Today’s meeting with AIB and Goodbody Clearstream was such a great experience, especially for my first time ever in a boardroom setting! Environments like these tend to intimidate me, but after today they don’t seem so scary. Having a little chocolate croissant before we started probably helped put me at ease. I can actually see myself having a place at the table, and I’m starting to get excited about what I can bring to meetings like these in my professional career.
Paul Kelly shared a couple of quotes that I really liked, and they did a great job illustrating his points. The first was, “You can’t be green if you’re in the red,” which helped solidify the idea that financial stability is a prerequisite for meaningful sustainability work. When implementing a sustainability practice, financial feasibility will always come into question — Are these initiatives sustainable themselves long-term? Can we financially support them to maximize their efficacy? How will they affect our bottom line?
The second quote was from Abraham Lincoln: “I may walk slowly, but I never walk backwards.” This underscored how impactful sustainability requires consistency and time. Transitions like carbon neutrality or supply chain overhauls take years and require incremental progress — but even small gains matter if they’re part of a greater sustainability trajectory.
After the meeting, I had the chance to talk with Katie. It was great chatting with her in a non-presentation setting, where I felt more comfortable asking questions and the conversation felt more personable. I love connecting with people and networking, and even though I was a bit nervous to jump into a conversation with her, I knew it would be worthwhile — and I’d be proud of myself for doing it.
Katie’s portion of the presentation, along with what we discussed in our small group conversation, surprisingly sparked my interest in possibly pursuing a career in CSR and sustainability PR. Moving forward, I could absolutely see myself working in this field, as it also seems rewarding on a personal level. Creating a positive impact through my career is something I strive for, and CSR and sustainability align perfectly with that value.
