91ÖÆƬ³§

Throughout Leeds, we all hear about how important networking is and that it can lead to new friends as well as potential bosses.  While some students might be a little skeptical about how life changing meeting people can be, CESR’s wonderful student assistant, Molly MacEachen, has proved that networking events can be a fantastic asset.

This March, CESR worked in collaboration with Naturally Boulder to put on the Networking Naturally event in which students were able to network with professionals from the natural foods industry.  It was here that Molly met Nancy Schoemann, the logistics and administrative director of and a Leeds MBA Net Impact alumna.  Because of Nancy’s close ties with CESR, from heavy involvement during her time, plus attendance on a CESR trek, she knew how impressive some of our students could be.  After meeting at Networking Naturally, Molly was soon offered an internship at Natural Habitats doing social media for , a movement started by Natural Habitats that advocates for ethical sourcing of palm oil that is good for all: the environment, animals, farmers, and communities, instead of the detrimental way in which palm is usually grown.  

91ÖÆƬ³§ Palm Oil

While some might think this is a small issue, palm is versatile and therefore used for cooking, animal feed, baking, margarine, frying, soaps, and frozen desserts, so it is highly likely that a majority of products in your bathroom or pantry contain palm oil. Around 85% of this palm oil comes from Malaysia and Indonesia because it can only be grown around the Equator and growing palm in these countries has been heavily promoted as a way to grow economically.  Caused by demand and the push for growth, huge corporations that focus on profit, rather than the impacts they are causing, have become prevalent and are causing destruction.  Palm Done Right promotes ways in which palm oil can be produced safely and without repercussions.  As a social media intern, Molly is able to promote this wonderful movement in which she advocates for ethical practices that positively impact people, animals, and the environment.

91ÖÆƬ³§ Molly

Molly is a junior pursuing a double major in sociology and business with an emphasis in management on the leadership track.  She is also pursuing CESR’s Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate.  After graduation, she wants to use this combination of degrees to make a positive impact on the world using business and all she has learned at CU.  Having spent one year working at CESR, she is incredibly involved and can help anyone if they stop in.  She is also the Vice President of professional development and community service for CESR Fellows and a pillar of Leeds Ambassadors.  She looks up to one of the BESI faculty, Catherine Milburn, with whom she went to Panama for the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Panama Global Seminar. Catherine is a wonderful mentor because she helps students find what they want to do and helps set up opportunities to help them get there.  We know how hard working Molly is and we can’t wait to see how much good she does for the world!