ValuesMind Newsletter - July 2024

Profile of the Month: Varuna Soedamah

On Monday, July 15, we had the pleasure of meeting Varuna at the Field in Leiden. I first encountered her through a LinkedIn post a week earlier, where she proudly announced her completion of a Master's degree in Industrial Design Engineering.

You might be wondering: Who is Varuna?

What does she stand for? 

When discussing our planet, Varuna emphasizes the importance of unity over division and advocates for sustainable living—using no more resources than one can replenish.  

As a graduate specializing in industrial design, with a focus on games and education, she aligns strongly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to these areas.

What drives her? 

Varuna's unwavering drive immediately impressed me. She harbors a deep passion for game design and is committed to expanding her industrial design expertise. This passion has been a consistent thread throughout her life. 

What is she looking for? 

Varuna is eager to begin her career as an industrial designer, particularly in game design for underserved social segments. She is curious about the professional design world and understands the importance of gaining practical experience post-graduation. Unlike many of her peers, she isn’t looking to travel the world first; she’s ready to dive straight into her career, even willing to relocate for the right opportunity. Her journey from MAVO to earning a master’s degree underscores her determination. 

This girl is unstoppable - who will give her that first stepping stone and wants to be part of her great journey? 

What is her dream job? 

Varuna dreams of starting her own toy company, aiming first at the Dutch market and then globally. She envisions combining games and education to benefit children and the elderly, addressing their unique challenges through innovative design solutions. 

Varuna is a dynamic and driven team player, adept at tackling industrial design challenges in the gaming and education sectors. She is passionate about creating impactful products for those who may not voice their needs directly, such as children and the elderly. 

Are you as inspired by Varuna as we are? If her potential intrigues you, reach out to us at ValuesMind or contact Varuna directly on LinkedIn. Her drive and energy are truly captivating! 

#Staycurious

Did you know what happened last month that you may find interesting? If curious, then read on below!

World most Sustainable Companies in 2024

TIME and Statista determined the World’s Most Sustainable Companies according to a specific methodology. They evaluated a lot of companies and shared the top 500 on the TIME website.

For the Dutch market, below you will find the companies with their ranks:

Congratulations to all companies in the top 500! Of course we know that there are many more that could easily also be in here but are maybe small in size or just flying under the radar. Just reach out, we can always put you in the spotlight!

Progress report on SDG targets - not good

With 6 years to go only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are currently on track.

Positive SDG examples

While the SDG progress is falling short across all topics, it is still nice to mention some amazing impact stories which are Youth-led:

• Significant progress in promoting peace and cooperation in Cyprus through the innovative efforts of CyprusInno. This initiative, which fosters peacebuilding via youth-led innovation, has become a beacon of hope and progress by establishing one of the first innovation spaces in the world situated in a demilitarized zone;

• The Masungi Geosreserve project in the Philippines is a youth-led movement that has made remarkable strides in combating deforestation through innovative geotourism and has engaged in active policy advocacy to protect critical watersheds.

Curious who will be the 2024 UN SDG Action Award winner? Deadlines are closed, we will know in October when the ceremony will take place in Rome, Italy.

As always, keep connecting, keep imagining, stay optimistic and above all #staycurious.

RSM-Erasmus Event: Mind the Gap

The position of universities in the Netherlands is crucial in a couple of ways. They do sustainable research and sustainable venturing, think and test new innovative business models, act as a hub between different groups within society and bring all these elements into one wonderful soup.

Last month ValuesMind joined the table to taste one of these wonderful soups at “Mind the Gap” [i] event hosted by the RSM-Erasmus. As an advocate of the UN SDGs, RSM is trying to overcome the various gaps between intention and realisation which requires future-resilient strategies, a new mindset, organisational capabilities, skills, and the willingness to jointly invest in sustainable business practices.

The event was focused on creating more awareness on the lack of progress we are making as a global society. People such as Jan Peter Balkenende shared his thoughts and advice on how we could or should proceed. He made a plea to the attendees to join forces, start changing companies focus inside-out and increase pressure on government to remain undeterred and focused in the goals of the SDGs.

The thing that struck us was the breakout sessions, which focused on several aspects of the bigger transformation, such as leadership and strategy. We could clearly distinguish the different generations when voicing their thoughts. There is quite a gap to bridge on that too.