I started as a barista at Starbucks 10 years ago, and now I’m a senior sustainability strategy manager. After graduating from Harvard Extension School (HES), my responsibilities expanded. I now support the sustainability strategy for the global partnerships that span both international retail and our consumer packaged goods business unit.
Why did you choose to enroll at Harvard Extension School?
Prior to HES, I was a commercialization manager launching new paper, plastic, and sustainable packaging items and managing the North America mandate response team, responsible for responding to new sustainable legislation impacting Starbucks stores. I knew that to further meaningful planet-positive work, I needed technical expertise.
Before enrolling at HES, I interviewed MBA grads and sustainability professionals, all of whom advised me to follow my curiosity and passion and not a degree. I enrolled with HES because the program offered the flexibility to continue working full time from Seattle, a community of global learners, and specific sustainability skill-based courses, which set the program apart from most MBA programs.

How did your experience at HES impact your career?
Nearly everything I learned, I immediately applied at work in real time. For the first time, our business unit was able to measure emissions in depth, identify the most material issues, benchmark our progress against competitors, and create a multi-year emissions reduction strategy that supported enterprise initiatives.
Yet, the most impactful part of my HES journey was the capstone project and my capstone cohort. The capstone project was the opportunity to combine all the skills I learned at HES, and apply those skills to an organization in an entirely different industry. While truly a massive undertaking, Professor Neil Hawkins and our TA Raeda Addoum really made a difference. They provided insight and guidance every step of the way.

What did you learn through the coursework and the community?
HES has provided me with the technical skills to tackle sustainability and a global community of changemakers. Honestly, my cohort and the many others I met in the program give me hope for the world.
It was a privilege to work alongside a group of talented, hard-working people who are actively making a difference in their community. Ten years ago, I could never have imagined this moment. I was trying to get recycling at my store and wondering why it was so hard to do something simple. Now, I am more confident that the roadblocks preventing a sustainable transition can be addressed, and we can create a more just and humane world.

Describe your Extension experience in one word:
Odyssey, a journey of emotional and intellectual transformation that significantly changed my life.
