Category Archives: President’s Corner
Communications from NIB’s president
Nov 2011: President’s Corner
Hello Boston,
I spent this past weekend in Portland, Oregon at the Net Impact National Conference, with Devon Long-Lytle and Shruthi Rao from the NIB team as well as 2,500+ Net Impact members from around the globe. There were undergraduate, MBA and Professional Chapters represented attending keynotes, panel sessions, quick-pitch challenges and workshops. There was more than enough for everyone; topics included CSR, Energy and the Environment, Socially Responsible Investing, as well as Social Enterprise and International Development. This was my first conference and, like all people there, I left more inspired about making (or helping others make) a positive social and environmental difference using the power of business. If you have not been to a conference or were unable to attend, mark your calendar and save your pennies for next year — a bit closer, in Baltimore!
Here are a few words (not quoted perfectly, but abridged from my notes) from Hannah Jones, VP of Sustainable Business and Innovation at Nike, during the closing Keynote. It’s a strong message and a great inspiration for how we can all move forward in our jobs and in the world.
“Stay hungry, stay focused and OBSESS INNOVATION…Sustainability is not about planting trees…This is not about managing risk, but about innovation…RE-THINK how sustainability practitioners show up…DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY…Sustainability is the innovation challenge….THINK like an innovator…Do ONE THING GLORIOUSLY and help bring ideas to scale…YOU are the change the world is waiting for.”
If you are not already a Net Impact Boston member, please take the time to join this fantastic community now.
My Best,
Monica
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
Oct 2011: President’s Corner
Last week, Devon Long-Lytle and I had the privilege of meeting with a group of MBA students at the Hult International Business School in Cambridge. Hult, a convening sponsor of the Net Impact conference, was interested in providing students with more information about Net Impact and learning of the benefits of organizing a chapter. While I never bore of being an advocate of Net Impact, this group of ambitious and motivated students really fired me up. The morning after our meeting we learned that there were 45 students committed to starting a Net Impact chapter at Hult. The students were particularly excited to learn that over 10 Boston area B-Schools have active chapters with which they may network, socialize and partner. Welcome to the community, Hult!
During September we wrapped up our call to leadership and are ready to announce our wonderful team in place for the 2011-2012 year. Most of last year’s Board members have chosen to stay on, some continuing in role and others taking on broader responsibility. We are very happy to have some new folks joining the team and bringing their energy, talent and fresh ideas to our great chapter. Welcome to Clare Connelly and Maureen O’Brien (Events), Lotus Samuel and Nigel Gurnett (Professional Development), Barbara Seymour (Internal Communication) and Betsy Assoumou (Student Chapter Relations). In addition, we are thrilled to announce that after months of development, we’ve put in place a Net Impact Boston Advisory Council of highly invested former Net Impact Boston leaders. Please see the Announcements section for more information.
Hope to see some of you at the Conference in a few weeks!
Best,
Monica
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
Sept 2011: President’s Corner
Call to Leadership!
September…A beautiful time in New England and a month signaling change. Net Impact Boston begins its annual chapter year this month and we have the great fortune to have filled most of our Board positions with incumbent team members. We look forward to leveraging our team’s experience and cohesion in order to bring you continued excellent events and programs this year. We do, however, have a few open positions for interested and motivated newcomers! If you are a Net Impact Member, you are welcome to apply to a position on our Board. If you are considering being a more active member of our community, please review our list of open positions and email me directly with your interest by September 12th. Our team is planning an annual kick-off meeting for late September and we’d love to have the whole team be able to join.
For your convenience, the open positions are as follows:
Events Team Member(s)
Student Chapter Relations Manager
Secretary of Internal Communications
Professional Development Program Manager
Finally, please join me in wishing Monica Nakielski our best as she exits the Net Impact Boston Team. Monica has contributed much of her time and talent to the recent successes of the Chapter and we would be not have made such enormous strides without her. Enjoy the next phase, Monica.
Hope to hear from many of you.
Until Then,
Monica
