Hey, I'm Kaila.
I’m a business student, a mental health advocate, and someone who knows what it’s like to completely burn out trying to live up to impossible expectations.
In 2024, I took a five-month leave of absence from university to prioritize my mental health after being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. It was one of the hardest — and best — decisions I’ve ever made.
During that time, I learned that healing doesn’t have to be lonely, boundaries are worth protecting (even when it’s hard), and happiness is something to be cherished. Therapy helped me understand that mental illness, like any disability, isn’t something you can just “push through” — and that asking for help is not failure, it’s strength.
Now, I write about my journey through depression, recovery, and college life in hopes of creating space for more honest conversations around mental health. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning under the pressure to “do it all,” I’ve been there — and I want you to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
A sample of my professional experience
August 2022 - Present
October 2022 - Present
May 2024 - January 2025
University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
Bachelor's of Business Administration with a Minor in Sustainability. Interested in ESG consulting, corporate sustainability, and sustainability communications, with a focus on consumer psychology and sustainable behavior change.
-
Erb Undergraduate Fellow for Business and Sustainability
-
Carson Scholar of Business & Public Policy
-
Recipient of the William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize (top 5% of freshman class)
My relevant courses include Business & Environment, Business & Public Policy, Community-Engaged Writing, Environmental Journalism, and Marketing.
President, 180 Degrees Consulting at the University of Michigan
I lead the Michigan branch of the world's largest university-based consultancy for socially-conscious organizations and nonprofits. What that means:
-
I dedicate 20 hours/week to support a 75-person team on projects that make a real impact and advance global sustainable development goals.
-
I've designed a novel client acquisition strategy to recruit 20 clients across 2 years while maintaining 100% client satisfaction. Our clients have included Fortune 500 companies, a $6B-value nonprofit, and an NBA foundation.
-
I updated our DEI strategy to emphasize partnerships with underrepresented groups, increasing geographical representation by 22% across 6 continents and expanding into 20+ new markets.
Sustainability Intern, Huntington Ingalls Industry
While at HII, I drafted a global human rights policy at request of the Board of Directors, which was published to 44k employees and suppliers. Some of my other responsibilities included the following:
-
Designed governance framework and compliance calendar for sustainability program, creating role clarity across 12 focus areas and consolidating data from 10+ rating agencies (GRI, CDP, TCFD)
-
Formulated enterprise greenhouse gas reduction roadmap and assisted with Scope 1-2 limited assurance, contributing to 30% GHG reduction goal
-
Conducted research on remote work trends among 12 peer companies to provide recommendations to 3 executives to enhance retention
