Reflection on Learning in Certificate Coursework

Anchor Course: FANR6271 People, Planet, Profit

This course was interesting in many ways, one of which was the format that it was held online later in the evening, only once a week. In doing so, it lent way to longer discussions where I was able to connect with other students across a multitude of disciplines in a conversational setting. We did mock town hall styled discussions were we role played as both stakeholders and decision makers where we were encouraged to learn how to empathize from others’ points of views. As the name of the course entails, we discussed topics related to the interdisciplinary connectedness between people, planet, and profit with emphasis given towards better understanding progress and how that relates to the triple bottom line. This course was integrally related to my capstone as it took an academic lens as to how the B Corp ideals fit within the context of our society. I liked that it took a global approach to shifting how we view and exist within a revitalized version of capitalism. It did still engage with the notion that profits are an inevitable part of our society and it integrated the importance of valuing all three components (people, planet, profit) as being realistic considerations within a sustainable approach to business.

Ecological Sphere: HORT6030  Sustainable Community Food Productions

This course was the swiss army knife of classes – it allowed for academic agriculture related teachings, community engagement, machine operation, field work, community building, garden planning, and so much more. While it might not have it in the title, this course also did a great job at relaying the competencies within the context of prioritizing our people and planet alongside profits. It afforded the opportunity to work with Experience UGA where we taught local students at the farm to help encourage a new generation of society members. The class itself included a wide variety of students on both an undergraduate and graduate level with varying backgrounds – which I thought was the perfect fit to accompany my experience in my capstone project as those you work with in becoming a B Corp may not always include business professionals, rather teachers, community volunteers, farmers, etcetera. My intent in taking the class was to experience work outside the corporate world to better myself as a leader. I wanted to be able to bring the voices of those who have boots on the ground to the boardroom as be be a more inclusive leader. I certainly did receive that and more. Most surprising to me was the growth I found in myself and my own personal journey to be a more sustainable citizen. Engaging with the growing of food and visually seeing the benefits of composting truly changed how I interact with waste on a daily basis.

Economic Sphere: ENTR7320 Innovative Business Projects

This course was not directly made to be about sustainability, which is why I think it’s so perfect that is fits within the economic sphere. Through the duration of the semester, each team was assigned a client to which they helped forward their business with whatever was needed and appropriate. My group was assigned to a sustainability startup working to make a more sustainable alternative to traditional fabric dyeing. What was super interesting to me was learning about how much opportunity exists within the fashion market to help our planet. It shifted my views on how I approach my own relationship with clothes/accessories and made me want to shop second hand even more than I was before. In reflection, I think there are many fields of which people might not associate as having opportunity to make a positive difference, however that’s just not true. From an economic viewpoint, startups and companies taking stands within the ESG space are starting to spark monetary interest in the market – which is great news for companies looking to gain B Corp certification. This course helped me better see, firsthand, how much demand there is in sustainability interest within the business field and it served as a good talking point as to why B Corp certification can be a profitable endeavor.

Social Sphere: ENTR7090 Critical Design Thinking

This course allowed me to work with my local community and implement the Critical Design Thinking framework within a real time project application. My team specifically worked with the culinary sphere of the Athens Creative Economy. We engaged with local stakeholders through interviews and were able to present our recommendations at the end of the semester as to how to boost their engagement within the social community. In completing our project and using the Critical Design framework, we were encouraged to empathize, be creative, and inquisitive to find solutions to problems that were inclusive and considered others’ impacts who might be affected by decisions made. I loved that it gave back to our local society and that it integrated lots of the concept of stakeholder engagement. This translated well into my capstone, specifically because I worked with a local culinary entrepreneur directly towards B Corp certification. I love food and enjoy exploring new places through the culinary experience; I believe this translated well into allowing my passion to flow into my works which I hope to continue doing even past just the certificate completion.

Seminar:

I was a late add to the seminar – completing two semesters my final year of my MBA program. In being added, however, I was welcomed by a community of likeminded individuals across a wide breath of academic disciplines and cultural backgrounds. It was a breath of fresh air to be able to come and be encouraged to talk about pressing issues across the competencies. We were given the opportunity to hear from real world changers out in the field that are making a difference through sustainable practices. I thoroughly appreciated the ability to ask questions and discuss in a safe space as well as to hear how others felt on subject matters as well. My experiences in the seminar translated well into my capstone because it made me feel less lonely. I left the class most days feeling at least slightly more encouraged that exciting things are happening to move the world forward positively and that good people with good intentions do exist. At the end of the seminars where we had speakers, Tyra would try to end with the question of what gives the speaker hope. This small question is something that has so much power and it’s a question that I think will always be a driver for me – finding what gives me hope and trying to build up others while they push forward towards positivity with what gives them hope too.