You're looking to make a career change into sustainability. What's the first step you should take?

Having made a career switch to sustainability, I believe that one needs to begin by conducting a self-assessment to identify your interests, skills, values, and career goals related to sustainability. It is also important to read books, articles, and reports on sustainability topics, attend webinars, workshops, or conferences, and enroll in online courses or certificate programs to deepen your understanding of sustainability issues and solutions. Join industry associations, attend networking events, and connect with sustainability professionals on social media platforms such as LinkedIn. Tailor your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments related to sustainability.

The best sustainability professionals come from corporate affairs or legal backgrounds. They often understand how to "get out of the spreadsheet of reporting" and look at the opportunity - people and profit. Employing sustainable practices saves money and attracts new, sustainably-minded customers that contribute to environmental and social good. I'd start with an audit (different for every company), consider: Current employees' happiness, rights, representation, & quality of life Waste produced Carbon emission levels Toxins used Volunteerism & civic engagement Waste and toxins created in the product life cycle Required infrastructure Reflect on the "why" behind your purpose; you can lead a team with both logic and passion.

Sustainability or ESG has multiple threads. The big one is E-Environmental. Next S-Social and then G-Governance. It’s imperative that you do a deep dive of each to get a better understanding of what each one entails. Each has nuances and areas of expertise that can be honed over time. For example, Climate Change is a big sub-theme under Environmental. Similarly, enforcing DEI is a key sub-theme under Social. Sustainability capacity building in Suppliers is a key sub-theme in Governance. According match your current skills and interests to see which part of Sustainability attracts your most and take a definitive step by volunteering for a project in your organisation in the area of your interest to see first-hand.

Starting a career in sustainability can begin with your existing skills and interests. Consider Sarah, who transitioned from marketing to a sustainability role by volunteering in eco-projects at work. This move allowed her to align her communication skills with her passion for the environment, leading to impactful contributions and a new career path. Sarah’s example shows how leveraging what you already excel at can open doors to meaningful opportunities in sustainability. Let this inspire you to take your first step toward a greener career.

Explore sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, or environmental policy to find where your passion lies. Seek relevant experience through internships, volunteer work, or part-time roles to enhance your resume and gain valuable insights into the industry. Networking is crucial in sustainability, so attend industry events, join online forums, and connect with professionals to expand your knowledge and potential opportunities. Consider furthering your education with relevant courses or certifications to strengthen your expertise in sustainability. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your sustainability-related skills and experiences, showcasing your commitment to making a positive impact in this field.

1. Reading and learning about current and future trends in the space you want to shift is the first important step. It allows you to analyse how your existing skills plug into the different kinds of work carried out in the sustainability space, and what is something you can develop parallelly to make you a strong applicant. Recruiters will appreciate the clarity in communication that you will gain through this market research. 2. There are plenty of things happening in the sustainability space, look up companies working in this space and narrow down where you see your interest fit. 3. Talk to people working in those roles/company that interests you to understand how certain skills are implemented in their role.

If you want to move into a career in sustainability, learn more about it. Learn its history, definitions, frameworks, and tools. Understand what it means in a business setting. And study the most recent trends in the field. For example, did you know that AI is used to create green cities, help manage food waste, and maximise renewable energy sufficiency?

Technical knowledge and understanding of what sustainability actually means. This is essential not to go away with what most people think it's a marketing or a political tool.

The first step is to reflect and understand why you want to actually work in sustainability. Sustainability isn't just a concept, function, theory or reporting. It's an yet to be fully constructed, comprehended, or understood career or work that doesn't just call for strong intuitive understanding of concepts around sustainable development and growth; but demands your passion, accountability and skills to deliver. Once you have decided the first thing is depending upon your education background, area of interest, passion, career pick the area of work. Sustainability is vast domain, cross cutting across public policy, economics, community, gender, industries, production, agriculture, monitoring, etc. Start reading, target vacancies & apply.

