Fina Kaminski: From Profit to Purpose: Intersections between Business and Community

Throughout my time at Veggielution, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the gift of being able to study finance at such depth that the Leavey School of Business offers. By having access to a robust education, completing core business requirements that provide an excellent foundation for deeper knowledge, I have felt so lucky to be able to apply this knowledge to my current placement. While my studies have taught me to focus on profitability and growth, my experience at Veggielution has taught me the importance of business sustainability and sharing the value found within business with your community. 

This quarter, I had the chance to develop a financial curriculum for development workshops for participating community members. I challenged myself to relay information in the most accessible way, utilizing teaching guides and creative presentation skills to address the “curse of knowledge.” This experience caused me to think about the perspective I had between business and community needs. Rather than focusing on profit at all costs and high-level financial literacy, I had to shift my mindset towards giving participants the tools and know-how to foster independence and long term financial stability for their business. Additionally, looking at the larger picture of how equipping members with this knowledge generates further understanding within the community through the cooperative model has been an amazing blend between theory and practice. 

Since the workshop required multiple sessions, it was incredibly valuable to receive the feedback from participants to reflect the impact that these sessions were having on their business. By developing a workshop tailored to the unique needs of this community, I understood the vital nature of making business knowledge accessible, practical, and applicable to their personal and business needs. Participants used each other as a resource, sharing their understanding with their cohort and hopefully soon, the greater community. 

Veggielution has taught me the value of collaboration within business, through the cooperative model. While corporate business prioritizes profit-driven motives, cooperative-focused initiatives are fed through partnership, collaboration, and trust. Witnessing the operations of Veggielution has reinforced the idea that business isn’t just for individual profit—it’s about fostering mutual growth, and creating lasting and sustainable impact. I look forward to continuing to learn from this unique intersection of business and community development.

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