Be the change: Challenging my Idealism, by Ruby Ku

On 10.19.09, In be the change series, By Akhila

I’m going to break the news: I now work in the corporate world.

I guess with all the posts I’ve written on my blog, it is understandable for one to assume I would look for a job in the non-profit sector after graduation and go “save the world”.

Look, this is where it gets tricky. I would love to work with like-minded individuals on community projects directly, but at the same time there is a big pool of untapped Gen Y talent out there that I feel the world could benefit from. The main reason why I haven’t blogged in awhile is that the ones who read my blog are also extremely passionate and, for the most part, agree with what I have to say. Trust me, it feels really good to have people comment, “Ruby, you’re so right. I too feel the same way and I’m so glad you wrote this…etc.” But what’s the point of preaching to the choir that already cares? I know I need to be doing more.

This is why I ventured out to the “dark side”, so that I can stand up to people who challenge my idealism, bridge the gap between for-profit and non-profit, explore market-based development solutions through enterprise, understand the impact of social capital, design human-centric systems that are resilient and responsible, and at the same time acquire the practical skills needed to truly effect change.

I believe all of us do care about one another and the world, but not all of us have an outlet to translate that into real actions. Muhammad Yunus said in his book, “Many young people today feel frustrated because they cannot recognize any worthy challenge that excites them within the present capitalist system. When you have grown up with ready access to the consumer goods of the world, earning a lot of money isn’t a particularly inspiring goal.” I see myself as that point of contact, for those who want to be involved but are unsure how, those who wonder how they can make money and change the world at the same time, or those who just want to be pointed to the right resources to learn more.

Everyone has a different battlefield and at the moment, this is mine. I will tell you the truth – it’s sometimes hard, real hard, to get up every morning to face the world. It is uncomfortable, and I get hurt sometimes. But I am still determined to change some minds and hearts, one person at a time. Not one day when I am rich, not one day when I retire - just right now, everyday, and I will do what I can. This is me stepping up, in hopes to be joined by many others in my generation, so together we make the world a better place. I feel so restless seeing the gap between my vision and the current reality, but for now, we just got to keep going.

The Changemaker

Ruby Ku is a 23-year-old who enjoys being busy and wishes there was more than 24 hours in a day. She blogs at I Care where she shares her stories on working towards a better world. She lives in Toronto and loves coffee, the internet, cameras, nature and people.

Also catch her on Twitter @rubyku!

Leslie_Forman

I think that you're making a smart decision. I turned my avocation into my day job. My personal obsession with the cause actually hurt my performance because I was approaching things from an excessively personal perspective.

I find that it is much easier to work from the heart as a volunteer. If you're getting paid to work for "the cause" most of your time is not spent directly focused on the cause itself but on administrative tasks. Of course this kind of work exists in any job (and many organizations need volunteers that can do admin work) but I think in for-profit organizations the work is more about providing a service that people are willing to pay for, rather than taking baby steps towards a much loftier goal.

I read this great article the other day that included this brilliant quote, in reference to the role of passion in work:

"It would probably be better, Professor Warr suggested, to think less in terms of passion, and the inflated sense of drama that can go with that, and more in terms of job satisfaction or finding meaning in your work."

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/your-money/26shortcuts.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=job%20passion&st=cse

I look forward to chatting more!

Grace Boyle

Ruby I love your honesty here! Like Akhila said, social change doesn't have to come from non-profits. Social change can also start with one person (e.g. you).

We have high expectations for ourselves, but sometimes the expectations are swayed by how life really unfolds. I say go with it. You haven't changed who you are Ruby and that is ultimately, the most important.

rubyku

Grace, thanks for the comment. I agree that we have high expectations for ourselves, but I don't think mine have swayed by how life is unfolding. There is more than one way to get to the destination. Where I am at right now is where I choose to be at the moment, but it's still definitely one of the many stepping stones to get to where I eventually want to be. Does that make any sense?

Thanks for the constant encouragement and inspiration :)

Grace Boyle

@Ruby I didn't articulate myself very well because what I was trying to portray is what you just said :) I suppose it could be seen as us having expectations but life takes a turn, so we ride with it and become happy with where we are. At one point I thought that working at a non-profit was the only way to be righteous and conscious, but I love the work I've been doing that isn't at a non-profit over the last year.

Like you say, a stepping stone. I don't eliminate working at non-profits (and in my spare time, I volunteer at them) because who knows what the future holds.

Akhila

I think this is also an important point. Thinking and saying that only working at a nonprofit is a good way to make change is misleading because change begins with the individual and happens at the individual level. I think this attitude also might alienate people because it makes it seem like the only way to make any difference is by completely changing one's job and lifestyle to work at an NGO. But again like Ruby alludes to, this is not the only way...you can make social change a part of your life anywhere and perhaps that's more important.

rubyku

That's so true. Towards the end of my summer in Botswana, I was freaking out because I was thinking, uh oh..this is it. I have to start working when I go back. I'll never be able to do this ever again. But you know what, if this is something that's important enough to me, it will be my responsibility to make sure it's a part of whatever I choose to do in my life.

Casual reader

I like your idea of trying to make a difference now rather than waiting for life after retirement or getting rich. I have operated under this 'doctrine' for some time now, and it's inspired me further. Good luck in your battle with the capitalists.

rubyku

Thanks for reading. I read this quote once and it has stuck with me ever since:

"It's not that we can make a difference, it's that we do make a difference." - Julia Butterfly Hill

Akhila

Ruby, thank you for this amazing post! I really like the point you're getting across here: social change doesn't just have to happen in nonprofits, it can happen at firms too. We can make social change a part of our lives wherever we are.

