Our client is a non-profit organization that promotes the adoption of sustainability reporting across institutions worldwide. It provides a common language for organizations to communicate their environmental, social, and governance impacts. Although relatively young, its origins trace back to initiatives led by CERES and the United Nations in the United States. Later, it relocated its headquarters to the Netherlands, an international hub of sustainability and long-term impact. This move symbolized its expansion beyond the U.S. and its embrace of the global stage. Looking ahead, the organization continues to shape how companies, governments, and investors understand and practice accountability. Our project focuses on identifying the challenges supply chain companies face in adopting sustainability frameworks and developing recommendations that reflect the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, with the expectation of contributing to improved reporting practices by 2027.
When I first reviewed the project scope and saw this organization listed, I immediately ranked it as my top choice, and it’s amazing that I actually got the opportunity to work with it. The organization’s influence is undeniable, in fact, our group was expanded to five members instead of the usual four, a reflection of its significance. For me, this project feels especially relevant. I have a background in corporate banking at a global bank headquartered in Amsterdam. Beyond working on a sustainable finance pitchbook, I also conducted risk analyses for internal use, known as SIRA. Through those analyses and the heat maps we generated, I witnessed how critical the role of employees is in assessing organizational risk. Working with the client on labor supply chains in Southeast Asia is also attractive. I’ve often noticed that many of my clothes from Aritzia, Lululemon, or Zara, are produced in Bangladesh and Vietnam rather than China, which makes me curious about the shifts in global labor dynamics. Having grown up in China, I’ve seen labor law enforcement become more efficient over time, which raises further questions about how supply chains are evolving. In addition, during another internship, I had the opportunity to work with South East Asian buyers and sellers on coal procurement, which makes me feel particularly comfortable engaging with this region.
At the same time, I know this project will challenge me. The first challenge is logistical, our group of five is busy, and scheduling meetings has been difficult. To overcome this, we decided to meet in person every Thursday morning before class, at least in the early stages. But having a larger group also brings real advantages, it means more perspectives and the ability to support each other by carrying on where others left off. The second challenge is substantive. As we began our initial research, we realized how difficult it is to find open-source information on non-listed companies and SMEs in South East Asia. This is also a major concern for our client, who hopes to expand sustainability reporting into these companies. To bridge this gap, we believe conducting interviews will be essential. This approach not only provides more reliable insights but also helps us build valuable skills in gathering information in diverse ways. Moreover, as we moved upstream in the supply-chain research, we encountered a large volume of data that was hard to organize. I knew this was my chance to apply my SQL skills to design a data dictionary, which will improve efficiency and make our work more structured. I’m genuinely looking forward to this mix of qualitative and quantitative challenges and help me grow through this project.