International Development

I was 19 when I first learned about corporate social responsibility. It was in the context of international aid on the African continent and my mind was blown by the paradoxes. It was good, it was bad, it made people self sufficient, it set them up for failure. I was naive about the concept but self-aware enough to know that I could learn more through what I loved doing: writing and reporting.

How it helped me:

  • The ability to discern between calculated optics and transparency

  • Match organizational voice with a variety of stories

  • Critique strengths and weaknesses of NGOs / Nonprofits

  • Learn how to analyze and synthesize data through field work

 

Relevant Published Works:

Building a Sustainable Cocoa Value Chain in Peru, Overview of a case study for TechnoServe, 9/11/15

Tanzanian Secondary School Allows Girls to Continue Their Education, coauthored with USAID, 5/1/2015

Photo Essay: Photography and Liberia, coauthored and curated with two fellow AllAfrica.com journalists, 9/22/11

Africa: Ugandan Youth Advocate Spreads Message of Self-Care, AllAfrica.com, 7/26/2011

Africa: Another Critical Clue on Cholera, AllAfrica.com, 8/4/2011

Not on my resume…

AllAfrica.com, 2011

It hurts that I don’t have this on my official resume. It just won’t fit and it was too long ago. It did so much for my growth and confidence. An example that my internships are more than professional experiences, I share a lesson that I find applicable in my everyday life:

  • My very first interview was with a health minister from Senegal. Interning in itself is a privilege, but, the assignment was the best opportunity next to actually interning. (I would go on to interview more, but this would remain the most challenging.) A tacit understanding that I needed direction, my supervisor immediately shared:

    • “Never ask yes or no questions. Leave it open ended. If you’re talking, you’re saying too much. Be educated on the topic but approach it as if you know nothing. If nothing else, listen.”

Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, 2010

In no way did this experience benefit me professionally. In every way, it evolved me personally.

But let’s stick with what’s relevant. Hope Sullivan was the founder and CEO of the now folded Leon H. Sullivan Foundation. Leon H. Sullivan _________

I didn’t get it at the time. I couldn’t connect how ____ but down the line, it would be a significant part of how I viewed sustainable development.