Impact Interview: Marissa Garcia
Name: Marissa Garcia
Role/Function: Senior Global Social Compliance Manager, '47 Brand
What are you working on these days?
The bulk of my current projects relate to ’47’s Fair Labor Association (FLA) membership. As a Fair Labor Accredited company, ’47’s commitment to improving working conditions in our supply chain is a central component of our ESG work. We maintain that accreditation through the continuous improvement of our programmatic work, including policy development, transparency and supplier engagement. I previously worked at the FLA so working on ’47’s ongoing accreditation is something I’m quite enjoying. The University of Colorado Leeds School of Business’s Center of Ethics and Social Responsibility has invited me to be a guest speaker on responsible sourcing for their Certificate in ESG, something I’ve been doing for a few years now. I am also mentoring Impact MBA students at Colorado State University. Of course, I can’t forget my favorite part of my job - supplier engagement. Right now, our factories are undergoing their annual audit and remediation process. Meaningfully engaging with suppliers is a make-or-break for a responsible sourcing program and I am genuinely enjoying doing so.
What was the “aha” moment that sparked your interest in social and environmental impact?
I’ve always had a penchant for geography and social issues after spending part of my childhood in Bangkok, where I first witnessed extreme income inequality that I didn’t understand as a 5-year-old. When I was an undergraduate student at Boston University, I took a Health and Human Rights course through the School of Public Health as an elective in my senior year. This was the first time I was introduced to the human rights frameworks I now implement in my responsible sourcing role. I felt so compelled to learn how we experience human rights that I pursued a Master’s degree from the University of Geneva in sustainability and standard-setting. I did my Master’s thesis on the evolving nature of international labor standards. The rest is history.
How did you break into the impact space? What career advice would you give to professionals who are just starting out or looking to transition?
Speaking genuinely, having a Master’s degree helped my chances at finding my first role. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to have one to break in. I would focus first on upskilling yourself in your preferred area of ESG. I’ve upskilled myself several times in my career as a means of advancement, including social auditor and GRI certifications and completing a Certificate of Labor Studies from Cornell University. Check to see if your company covers tuition reimbursement for upskilling. The second thing I would recommend is being willing to take contract work. My very first post-graduate role started as a short-term contract, which I was able to convert to a full-time role. Adding short-term work in your preferred field will bolster your resume as you search for your dream job.
Working in impact is often about driving change. What is the skill or trait that has been most important for your work as a change agent? How did you learn or hone it?
If there is one skill I would say is indispensable in my current role and career progression, it’s active listening. Sometimes in the impact space we are so busy telling people what they should be doing that we don’t stop to listen. Actively listening to suppliers rather than dictating to them opened my eyes to what strong supplier relationships look like. When convening stakeholders such as top management, active listening can put you in a better position to consider all viewpoints before making strategic decisions. Don’t sleep on this skill!
What most excites you about the impact space right now?
One of my favorite ongoing developments to follow relates to living wages for workers in supply chains. The Global Living Wage Coalition, Anker Research Institute, Fair Labor Association, Living Wage 4 US and many others are working tirelessly on estimating living wages, providing guidance to companies on enacting living wage policies and publicly reporting on their progress. Responsible purchasing practices are another area of the responsible sourcing space that’s getting a lot of attention. In the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in 2013, companies are increasingly being held responsible for how their financial interactions with suppliers directly or indirectly impact workers. New and pending legislation such as the CSDDD, modern slavery disclosures and pending California Assembly Bill 3234 demonstrate how rapidly governments are changing the way companies act and report on responsible sourcing.
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