Net Impact Conference 2015

This past week I traveled to Seattle, Washington for the Net Impact Conference.  Net Impact is a community of more than 80,000 student and professional leaders creating positive social and environmental change in the workplace and the world.  I first got involved with the organization last year at Ithaca College and had the honor of reviving the Cornell University undergrad chapter my first semester on campus.  I hate to sound redundant, but Net Impact was what had the most impact on my my first year and I am so thankful that I got involved.

At Cornell, I have a stellar team running the club with me and we are learning so much throughout the process.  Sadly, only I was able to attend the conference this fall though.

Last year, after seeing pictures of the Net Impact Conference and watching the live stream as the executive board from my chapter attended, I proclaimed that I would be there next year, no matter what.  I started building my business casual wardrobe with "I'll wear this at the Net Impact Conference" as my mantra while I shopped.  I was looking forward to this conference for literally a year and let me tell you, the conference did not disappoint!

Here I am wearing one of the dresses I bought a year earlier, insisting that I'd wear it to #NI15

Being in a room full of people like you (in the sense that you can say CSR or SDG and they'll know exactly what you mean) is comforting and empowering.  I felt like I had found a home and wish I could have had a conversation with every single attendee.  Everyone had such diverse backgrounds, majors, and jobs, and that just added to the greatness of the conference.

The theme this year was "Game On" and attendees were challenged to take a competitive approach to making a positive social impact.

What I hadn't realized earlier was that Net Impact is predominantly a network of graduate students, then professionals, and then undergrad students.  On one hand, I felt very young and inexperienced, but it also helped foster a community between the undergraduate attendees and made me feel like there was so much to learn from the people who surrounded me.

One of the best keynotes from this conference had to be Stephen Ritz from Green Bronx Machine.  He was energetic, zealous, and extremely captivating. 

To watch his talk, click "watch again" and then the arrow on the right so you get to the video titled "Thursday's Keynote" and then skip to an hour in to hear about Green Bronx Machine.  The first keynote, Sue Desmond-Hellmann, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  She also had a really good presentation but it was not as exciting as Stephen Ritz's was.  Watch both if you have time!

Ever watch The Story of Stuff?  This project/movie was shared in classrooms with me probably almost every year since it was released in 2007.  It's a great quick video that really makes you think about what goes into everything that you buy.

Annie Leonard, the woman who is featured in the Story of Stuff videos, is Executive Director at Greenpeace.  She also happened to be at the conference wearing her hat as a board member at Ben & Jerry's.  It was pretty crazy to meet her (pictured on right), based on the fact that she's only ever been on my screen!

I met a ton of people at this conference that I am so excited to keep in touch with and reach out to for career advice and more.

I also had the opportunity to explore Seattle a bit, although it was pretty quiet for a Friday night!  I saw the famous and disgusting gum wall before it is being taken down, and even added a piece of gum to it (quickly followed by using hand sanitizer)!  I walked around the waterfront, Pike Place Market, and to the Space Needle.

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Oh and I highly suggest a visit to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room on Pike Street!  It was incredible to see what they do with coffee there and there are so many hipster guys with crazy cool mustaches that it's definitely a must see!

Cheesing with an old friend after feeling super intimidated by the fanciest Starbucks in the world!