Category Archives: President’s Corner
Communications from NIB’s president
July 2011: President’s Corner
After being thrust into Summer after a lengthy, rainy Spring we are busy enjoying the outdoors and the slowing-building-bounty at our local farmer’s market. While Net Impact Boston doesn’t quite play hooky during the summer, we do slow things down a bit. Please check out our Summer events and join us for a cool drink and lively conversation at one of our Happy Hours. Or, take this opportunity to reach out to a smaller group of members through one of our social sites — gather a group, go for a hike or meet up for dinner. Mark Albion, co-founder of Net Impact has said that one of the benefits of being a member of the NI community is that “You can go to NYC, find a Net Impact member and have something in common.” (He actually said, “sleep on their couch”). And so, take Mark’s lead. It’s summer. Get out there and meet some like-minded friends, explore the local area, talk shop and most of all, enjoy.
See You Soon.
Monica
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
June 2011: President’s Corner
This month I have two very exciting pieces of news to share. Both highlight the continued great work of our Net Impact Boston team as well as our members. Enjoy!
NET IMPACT BOSTON AWARDED GOLD CHAPTER DESIGNATION
I am thrilled to announce that our professional NIB chapter has achieved Gold chapter standing, a designation bestowed on Net Impact’s top chapters. This year, just 8 of 55 professional Net Impact chapters worldwide achieved Gold standing. Our team and committee members have dedicated so much of themselves to continuing the tradition of greatness this chapter is known for. If you’d like to learn more, please read the entire press release.
MEMBER HOLLY FOWLER BRINGS SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM EVENT TO NIB
As we know, our chapter would not thrive without the involvement and commitment of our members. Our members – their interests, experience and vitality – make up our community. Holly Fowler is an integral member of our community who is bringing us an exciting event this month. A bit about Holly…
Aside from being a Net Impact Boston champion, Holly works as the Sr. Director of Sustainability and CSR at Sodexo, a food service and facilities management company. She’s also a former Net Impact Boston President and lifetime member of the organization. You’re likely to bump into Holly at one of our events, where she will disarm you with her smile and approachability. She’ll engage you in a highly enlightened conversation about the environment, food, Europe or triathlons. And since you can’t help but stick around to talk more, she’ll buy you a beer.
Net Impact Boston is thrilled that Holly is organizing a sustainable food system event scheduled for June 22. Here’s a brief overview of the event:
Getting Dirty: The Low Down on Building a Sustainable Food System.
The objective of the evening is to engage in conversation about the emerging revolution in our food system with local growers, entrepreneurs, advocates, non-profits and members of the community. We will address the importance of food as it connects to the economy, the environment and social wellness. We have the pleasure to draw on many local organizations within our community to bring perspective to this discussion, including Project Bread, GreenCity Growers and Taza Chocolate.
Read the entire Member Q&A, to learn more and come out on the 22nd to participate in this discussion!
May 2011: President’s Corner
I had the opportunity to meet with two key members of Net Impact last week — Mark Albion and Liz Maw. Mark is the Founder of Net Impact, and Liz is the Executive Director of the Net Impact Organization. We spoke about what Net Impact is up to globally and nationally, but importantly, spent time talking about the local chapters and what the professional chapters are doing. One of the most important things that I took away from this conversation was that Net Impact chapters, regardless of type (professional, MBA or undergrad), size, or city have one thing in common: community. Community is the resounding and lasting “benefit” of being an active member of this group. A place for like-minded individuals to share and test ideas, grow together and support each other in making a positive impact in businesses of all shapes and sizes.
With community top of mind, I’d like to share with you an opportunity to join your community for an amazing event this month and to highlight the great, good work of a member of Net Impact Boston. But first, I want to share some news.
