solo. While at the same time it was hands down the best experience of my life. I learned so much about me and what I desire, I think solo travel is something that everyone who can experience it should.
What kind of work do you want to do and why does it appeal to you?
As a long-term goal, I am hoping to do work with large corporations to make them more sustainable and ethical. When I backpacked Cambodia, I spent a week in a city where the economy had been reliant on the fashion industry. They had a lot of garment factories for fast fashion companies like Zara. These companies had pulled out of the country five years earlier, and it was shocking to see how careless these companies had been. I realized at that point that I wanted to work to ensure that companies were not hurting communities like this.
What is one thing that you would like others to know about you?
I am really into fashion. Specifically thrifting, I think it is a great way to combine my passions of ethical and sustainable practices with my interest in fashion.
To get in touch with Carmen or Jacob, or learn more about other Leeds’ students pursuing impact careers, please contact CESR.