Bailey Pollard, BSC Associate
Current Degree Program: Undergraduate Poole College of Management – Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology and a Spanish Minor
Hometown: Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Areas of Interest in Sustainability: Climate change and environmental issues facing the airline/aviation industry. Reducing carbon emissions, enhancing technology, aircraft operations, improved infrastructure, and single global market-based measures need to be met or else climate change will continue to be one of the airline industry’s greatest challenges.
What does business sustainability mean to you? What do you think sustainability should mean to businesses?
When I think of business sustainability, I imagine a business that operates without negatively impacting the environment, community, and society for present and future generations to come. I believe developing sustainability goals and actions should be a priority for every business in order to ensure future generations to come.
What sustainability challenge would you most like to solve?
Reducing aviation’s climate impact
Who do you admire for championing positive change through business?
I really admire Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group. He is a former airline veteran that “seeks to pilot” the industry toward a carbon-neutral horizon. Under his leadership, four airlines in 2020 became the first to go toward net-zero CO2 emission by 2050. He advocates for long-term advancements, like hybrid-electric aircraft, since burning fuel accounts for 99 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the International Airlines Group.
Moving forward, how do you plan to use business as a force for good?
Focusing on purpose, not profit.
What do you think are some challenges with sustainable businesses or becoming a sustainable business?
There are many challenges with becoming a sustainable business like consuming less can reduce profits, no global push for sustainability, and no long-term thinking. Humans think in more short-term aspects, and if an issue is not immediate, then usually in most cases it will be placed on the back burner. I have noticed that within the aviation industry unless there is a push to choose a sustainable path (which is typically the more expensive path) they normally go the cheaper route, which is always the most destructive.
What’s your advice for fellow students who might be interested in sustainability, but don’t know where to start?
Get Involved! There are many organizations around campus and the Raleigh area that you can find with a quick google search. Some of my favorites are Don’t Waste Durham, Zero Waste Wolfpack Club at NC State, and of course, the Business Sustainability Collaborative! NC State Sustainability sends out newsletters about local resources, internships, and activities which I have found really helpful.