Emile Chin-Dickey, a staple on the Net Impact Boston Team over the years and our most dedicated Director of the Board Fellows Program has moved on. He is off to Cornell to complete his MBA after spending a summer in France with family and friends. I want to thank Emile so very much for his commitment to the program he developed, for being a trusted partner on the team and for sharing his gifts, generosity and laughter with the overall NIB community. Emile has been grooming his successors for some months, and I am very happy to announce that Maura Hodge and Kevin Greer will be spearheading this program going forward. Thanks Guys!
On May 12th, our chapter will be co-hosting an event, “A Conversation with Bill Drayton” with the Simmons MBA chapter. Bill is a pioneer and industry leader in the field of Social Enterprise. Not coincidentally, this month I would also like to highlight the work of one of our members, Siiri Morley of the social enterprise Prosperity Candle. Siiri was generous enough to allow me to interview her for a brief Q & A to share with you. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Q: We have an event coming up in May where Ashoka Founder Bill Drayton is speaking. What do you know of him and his work?
I respect him deeply and see him as one of the people making social enterprise a field of its own. When I first started learning about the field, I didn’t think I was a social entrepreneur. I think this is really interesting. Before Bill’s work, people like me felt they didn’t belong, like they didn’t have a field. We weren’t exactly doing for-profit or non-profit work, but were using business tools and creating social/societal impact.
When I was younger I was often critiqued because my interests were so broad. I’d love to go back to those people now and show them how these diverse interests of mine have
come together in an important way. Leaders like Bill Drayton have helped me recognize that there’s a community focused on social enterprise – a community to identify with and get help and resources from. Social enterprise goes beyond the immediate impact in one community.
Bill Drayton leads the field. Our team fantasizes about being one of the Ashoka Fellows. That would be incredible to be a part of. And I’ve seen him speak, he’s fantastic.
Q: Can you define the field of social enterprise?
Fascinating question because every group has a different definition. Social Enterprise is an approach to creating social change by applying business tools and perspectives. There’s a focus on financial sustainability — more on generating impact and less on fundraising. The field addresses needs that have existed for long time, but does so in a more sustainable and replicable way. I like the way Bill has framed it — this is about sharing ideas so that social entrepreneurs can address immediate needs, but can do so with replication and scale.
Please click here to read the full interview with Siiri and join us on May 12th to meet Siiri in person and learn more about Social Enterprise.
Enjoy May.
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
April 2011: President’s Corner
The snow in my yard has melted, the sun is shining and I’m feeling optimistic. Don’t get me wrong; there were many, many items in this morning’s NY Times that have the potential to consume me — or any logical person — with concern. Yet here we are, a group of Net Impact Boston professionals ready to somehow, somehow move the world forward. That’s the optimism. The challenges facing our planet are great and yet through NIB I am constantly reminded of the passion, talent, brains and relentless determination of people making (or trying to figure out how to make) a positive social and environmental impact using the power of business.
On April 22nd this month, we will celebrate Earth Day. And if you haven’t decided how to honor the occasion, I’d like to offer a recommendation or two:
GET INSPIRED – Read Net Impact’s Corporate Careers the Make a Difference Guide
About the Guide:
“A growing number of graduates and working professionals believe they can use business to make a positive impact on the world. But what are they to do when faced with such a rapidly increasing demand for dedicated positions in corporate responsibility and sustainability? Corporate Careers That Make a Difference answers this question with more than 80 pages of practical advice, including dozens of success stories from the field.
Whether you’re just starting the job search, switching career directions, or looking for ways to incorporate social and environmental change into your current role, Corporate Careers That Make a Difference will equip you with a sturdy foundation on which to build a lasting career in sustainability and social responsibility, no matter the department or job title.”
GET EQUIPPED– Leverage our Impact at Work Program
About the Program:
The Impact at Work program develops and supports a community of social intrapreneurs who leverage their business skills and ideals to make a positive difference in their workplace. Impact at Work provides resources, project ideas as well as success stories from within the Net Impact Global community. Take a look at what Mark Adams of Intel Capital executed as an Impact at Work Project: How to launch a socially-minded business plan competition through your company.
