Personal Statement

I am fortunate to have found what I love to do early in my life. My exposure to sustainable concepts is not something I had planned or anticipated. However, after active involvement in sustainability projects related to alternative energy, water reduction and waste recycling I have discovered that there is no other field which I would rather focus my efforts toward. Upon reflection, I realize my academic choices, professional experiences and personal beliefs have created a path that has led me to this revelation. I am inspired to advance my knowledge of sustainable practices and am dedicated to finding an approach to make them commonplace in our society. Sustainability is the ultimate societal issue of my generation and I feel privileged

Therefore, I chose to major in Finance during my undergraduate studies at Rutgers. Additionally, I elected to major in Religious studies as I had an innate appreciation for philosophy, ethics and history. Combination of the two majors was an unusual choice, but it provided a happy medium between pragmatism and indulgence. My undergraduate studies had helped establish the fundamentals needed for quantitative analysis, critical thinking and cross cultural understanding – these skills have been crucial in starting and advancing my career. I spent the first 6 years of my career in various finance roles dissecting numbers, analyzing spreadsheets, reading balance sheets and understanding the flow of P&L statements. While, I was challenged, I didn’t feel the work that I was doing aligned with my core values – I was missing a sense of purpose. I finally recognized that I needed to make a career

I consistently find myself thinking, that I would have been able to achieve so much more had I discovered this passion even earlier in my life. Recently, I have realized that my current role is the culmination of efforts from my previous roles. During the first few years of my academic and professional career, I learned formative skills which now help me progress sustainability in my organization. In the corporate world, sustainability isn’t just about finding the right method or practice which is good for the environment; it’s about influencing others by understanding the holistic value proposition from a financial and environmental perspective. It’s about showcasing that sustainability isn’t just good for the environment, it is also good for