Business student Mary Margaret Jones finding her passion in social entrepreneurship
Rising junior Mary Margaret Jones never expected her Maymester trip to the Netherlands to make a lasting impact on her day-to-day life and open a pathway for her to effect small change that is making a big impact.
“My roommate is an environmental science major, so she motivated me to become more sustainable,” Jones explained. “When she gets me on board, then I get someone else on board and they get someone else on board, change can happen.”
The Origins of a Changemaker
Jones first visited Belmont as a sophomore in high school and immediately felt drawn to the close-knit community. "I really liked the size and the campus, and I felt like the people are all close knit,” she said.
Once on campus, Jones chose to study social entrepreneurship and corporate communications — fields that combine her interests in nonprofit work, business and public speaking.
“My parents did a great job of teaching generosity, and because of them, I've been exposed to people who care about their resources and care enough to give back to the community,” she said. “Social entrepreneurship is creating a business to solve social problems, and there's still a strong emphasis in the entrepreneurial side, which I think is interesting.”
Jones has taken full advantage of the resources available to her in the Jack C. Massey College of Business, including the Massey Power Skills conference that focuses on soft skills and professional development.
From being involved in extracurricular activities like ultimate frisbee to working at Belmont’s fitness and recreation center to having internships at the United Way and the Boys and Girls Club, Jones has found a community of belonging and immersed herself in meaningful experiences both in and out of the classroom.
“I think there are a lot of benefits you get from having a school that cares about you,” she said. “A lot of my professors know me, which is also nice.”
A Vision Worth Fighting For
Jones learned about a May term trip to the Netherlands at the Global Fair hosted by Belmont’s Study Abroad.
“I had Dr. [David] Harkins for my introduction to social entrepreneurship class and we stayed connected,” she said. “I saw him at the Global Fair and he said that he would love for me to go on the May trip to Prague and the Netherlands and that was basically it.”
For her final project, Jones documented her experience as an “empathetic observer” in the Netherlands.
“Our cohort chose a social problem to identify in Amsterdam: overtourism. However, I was discounting empathy when choosing to research overtourism,” she said. “I had no understanding of what Dutch people would like because I had never seen nor heard them. Our professors told us that empathy is getting to know someone by listening and observing without influencing.”
After taking notes in the Netherlands while practicing empathetic observation, she identified a dilemma that affects both Nashville and Amsterdam: environmental sustainability.
The documentary compares environmental sustainability efforts in Nashville and the Netherlands. Jones’ natural storytelling style and organic videography invite viewers on a journey of discovery, growth and genuine life change.
"I didn't realize that other countries have made so much progress compared to the U.S.,” she said. "It was surprising to see how easy public transportation could work and how seamlessly other countries with cities that are as big as Nashville or smaller, blend environmentally sustainable practices into everyday life.”
Now back in Nashville, Jones is making small, intentional changes to her life like switching to sustainable products, using a metal water bottle instead of plastic and finding local businesses that are environmentally conscious like Sage refill market close to campus.
“I feel like the message of the documentary is, ‘you make individual change,’” she said. “I wouldn't say that I’m an activist by protesting or in a social media sense, but if I take care of myself, people can observe me and make the change.”
Ultimately, Jones hopes to use her education to help others achieve upward mobility without sacrificing her own well-being. “A Vision Worth Fighting For” is among the first drops in the bucket of her future impact.
"I want others to experience upward mobility, which is why I like social entrepreneurship, but also why I like personal training and fitness in general,” she said. "It's all about benefiting others, but at the same time, I'm also taking care of myself."
With her drive, compassion and innovative mindset, Mary Margaret Jones is poised to make a lasting impact through her future endeavors.
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