Finding Leadership Through Community: A Student’s Sustainability Story

Hasti Trivedi arrived in Canada from India to study sustainable business management knowing she was starting from scratch - in a new country, with no established network. But what she didn’t expect was to find a global community of like-minded peers and professionals in PRME that would help shape her leadership journey in sustainability.

Hasti’s introduction to PRME began with PRME Students at Conestoga College, a PRME Signatory institution and 2024-2025 PRME Champion, where she was working as a Sustainability Communications Assistant. “Part of my job was to introduce students to PRME and help them see how they could be involved,” she shared. “That’s how I found out about PRME Students myself—and eventually applied to join.”

Building Belonging Through PRME Students

Hasti first joined the PRME Students programme as a Newsletter Coordinator member and later stepped into the role of Coordinator. Through these roles, she not only developed her communication skills but also found a vibrant, supportive community. “As an immigrant and a student new to Canada, I didn’t have a professional network,” she explained. “Joining PRME Students gave me a way to connect with people in sustainability, both within and beyond my college. It created a sense of belonging.”

What began as a volunteer role quickly became a transformative experience. Hasti describes her time as the Newsletter Coordinator as a key moment of growth—learning to lead a diverse, international team spread across time zones and backgrounds. “It wasn’t just about managing a team; it was about bringing together people from different cultures, with different skills, and finding ways to collaborate effectively,” she said. “That experience taught me how to motivate and engage others, especially when working remotely and across cultures.”

A pivotal influence in Hasti’s PRME Students journey was the mentorship she received from Paulo Speroni, a former member of the PRME Secretariat and former leader within PRME Students. “Paulo was incredible,” she reflected. “He always encouraged us to try new things, experiment with different ideas, and trusted us to lead. The way he supported me as a volunteer became my model for how to support others.”

Redefining Sustainability and Finding Hope for the Future

Through this leadership experience, Hasti gained more than just management skills. She also deepened her understanding of sustainability as a global and interdisciplinary effort. Coming from an environmental science background, Hasti initially viewed sustainability primarily through the lens of climate and environmental issues. But her involvement with PGS expanded that perspective. “Through PRME Students, I gained a deeper understanding that sustainable development is about inclusivity, it’s about people, business, environment, and how all of these are connected. While I was always aware of these connections, PRME Students truly pressed the importance of how they work together in creating meaningful, long-term impact,” she explained. “It taught me that sustainability goes beyond science; it touches every part of life and society.”

Hasti also highlighted the value of the broader exposure PRME Students provided, connecting her to international events, UN initiatives, and sustainability opportunities she otherwise wouldn’t have known about. “PRME Students opened doors I didn’t know existed. It helped me grow professionally and personally,” she said.

Looking back, Hasti shared that one of the biggest lessons was learning to take initiative and embrace opportunities, even when unsure. “My advice to other students is: don’t overthink it - just try,” she said. “I spent too much time wondering if I should do something. But PRME Students showed me that when you take that step, you grow in ways you can’t imagine.”

Her message to students interested in sustainability is simple yet profound: “Even if you don’t think sustainability is for you, eventually you’ll realize it has to be. Climate and social challenges affect us all. So why not start now, with a community that makes it meaningful and fulfilling?”

Today, reflecting on her journey, Hasti emphasizes the sense of hope she has gained through PRME Students. “Sometimes, when I feel that climate anxiety - wondering what the future holds - I think back to the people I’ve met through PRME Students, the work we’ve done, and I know there’s hope. There are people who care, and that’s powerful.”

PRME Students is an engaged network of students from PRME Signatory Members promoting responsible management education globally. PRME Students works to advance sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals through various initiatives and advocacy.