A Writing Wonder: MScSM Student's Program Journey and Award-Winning Essay

Last fall, I met with Harleen Kaur to discuss her experience in the MScSM (Master of Science in Sustainability Management) program as well as being one of the 5 winners of the Magna Charta Observatory’s 2025 essay competition. Harleen is passionate about encouraging sustainability practices and advancing women in leadership roles. I was interested to learn more about her interest in MScSM at UTM and how the program has helped her become a leader in her community and in the workforce. 

“Coming from a background of computer science, data analytics, and later venturing into the restaurant business in India, I saw firsthand how difficult it is to align business goals with sustainability in practice. So that gap is what led me to the MScSM program, and what drew me was its unique design. It uses sustainability as a lens to bring together business management, natural science and social science,” Harleen said.  

Harleen has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience during her time at UTM. She identified Sustainability Management, Environmental Ecosystem Science or Sustainability Law and Policy as a course which has given her the tools and skills to understand challenges in her field. “It helped me connect strategy, policy, and science in a way that prepares me to address complex sustainability problems, not just in theory and in practice,” Harleen said.  

Harleen has been working as an intern with the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (REPRAM). The organization is designed to reinforce the province of Ontario’s circular economy laws. Harleen’s role as a Compliance Audit and Risk Intern has given her hands-on experience in the workplace. “That showed me how strong regulations and enforcement can drive sustainable change at different levels,” Harleen said. Harleen has also been working as a compliance Analyst with the G20 and BRICS Research Group. This gave her a global perspective as she evaluated issues like greenhouse gas reduction and the government’s decisions to reduce emissions. Harleen mentioned that this experience has strengthened her ability to analyze trends and perspectives.  

After providing her career development so far, Harleen commented on her future development. “So looking ahead, I think I see myself in roles that combine sustainability, strategy, compliance and policies. Whether in intergovernmental organizations such as the UN or with Global Farm. And sustainable supply chains. My vision is to help shape business practices that act as allies of the environment rather than adversaries.”  

Harleen also put her writing talents to the test by submitting an essay for the Magna Charta Observatory’s 2025 essay competition. “Yeah, to be honest, I did not anticipate winning at all. So with entries coming from all over the world and so many different powerful stories out there, I approached it less as a competition and more as an opportunity to share my journey,” Harleen said. This mindset proved to be successful as Harleen was chosen as one of the five winners of the competition. Her winning essay was titled “Empowering Rural Women Through Inclusive Education.”

“That essay was deeply personal. I wrote about my own path growing up in rural India, where higher education for girls was often discouraged, to studying today at the University of Toronto,” Harleen said. Harleen suggested a stakeholder drive model in her essay. “Universities engage at 2 stages, pre-admission outreach in rural communities and post-admission inclusion that support women from diverse backgrounds once they are enrolled.”

Harleen’s winning essay allowed her to attend the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN) conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference took place on the 27th and 28th of October, marking World Access to Higher Education Day.

Her thoughts going into the conference reflected an openness and desire to improve global dialogue: “I am very much eager to connect with global leaders, policymakers and students who are addressing barriers to higher education. I hope to learn from models that are working in other countries. My insights from both India and Canada, and bring those lessons back to strengthen initiatives at UFT and UTM. […] I want to ensure that voices of rural women who are often left out of on out of these conversations are heard on the global stage.”  

To learn more about the Master of Science in Sustainability Management at IMI, visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/mscsm or contact imi@utoronto.ca.

To learn more about the WAHEN conference, visit worldaccesshe.com/activities/wahed-day.