Portland Magazine
September 13, 2023
Carling León '13 '17 believes Corporate Social Responsibility can attract fresh talent and help a business's bottom line.
Carling León '13, '17, believes companies should pursue a triple bottom line: on top of profit, they should prioritize people and the planet, too. This business philosophy informs her work as the senior engagement manager for Thesis, a digital marketing agency. "Corporate Social Responsibility is the strategy a company uses to make a difference in the world," she says.
Carling's job is to guide the company's CSR efforts. At Thesis, she has helped shape a three-pronged program made up of charitable giving to nonprofits, programming for employees that makes it easier for them to volunteer, and partnerships with local nonprofits. She's particularly proud of the company's involvement with the Emerging Leaders Initiative, a program that gives students of color and those from marginalized communities internships.
"Aside from being the right thing to do, there's so much data that shows people want to work with or buy from businesses that align with their values," Carling says. Consumers want a clean conscience these days. They want to support communities that help, not hurt, the planet, that provide for their employees.
When she looks back, she can see the roots of her passions in her upbringing—she grew up in a philanthropic and volunteer-minded family. And she also sees signs of this focus from her experiences at UP. "These values were shown through my experience at UP, where I learned that you give through yourself."
Carling also finds a lot of hope and inspiration when she looks forward. "I have a lot of hope in this next generation," she says, pointing to the ethical standards espoused by Millennials and Gen Z. "I think they're going to take companies to the next level."
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