But I have to ask, at the same time, do you think you can even make much of an impact in the corporate sector? You want to change people's minds, but how possible is that? It's a lot more difficult to actually change people's minds when you are working alongside them. Wouldn't it be, overall, more effective to work at an NGO in terms of achieving your "vision" for the world?

Roz

I am also going to jump into this conversation, because I, too, have had similar struggles/conflicts in regards to this topic.
I think that the media and our society in general, especially towards more "progressive-minded" or "social-change-minded" individuals like us have shaped our perception of corporations and the private sector as "evil" or counteractive in terms of social change. I've come to realize, though, that social change + the corporate sector do not have to be mutually exclusive; as such, it's no surprise that I find the social business (for-profit) models so intriguing.

In terms of the larger side of the corporate sector (as in large corporations, not just small to medium-sized companies), I once heard someone speak about what is termed "corporate intrapreneurship," which I believe is a bit of what you talked about, Ruby. It's about changing a company - even including small changes -from the *inside*. Now whether or not it's influencing the way your peers think or perceive issues, or implementing / taking part in projects related to aspects of social change, I guess it'd depend on your role and position in the company.

I was speaking to a professor about this, and he gave me some good advice - that even if your role is not specifically "social change" related within the company, if you are, for example, working within the accounting or finance department, you could influence the company to buy products that are sustainable and effective in terms of pricing, or offer more "environmentally-friendly" alternatives (if you do not have the power to make the calls on buying).

For me, that doesn't seem to be enough - I want to be *directly* targeting social issues, but at the same time, I feel that those ways I mentioned above are necessary at least in the beginning of our careers, no?

Akhila

Roz, you make such a good point! It's true that many people interested in social change start thinking about nonprofits as the only way to go and on the contrary start developing such a negative attitude towards corporations. Like you said the trick is even focusing on "change from within" as an intrapreneurs.

Corporate social responsibility is such an important part of social change. Corporations are so incredibly effective and if we can harness their power for social good, imagine how much more effective we could be!

rubyku

Akhilka, thanks for having me in this series. It's an honor.

I see where you're coming from. You see, it's not only about changing people's mind and trying to convert everybody. It's also about letting them see that life doesn't have to be only about their jobs and fame and money. I work as hard as they do from 8am-6pm, then come home and continue to work on my social enterprise/community service projects. I don't think I have given up my passion just because I'm working in corporate now. As for what is more "effective", we all play our own roles. We can't ALL work for the non-profit. Plus, Jacqueline Novogratz also had to go do an MBA after her experience in Rwanda so she can learn how to build better organizations. Her Acumen Fund is a perfect example of business + nonprofit hybrid. You are always talking about measuring results, then you know more than anyone else how desperately the nonprofit world needs some skills and models used in corporate. I don't want to go work for a nonprofit coming straight out from school. Instead I want to understand what it will take to take the best from both worlds and make something out of that. I'm not too concerned to use a couple years out of my whole life to learn what I need to learn. Am I going to stay at corporate forever? No. Is my vision for the world changing? No. Do I think doing what I'm doing now will have an impact? Absolutely. I don't just think it. I know it and I live it everyday.

What do you think?

Akhila

I think the only thing I'd be afraid of, is, personally losing my own drive and idealism. You are strong and you are able to keep your own motivation and passion going. I'm afraid of entering the corporate world and - yes - being challenged - but perhaps worse, not being able to live up to and continue my naive hopes as they are now. It's hard to maintain this optimism and idealism as it is...it will be so much harder in the corporate world! BUT I do agree with you that the skills are so immensely valuable...so it's a struggle, but one we have to try our best to maintain a strong sense of self throughout.

kristinalugo

Great discussion! I'm going to jump in because this post resonates with my exact feelings right now =)

Akhila, you ask if it's possible to change people's minds and if we can even make much of an impact. I'm not nearly as strong-willed as Ruby as, but even my answer is yes. The idea is very much "one candle can light up the whole room".

The 3 things that keep me going are: a) I crave learning and there is so much to be learned and b) the immense challenge of being an agent of change in this setting and c) I know I'm here for a reason.

If I, in all my weakness, am still holding ground and still just as passionate (if not more), then you have nothing to worry about =) IF you decide to tackle the corporate world, I think you'll be the candle any corporation is waiting for and needing.

Ruby, great post =) Stay strong, I'm so proud of you. I can't wait to see the fruits of your labour.

Akhila

Sorry I'm responding a bit late, but thanks for all your suggestions and tips and positive comments :) You both are very optimistic and give me lots of hope that I too, if I enter the corporate world, can retain my own passions!

I am sure it can be done, as long as you go into it with the right reasons. If you go into corporate with the intention of learning skills and always, at the same time, keeping your ultimate end goal in mind, I hope you wouldn't lose sight of that goal. The idea is to be clear about your intentions from the start.

That's actually why I want to work abroad in the developing world before I go on to the corporate world/grad school. I know you two have done that, and it seems to have made you all the more committed.

I believe if I have that experience, I'll be even more committed to human rights and international development. That way, whatever next step I take, I won't forget to come back.

rubyku

It's not exactly easy to lose the drive and idealism for someone who is as compassionate and motivated as you are. I don't think we need to worry about not living up to expectations, but rather, just how to do our very best everyday to challenge the status quo and influence by being the best we can be - which is what you're already doing.

Akhila

Yes, I get what you're saying -- I also hope to work in the corporate world because I know the skills I gain from that type of work will be absolutely invaluable when it comes to applying them to work at a nonprofit or social enterprise. A lot of nonprofits are, true, very inefficient or bureaucratic and they often don't have the best management. Getting experience in the corporate setting first can really help improve efficiency and effectiveness of nonprofits!

Justice for all

By Akhila Kolisetty