Experience of a Young Green

Global View

By Magdalina Yarichkova

after one of my regular visits to The MPI Web site, I noticed in the section “Latest Articles” a post concerning training for becoming a speaker on the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Since I have always been passionate about protecting the environment and doing volunteer work, I was interested in applying for the opportunity. I thought I might not be lucky, since I am only a student, but I decided to give it a try. A couple of weeks later, I got a response that I was selected to participate during training sponsored by the MPI Foundation that took place in Toronto in January. I had succeeded in passing on my passion for CSR in my answers to the application’s essay questions and was overjoyed that MPI is so open to young talents and willing give any member a chance to become an ambassador.

Prior to and during the training--led by Elizabeth Henderson, MPI's director of CSR, and consultant Mariela Mcilwraith--I was amazed at the great organization and the extra care in minimizing the event’s footprint. I cannot hide that I was very interested in the organization process, since I have been studying conventions and events for three years already and I know MPI is one of the greatest teachers one can have.

My curiosity was further enhanced by the fact that I am from Eastern Europe (Bulgaria), where things are very different in the industry and concerning CSR. From this event, I learned that once you decide to achieve something, you can do it, as long as you keep your aim in front of you at all times.

I received great training on CSR and on the practices that MPI and other industry leaders apply. I was inspired by the people that made up the group, professionals who were all deeply passionate in doing good and educating others, while keeping the standards of their own businesses high, even in a year of economic crisis.

As Tim Sanders says, “The only reason to have a meeting is to change the world,” and we, the MPI CSR speakers team, are planning to do exactly that: Change the world by spreading the word that we can still do good while doing well in business. One+