As part of our continued focus on supporting you in your career, NIB will be offering support to individuals or teams looking to kick off a successful Impact at Work Program. More details will be coming out later this month.
Until then, I hope to see you later this month at our Speed-Networking Event!
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
President’s Corner
About Net Impact
Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, educate and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. Net Impact members are current and emerging leaders in corporate responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development and environmental sustainability who are actively improving the world.
Our Chapter
In Boston, our chapter consists of 175 members averaging 10 years of professional experience. Upwards of 70% hold an advanced degree. Over 75% of you work in the for-profit sector in companies of all sizes. Roughly 25% are in non-profit. You work for companies and organizations like Esty Environmental Partners, Ceres, Earthwatch, Environmental Defense Fund, Zero Energy Design, Sodexo, Staples and Preserve. You came to NIB to network for job opportunities and partnerships, for professional development, and to meet like-minded individuals. You stay because of the caliber and passion of the people you meet and the partnerships you’ve created.
People and partnerships are a fantastic and lasting benefit to being in our chapter. We also know that you are looking to us for more professional development opportunities. This year, NIB has put in place a Professional Development Committee to address that want. So in addition to building your career and honing your skills through our Board Fellows Program and the Events we offer with a professional development bent — we now have a creative, fired-up team dedicated to bringing you professional development opportunities.
As your leader this year, I intend to continue the legacy of making NIB a magnet for talented, passionate Boston Area Professionals seeking to make positive social and environmental impact through the power for business. It’s an honor.
Hope to see you in our City soon.
Best,
Monica
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
Feb 2011 President’s Corner
A belated Happy New Year to the Net Impact Boston Community. I hope you that you have been able to spend a bit of time enjoying the beautiful snow (or at the very least are not highly annoyed with the piles on the sidewalk).
2011 marks the second year that I have been involved with NIB. What drew me to this organization was its purpose and what kept me involved was the passion and breadth of work/life experience of members related to making a positive social, environmental and economic impact using the power of business. You cannot come to one of our events without being inspired, making a great contact or meeting a friend for life.
NIB would not be the robust and active organization it is at this point without years of heart and muscle put in by former key players in building the Boston Chapter. A special thanks to Asheen, Holly, Melissa, Greg, Danielle, Moriah, Siiri and Kristina. Thanks for passing the torch for the moment. We look forward to seeing you at meetings and events as well as lending a hand where your time and talent allows.
Lastly, most impressive to me is the commitment and talent of those individuals currently working magic by their involvement in leading or participating on NIB committees. With that, it is my pleasure to announce our 2011 Board and Committee Members. Last year’s NIB President Devon Long-Lytle will be helping us navigate 2011 in her role as Vice President of our team. In addition to Devon, we currently have:
Committee: Events
Leads: Jesse Gossett & Eric Misbach
Committee Members: Hannah Doran, Alena Smalligan, Melissa Barton, Yasie Saadatnejadi &Whitney Rauschenbach
Committee: Board Fellows Program
Lead: Emile Chin-Dickey
Committee Members: Maura Hodge & Kevin Greer
Committee: Marketing and Communications
Lead: Monica Nakielski
Committee Member: Ian Lavery
Committee: Web Master
Leads: OPEN
Committee Members: OPEN
Committee: Professional Development
Lead: Bob Pojasek
Committee Members: Lori Van Dam & Nils Klinkenberg
Committee: Membership
Leads: OPEN
Committee Members: OPEN
Committee: Student Chapter Liaison
Leads: OPEN
Committee Members: OPEN
Please contact me if you are interested in supporting any of our important openings or if you’d like to be involved in any way.
For those of you attending our first NIB meeting of 2011, I look forward to meeting with you. Please check back on the blog for the latest information.
I look forward to meeting and working with you this year.
Best,
Monica Sullivan
2011 Net Impact Boston President
msullivan@netimpactboston.org
