What Do Droughts, Modeling and Landman Have to Do with Sustainability?
If you had asked me a few years ago where my career would lead, I never would have predicted the path I've taken.
I've studied sustainability, worked as a runway model, completed an internship at Magna and, in just two years, have visited 16 Magna Powertrain divisions. I've even found myself digging into questions sparked by a television drama like Landman. Looking back, those experiences might seem unrelated, but they've all been connected by one thing: curiosity.
Curiosity has shaped nearly every opportunity I've pursued and every lesson I've learned along the way.
That curiosity began early in life when I experienced a severe drought that changed everyday routines and highlighted how closely people, communities and businesses are connected. Seeing how resource challenges affected both daily life and industry sparked questions that stayed with me for years. I wanted to better understand how the world works and how decisions in one area can impact so many others.
Those questions eventually led me to the University of Michigan, where I earned a bachelor's degree in Sustainability Science and Engineering and later a master's degree in Environment and Sustainability. While my classes gave me technical knowledge, they also taught me the value of asking questions, looking at problems from different perspectives and remaining open to new ideas.
Some of the most valuable lessons I learned, however, happened outside the classroom.
While attending school, I had the opportunity to work as a runway model. At first, it felt completely outside my comfort zone. It introduced me to new environments, unfamiliar experiences and people with very different backgrounds. More importantly, it taught me how to adapt, communicate effectively and remain confident in situations where I didn't have all the answers.
At the time, I had no idea how valuable those skills would become later in my career.
In 2024, I joined Magna Exteriors as an intern. Like many interns, I arrived hoping to gain experience and learn more about the industry. What I didn't expect was how much I would learn from the people around me.
The internship exposed me to projects, teams and functions across the business. It also showed me the type of culture I wanted to be part of, one where people collaborate, share knowledge and continuously look for better ways to solve problems.
When I joined Magna Powertrain full-time, my role expanded to include sustainability data management, environmental health and safety, supply chain transparency, audit readiness and continuous improvement. Every day brings a different challenge, and that's one of the things I enjoy most about the work.
That curiosity continues to shape how I approach both sustainability and learning. When the television drama Landman raised questions about the energy and resources involved in building wind turbines, I wanted to better understand the issue. For me, it wasn't about having all the answers. It was about following a question, considering different perspectives and helping others look at a familiar topic in a new way.
What has shaped my journey most, though, has been the opportunity to learn from people across the organization.
Over the past two years, I've worked onsite at 16 Magna Powertrain divisions. Each location has its own products, expertise and ways of working. Every visit has given me a chance to ask questions, observe new processes and better understand how different teams contribute to our success.
Those experiences have reinforced something I've come to appreciate about Magna: no matter where you go, people are willing to share what they know.
Whether I'm walking through a facility, discussing a challenge with a colleague or learning about a process I've never seen before, I've found people who are eager to teach, support and help others succeed. Those interactions have given me a much broader understanding of our business, but they've also shown me the strength of Magna's culture. Before joining Magna, I expected a global company to feel enormous. Instead, the more people I've met and the more locations I've visited, the more connected Magna has felt.
The experience has taught me that growth doesn't come from staying within your comfort zone or limiting yourself to what you already know. It comes from being willing to explore, ask questions and learn from others.
When I look back on my journey so far, the moments that made the biggest impact weren't part of a carefully designed plan. They were opportunities I chose to pursue, conversations I chose to have and experiences that challenged me to see things differently. From the classroom to the runway to Magna, every step has helped me grow in unexpected ways.
If there's one lesson I've learned, it's this: stay curious. You don't need to have your entire journey mapped out. Sometimes the best opportunities begin with a question, a new experience or a simple willingness to learn. You never know where that curiosity might take you.
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