What are the most common mistakes when starting a sustainability career?

Trying to cover too many areas without focusing on a specific niche within sustainability can dilute your impact. Instead, consider specializing in areas like renewable energy, circular economy, or sustainable supply chains to build expertise.

Sustainability is a bigger umbrella which has various branches and I have observed that people make wrong decision in picking the right qualification in terms of what they want to achieve after obtaining the qualification. The biggest mistake is lack of implementation in real life situations to understand the implementation and how it impacts the ecosystem.

Contrary to the advice for specialization... Sustainability is the most interconnected discipline to imagine. Specialising too early takes away your chance to develop a really systemic approach to the change you will be driving in the world. My advice would rather be: understand the basics in all topics possible (from how species evolve and how ecosystems function, to economics, to the impact of cultures and their relationship to wealth, how modern society constructs identities, to health and safety and basic IT skills to process the intel) and never stop expanding. And after a while, and only then, specialize.

When considering a career in sustainability, it's crucial to pinpoint a topic or problem that genuinely resonates with you. Look for issues that you're passionate about addressing, ideally ones that have a personal connection or significance. This approach not only fuels your dedication but also enhances your potential for success. By aligning your personal interests and passions with your professional goals, you can invest your heart and soul into your work. This deep personal connection can be a powerful motivator, driving you to excel and make meaningful contributions to the field of sustainability.

Creo que lo más difícil como en cualquier proyecto es generar los alcances y objetivos , así como de lograr acotar el proyecto.

Ignoring Networking: Overlooking the importance of networking within the sustainability field can limit opportunities. Engage with professionals, attend events, and join relevant groups to build connections and stay updated on industry trends.

Sustainability is a systemic challenge, and a transformation will only take place by joining forces, sharing knowledge and having a collaborative „open source“ mindset. Also, sustainability covers such a vast array of topics, it is impossible to be an in-depth expert in all of them - but at the same time, sustainability leaders need to at least decently literate in most. For both of these reasons (among others, such as building resilience amongst like-minded and trustful relationships), networking is key to successful sustainability work.

It’s common to hear sustainability professionals say that their role covers everything and anything. The JD on paper almost never captures the scope and depth of work some ESG professionals do. To me, that’s the best part of the job. One day we might be trying to wrap our heads around ever-evolving industry standards, another day we’re synthesising IPCC reports to get a sense of what that means for business, and we could also then be digesting latest regulation around greenwashing. On top of that, regional nuances are increasingly vital if we want to shape a just transition. A role in sustainability demands dynamism - not just in skills but also in thought.

Being rigid and unwilling to adapt to changes or new approaches can limit opportunities for growth. Sustainability requires creative problem-solving and the ability to adapt to evolving circumstances.

Sustainability is in constant flux. Whether it's jumping forward with innovation or being set back by contrasting views or politics. To be a leader within this world you have to be able to move with that ever changing current. To be happy and effective in a role within sustainability you must be willing to not just weather the storm but dive into and use it to help you make change. Sustainability is the most frustrating, exciting, daunting, and at times overwhelming job I've ever had and it's also the most fun, passionate, and impactful work I've ever done. Surrounded by the right team, anything seems possible. For me, it takes passion for what you're doing and the will to keep pushing forward to enjoy a career in sustainability.

Sustainability is a field that is still evolving - there is not an answer to every question! Especially when it comes to technology and data that needs to be generated and collected, it’s a long way to go and innovation is flourishing. Also, sustainability is a topic with different perceptions depending on the geography you look at. Therefore it is very important to not become a zealot with fixed ideas and views, but to consider other perspectives and be in dialogue. Continuously expanding ones horizon is a big part of the job and it will take time as well!

Quite clearly, we’re haven’t yet reached a stage in the transformation where you don’t have to justify and advertise for a more sustainable way of doing business. Therefore communications skills in the broader sense, i.e. the ability to engage with and convince stakeholders of a sustainable business case, are key. It’s about driving change and inspiring C-Level executives for a way of doing business where positive impact for people, planet and profit are in balance - and ensuring the values of employees are in line with the values of the company.

Perhaps in more developed regions, ESG is an integral part of business and dosen't need to be sold,but in emerging markets,there is no clear understanding of why a manager needs this and it is even more difficult to formulate even some material effects, not to mention the accompanying long-term benefits for the business. In this design, the success of both your work and all projects directly depends on how you build communication and know how to find common interests/benefits for your function/project and another manager who does not want to share the budget or resources with you. It is important to build trust and promote your ideas and agenda through proper communication. This isn't an easy task, but it will pay dividends in the long run.

Working in the sustainability space takes a lot of resilience. Not everyone you’ll meet will consider it necessary to look beyond business as usual and very often it’s because sustainability is not fully understood. Therefore, defining what success means to you is important. Define your sphere of influence and make a structured plan of what you can do as an individual. That will inspire others to do the same - and collectively a greater impact will be created. Staying positive along the way is key, and sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back and focus again on the bigger picture instead of being overwhelmed by the daily mass of negative news around sustainability. Change YOUR world - instead of trying too much to change THE world…

It seems to me that I too often hear the answer “why do we need this? Leave your strange ideas alone.” Without touching on the topic of organizational changes, the main advice is to be objective and realistically assess the current situation. Your excessive zeal to promote some idea or project without taking into account current realities may be considered strange or unnecessary. This can worsen your interactions with other managers, while simultaneously damaging your motivation and making you one step closer to burnout. Learn to listen and hear, and take small steps towards a big goal. Try to understand the pain of businesses and consumers and help relieve them, and only in this way can you fuel your passion for further movement and change

According to my experience, one CAN'T work in sustainability if you have not been in environmental + Human resources areas before. If you haven't been, you should seek to expand your network and to start looking out for these kind of experiences - It's really important to know the core of operations in order to be critical and very specific when managing data at sustainability. One would not want to be into greenwashing

Go beyond passion and theory and pay attention to implementation within a business environment. My recommendation is to hone the skills of project management, people management and data analysis. Developing these three skills would position a career starter with tools to navigate the dynamic way of work in sustainability management.

Waste elimination and waste prevention are the bedrock of sustainability/circular. Know what they are and how to measure them. Experience with various forms of lean thinking, quality improvement, and change management is a must. Without a working knowledge of these basic concepts, and without the ability or authority to implement them, most sustainability jobs are little more than marketing positions.

Initially, I didn’t focus enough on building a professional network in the sustainability field. As I progressed, I realized the immense value of a strong network for sharing knowledge, finding mentorship, and discovering opportunities. Actively participating in conferences, workshops, and sustainability forums became a key part of my professional development. In the zeal to make significant impacts, there's a risk of overlooking the value of small, incremental changes. I learned that small steps, like reducing paper use or improving energy efficiency in an office, can collectively lead to substantial sustainability impacts over time.

Effective communication is pivotal in sustainability careers. Many professionals underestimate its importance, hindering their ability to convey complex issues persuasively. Develop clear and tailored messaging for diverse stakeholders, emphasizing the practical implications of sustainability initiatives. Strengthening communication skills enhances your impact, fostering understanding and support for sustainable practices within organizations and communities.