MSDA Alumna Emily King ’16 Returns to Share CSR Insights with LEO

Mount St. Dominic Academy was proud to welcome back alumna Emily King '16 to speak with students in the LEO Program about her career in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) marketing. King, who graduated from Providence College in 2020 with a degree in marketing and a minor in Spanish and from Baruch College with a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration, shared her professional journey and insights into how businesses incorporate social and environmental responsibility into their brand strategies.

Emily King's Career Path

King described her early experiences in marketing, including internships that helped shape her career. She began working in nonprofit fundraising and donor-advised funds, focusing on corporate partnerships and workplace giving programs. Her role as a Strategic Philanthropy Manager of Donor Advised Funds at Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) involves helping employees at companies leverage donation-matching opportunities to support charities.
"It’s all about making connections and finding ways to align a company's values with meaningful impact," said King. "CSR is not just good for the world—it’s also good business."

Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

CSR is a business model in which companies integrate social and environmental concerns into their operations and marketing strategies. King explained that CSR can take many forms, including:

• Mission-Driven Brands: Companies like Patagonia prioritize environmental activism and sustainability in their branding and business operations.
• Buy-One-Give-One Models: Brands such as Bombas® and TOMS donate products to people in need for every purchase made.
• Charitable Giving & Donation-Based Marketing: Ben & Jerry’s, for example, supports social justice initiatives and publicly aligns its brand with specific causes.
• Ethical Sourcing & Sustainability: Companies like Allbirds and Everlane use environmentally friendly materials and sustainable supply chains.
• Employee-Driven CSR: Many corporations offer employees paid volunteer time or match charitable donations to encourage giving.

The Importance of Aligning CSR with a Company’s Mission

King emphasized that for CSR to be truly impactful, it must align with a company’s core mission and values. She shared examples of companies that successfully integrate CSR into their brand identity, such as Patagonia’s commitment to environmental activism. Conversely, she warned of the risks of inauthentic CSR. “If a company’s CSR program doesn’t align with its mission, it can come across as disingenuous or even backfire,” King noted. “Customers are more informed than ever and can see through empty gestures.”

Breakout Activities and Hands-On Learning

To help students understand CSR marketing in action, King led an interactive session where they researched the CSR efforts of two well-known sock brands—Bombas® and Feetures®. Students examined how these companies position themselves in the market, the impact of their giving strategies, and how CSR influences consumer decisions. As part of the activity, they also explored cause-related marketing campaigns, including limited-edition products that direct proceeds to charitable organizations. Through their research, students discovered that while both Bombas® and Feetures® are recognized for high-quality socks and strong customer guarantees, their approaches to CSR differ significantly.

Bombas® operates on a buy-one-give-one model, donating a pair of socks for every purchase and making charitable giving a core part of its business. In contrast, Feetures® emphasizes performance-driven innovation, designing moisture-wicking, high-compression socks tailored for athletes. Both brands offer comparable pricing and premium materials, but Feetures® relies on synthetic and Merino wool blends for durability, whereas Bombas® prioritizes everyday comfort with a cotton blend. This comparison underscored the importance of aligning CSR strategies with a company's core mission and how these initiatives can shape consumer purchasing decisions.

Mrs. Christine Victori, who teaches the LEO Program, praised the session, saying, "Emily's visit was an incredible opportunity for our students to see firsthand how business and social responsibility intersect. Her insights gave them a new perspective on how companies can genuinely make a difference."

Key Takeaways and Words of Wisdom

King emphasized the importance of networking, staying connected with professional contacts, and seeking internships to gain practical experience. She also warned students about "greenwashing," where companies falsely claim to be environmentally responsible. Using BP’s failed eco-friendly rebrand before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as an example, she illustrated how inauthentic CSR can backfire and damage a company's reputation.

Dr. Karen D’Avino, Principal of Mount St. Dominic Academy, reflected on the importance of these discussions. "We are so proud of Emily and the way she is using her career to impact the world in a positive way. Her visit was a reminder to our students that their education at Mount can be the foundation for making real change."

Applying CSR Concepts to Student Projects

The juniors in this LEO class have not yet finalized their business ideas, which they will develop next year for the LionWorks "Shark Tank" event. At this competition, students present their ventures to a panel of “sharks” in hopes of winning a college scholarship. Emily asked them to brainstorm ways to integrate CSR into their own business ideas, considering strategies such as donation-based models, sustainable production, and corporate partnerships. King encouraged them to think about how businesses can align their missions with meaningful social impact while maintaining profitability.

The visit provided an engaging and insightful look into CSR marketing, leaving students inspired to incorporate social responsibility into their future careers. Mount St. Dominic Academy is grateful to Emily King for returning to share her knowledge and experiences with the next generation of leaders.

About the L.E.O. Program

Mount St. Dominic Academy is the second school in New Jersey, and the first all-girls school, selected for the Leonidas Foundation’s L.E.O. Program. This two-year initiative challenges students through a competitive application process and provides mentorship from entrepreneurs and business leaders. Participants learn about ideation, market research, and business plan development, attend lectures, visit organizations like UPS, and take part in a leadership conference in Washington, D.C. The program culminates in the LionWorks "Shark Tank" Competition, where winners receive college scholarships.

The program honors Leonidas (“Leo”) Vagias, a Don Bosco Prep alumnus who tragically passed away in 2016, and is the brother of Mount alumna Alexandra Vagias '18. The Leonidas Foundation, established in his memory, aims to cultivate business-minded leaders during their junior and senior years.

About Mount St. Dominic Academy

Mount St. Dominic Academy, founded in 1892 by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is an independent Catholic college preparatory school educating young women from diverse backgrounds. MSDA offers signature programs such as the L.E.O. Entrepreneurship Program, Health Sciences and Social Justice Concentrations, and the Directed Research Senior Capstone, providing real-world experience for future success.

The Mount has earned top honors, including the 2024 College Board AP School Honor Roll “Gold with Access” and AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Awards for AP Computer Science A (2023) and AP Computer Science Principles (2023, 2024). It also received Gold Medals in the 2023 and 2024 Best of Essex contests for Best Private High School and an A+ rating on Niche’s 2024 Best Schools list, awarded to only 2.5% of US schools.

One hundred percent of graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. The 60 graduates of the Class of 2024 earned over $13 million in scholarships and merit awards.