While the five points you listed (assessing skills, researching the market, networking, skill development, and showcasing value) are essential steps, there's a crucial first move that sets the stage for your success: Identifying your sustainability niche. The field of sustainability encompasses a vast array of issues, from climate change and resource management to social justice and economic development. Here's how to narrow down your focus and discover your ideal sustainability niche: 1. Reflect on the areas that ignited your passion and expertise.  2. Identify areas where your skills readily translate into sustainability work. 3. Look for sustainability challenges that align with your core values.

Volunteering is a great way of meeting new people and expanding your network in the field. Organisations such as The Climate Reality Project, Greenpeace and other local NGOs working with sustainability also provide trainings for their volunteers which is also a chance for upskilling. By creating new contacts and developing desirable skills, you enhance your chances of successfully transitioning to a career in sustainability.

Participar de eventos presenciais da área, como feiras e seminários abertos ao público geral pode ser uma ótima maneira de expandir sua rede profissional e obter orientações relevantes. Muitos desses eventos são inclusive gratuitos. Vale também acompanhar a programação divulgada por órgãos governamentais, organizações sem fins lucrativos e iniciativas de sustentabilidade corporativa ao redor do mundo.

According to my opinion, networking as well as connect with professionals in the field of sustainability and also corporate social responsibility through networking events, online communities, and informational interviews could be utilized as an important approach to the matter. We may seek advice, insights, and mentorship from individuals who have experience in our desired career path and/or practical knowledge. We should look forward to explore required knowledge, experiences and skills from the chain of data, information and outcomes knowledge which generally transfer through networking.

É importante realizar pequenos protótipos para experimentar e conhecer mais sobre o que você realmente deseja fazer. Quanto mais protótipos (pequenos testes) você realizar, maiores serão as chances de encontrar algo significativo para você. Essa prática também é um exercício valioso de autoconhecimento, permitindo que você avalie suas reações e sentimentos em relação ao trabalho em sustentabilidade. Às vezes, o que idealizamos pode se revelar diferente na prática, e é nesse processo que podemos identificar o que nos faz sentir mais conectados e realizados.

In your day to day life, go to zero waste. Use natural light. Do not work after dark to avoid blue light that disturbs your circardian rhythm. Eat one meal a day to go to autophagy and donate one meal to one in need. Grow a plant. Start a manure pit and create your manure from kitchen waste. In your office use wood over plastic. Paper over plastic and carry once a week microplastics awareness campaign in your office. Plant a tree in the mangroves in Ajman if you do not have a garden to plant. Boil your water with cinnamon or have water with lime instead of plastic bottled sodas. Do yoga to develop clarity of mind so you know your likes and dislikes and practice letting go and become a minimalist. Live this life to create your impact.

I can speak from lived experience on this, as my journey started off first in the CSR team at Pidilite and AB InBev, and then a transition into the Sustainability team at AB InBev. A cheat sheet for what has helped me in my journey - 1) Keep up-skilling yourself on various aspects of "business responsibility" in general. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics, Human Rights, Compliance, ESH, Supply Chains - it's all part of a larger value chain of impact. 2) Always latch on to industry leaders, and pick their brains on their experiences and failures (successes can be understood from many books that are there).This accelerates your learning. 3) Grab diverse opportunities. They might be uncomfortable at first. But, once you settle in, it's a breeze.

*Leve em conta não apenas seus objetivos pessoais, mas também suas preferências de estilo de vida ao buscar oportunidades de carreira em sustentabilidade. *Antes de se comprometer com qualquer curso (seja um MBA, uma extensão ou outra formação), faça uma análise honesta de suas habilidades, conhecimentos e experiências prévias. Identifique o que você já possui e como essas habilidades podem contribuir ou ampliar suas possibilidades dentro do campo da sustentabilidade e ESG. Por mais impressionante que seja o currículo de um curso, ele sozinho não garantirá sua inserção no mercado. Além disso, cada curso tem um viés; identificar qual direcionamento pode ser mais relevante para o que quer fazer faz toda diferença e potencializa esforços.