Hanley Sustainability Institute

By Maddie Motes

Summer is approaching and students are beginning to consider and confirm the many opportunities available to them this summer. We will be highlighting three high-impact summer experiences our students have participated in.

When you’re working for a large conglomerate like the Walt Disney Company, sometimes you can’t help but wonder if they’re doing their part in caring for the planet. You wonder if their promises and small projects add up to more in the grand scheme of things. It’s easy to find numbers and promises online or snapshots of projects that may or may not be operational. Disney has 2030 goals, but how are they being implemented? They have a conservation fund, but how is that advocated for? One of the great things about working for the company was the insight I gained into just how intertwined sustainability is with the company’s vision and everyday actions. 

Working within the parks gave me a unique perspective on how those promises trickle down into operations.

As a part of the college program, I spent the summer making magic as a custodial team member at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I got to spend time working backstage, learning the waste stream process. I even attended several classes on what Disney calls their Environmentality (Environmental-Mentality). These classes were offered as part of the internship program because Disney wants to include their employees in the work they do. They are transparent about what they are doing for the environment, which is more than other companies. 

As I am moving into the corporate world, or the working world in general, this experience has shown me that working for an employer that shares my values is important to me. All large companies have a certain responsibility within their sphere of influence to do what we as small individuals cannot. Dedicating our time to a corporation that shares in those values will be just as effective as spending, or even voting. It’s gratifying and exciting to go to work knowing you play even a small part in doing something important.

If I had to share a piece of advice I learned from this experience, it's that you shouldn’t be afraid to dig deeper to find the information you want. Ask, search and look around, because that will lead you to the right choice for you.