In the market for change: Notes from WWF's economics intern

In April when I applied for this job, I was still bent on doing my final internship as an economics student at Memorial University with a financial institution. So when this opportunity came across my desk, it wasn’t something I was too thrilled about. After all, what kind of relevant “business” experience could I possibly get working for a conservation organization? Nonetheless, the job description tilted towards finance so I figured that I would give it a shot and at least read the job description before writing it off (well, need I say that was a good decision). After my (very difficult) interview, I wasn’t too sure if I would get the job or not. But at this point, I had grown so attached to the organization and the work it did that I knew I would be disappointed if I didn’t get it. So when that call came in two or three days after the interview, I was super excited and I couldn’t wait to begin working here over the summer.

Vivian Okonkwo (c) Robert Rangeley/WWF-Canada
The first thing I did was take a good, hard read of WWF’s Banking on Cod report.  To my surprise, it actually describes a classic business scenario.  You have an industry—in this case the fishing sector—that wants to get from point A to point B.  They need investors to help them get there.  And, to get those investors, they need a good business case.  That’s what I was brought on to help develop.  But the really amazing thing—the thing that truly opened my eyes—was that getting from point A to point B, in this case, wasn’t solely about higher profits or more market share—it’s about becoming more sustainable.
As I researched this whole new concept of investing in sustainability, I realized that it’s actually a huge global movement.  It makes sense.  After all, people have access to so much information today.  They know the way the world is moving, they see the big environmental challenges we’re facing, and they have higher expectations of businesses and industries to be a part of the solutions.  That pressure is leading to some amazing innovations in the financial world and, if there’s one thing I learned from my studies, nothing is better for growth than innovation.
For me this opened up a whole new world of possibilities.  When I started at WWF, I had no idea what I would do with my economics degree.  I didn’t realize that having this knowledge and education could actually be used to give back—to the planet and to communities.  In economics we define sustainability as long-term profitability.  As I’ve learned at WWF, long-term profitability is about making things better for people and our planet.  Now I see that as my calling.

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to extend my time with WWF through December of this year. Then, after that (fingers-crossed!) I will start my Masters. But the big goal—once I’ve learned as much as I can—is to go home, back to Nigeria, where I can put all of this knowledge to work.  These months at WWF have been some of the most fun and exciting in my life.  But now I see they have also probably been the most important.
Vivian Okonkwo’s internship at WWF was sponsored through a unique partnership with  Johnson’s Inc., part of RSA Canada.  To learn more about WWF’s innovative collaboration with RSA, visit: www.wwfrsapartners.com