Najwa Alam

The program challenged me to think creatively, engage deeply with current issues, and develop innovative, problem-solving solutions.

My Background & Motivation

As an M1 student at HEC Paris, I quickly recognized the crucial, interconnected role of sustainability within various business disciplines. Every class I attended emphasized the importance of creating and mainstreaming sustainable impacts on businesses, people, and the planet. I was particularly fascinated by the idea that businesses can move beyond short-term profits to help build resilient societies and address global challenges. This realization led me to choose Sustainability as my specialization for M2. To deepen my understanding, I enrolled in the HEC Paris "Sustainability Marketing" summer school, which turned out to be an extraordinary and enriching experience.

I come from Afghanistan, where I’ve dedicated over four years of my career to advocating for women’s equality and empowerment. In my experience, referencing the SDGs, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality, is crucial in reporting practices. However, during my classes and especially the summer school at HEC Paris, I noticed that sustainability is often approached in a very neutral way by international NGOs and is poorly implemented by government sectors in Afghanistan. As for local communities, they are almost entirely unaware of it, which is a significant issue that needs urgent attention. The program challenged me to think creatively, engage deeply with these problems, and develop innovative, problem-solving solutions.

The Rewards of the Program

Professor Michelle Greenwald, with her decades of experience, delivered the material flawlessly, and her real-world market insights left all of us thoroughly impressed. She adopted a student-centric approach for the class that allowed us to freely share our thoughts and discuss our ideas. The assignments and projects were intense, challenging but engaging and truly fascinating.

As much as I learned during the classes, I also gained valuable insights outside the classroom. I had the pleasure of meeting incredible students from diverse cultural backgrounds, representing universities from across the globe. Our lunch breaks provided the perfect opportunity to connect more deeply and strengthen our bonds. The course also featured a variety of engaging and fun events, from weekend visits to Paris to cocktails, karaoke, and other activities during the week. Now that the program has ended, I'm grateful for the wonderful memories we created together and wish my classmates all the best in their future endeavors.

Ultimately participating in this summer school has been an immensely rewarding experience. It has broadened my horizons, and the valuable insights I gained will significantly impact both my personal and professional decisions.

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