5 answers
Breona
Student
Norfolk, Virginia
3
Questions
Asked
1261 views
What made you decide being a Chief Sustainability Officer was for you?
I'm a bit undecided on what I want to do.
Login to comment
5 answers
Brandon Olson
Tax Manager
52
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Brandon’s Answer
Note that I am NOT a CSO. But - why would someone decide to become a CSO? Well, it's usually a mix of personal interests and professional goals. Here's a rundown:
Loving Everything Green: If you're the type who's always geeking out over environmental issues or sustainability trends, this might be your calling. It's like turning your hobby into a career.
Wanting to Make a Dent in the Universe: As a CSO, you can really shake things up in terms of how companies affect the planet. If you're into the idea of making big, positive changes, this could be your gig.
Background Matters: Many CSOs come from backgrounds in environmental science, business, or similar areas. If you've studied or worked in something related, this could be a natural step forward.
Being the Captain of the Ship: Got leadership skills? Love setting the course and steering the ship? This role needs someone who can lead and inspire.
Jack of All Trades: This job isn't one-note. It mixes environmental know-how with business smarts, policy stuff, and communication chops. If you're into wearing many hats, you might love this.
Believing in Doing Right by the World: If you're big on ethical business and doing good, this role lets you put those values into action on a big scale.
Solving Puzzles and Getting Creative: Love tackling tough problems and coming up with clever solutions? CSOs do a lot of this, especially around making businesses greener and more socially responsible.
People Person?: This job involves a lot of chatting, networking, and collaborating. If you're into meeting people and working together, this could be a major plus.
Never a Dull Moment: Sustainability is always changing – new challenges, new ideas. If you thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, you won't get bored here.
Grow as You Go: The role is a fantastic chance to grow both personally and professionally. You'll pick up a wide range of skills and get to evolve along with an exciting field.
Remember, these points are pretty general. If you're figuring out if this path is for you, think about what you really enjoy doing, your strengths, and what issues fire you up. Sustainability has a lot of different roles under its umbrella, so there could be a perfect fit for you somewhere in there.
Loving Everything Green: If you're the type who's always geeking out over environmental issues or sustainability trends, this might be your calling. It's like turning your hobby into a career.
Wanting to Make a Dent in the Universe: As a CSO, you can really shake things up in terms of how companies affect the planet. If you're into the idea of making big, positive changes, this could be your gig.
Background Matters: Many CSOs come from backgrounds in environmental science, business, or similar areas. If you've studied or worked in something related, this could be a natural step forward.
Being the Captain of the Ship: Got leadership skills? Love setting the course and steering the ship? This role needs someone who can lead and inspire.
Jack of All Trades: This job isn't one-note. It mixes environmental know-how with business smarts, policy stuff, and communication chops. If you're into wearing many hats, you might love this.
Believing in Doing Right by the World: If you're big on ethical business and doing good, this role lets you put those values into action on a big scale.
Solving Puzzles and Getting Creative: Love tackling tough problems and coming up with clever solutions? CSOs do a lot of this, especially around making businesses greener and more socially responsible.
People Person?: This job involves a lot of chatting, networking, and collaborating. If you're into meeting people and working together, this could be a major plus.
Never a Dull Moment: Sustainability is always changing – new challenges, new ideas. If you thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, you won't get bored here.
Grow as You Go: The role is a fantastic chance to grow both personally and professionally. You'll pick up a wide range of skills and get to evolve along with an exciting field.
Remember, these points are pretty general. If you're figuring out if this path is for you, think about what you really enjoy doing, your strengths, and what issues fire you up. Sustainability has a lot of different roles under its umbrella, so there could be a perfect fit for you somewhere in there.
Great answer! This really nails it.
Asheen Phansey
Reem K
8
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Reem’s Answer
Hi Breona, CSOs are usually motivated by the impact they can have on an organization's environmental and social sustainability. However, becoming a CSO necessitates years of experience in more junior corporate sustainability roles. All the best on your career!
Julie Ravillon
Sustainability
1
Answer
Paris, Île-de-France, France
Updated
Julie’s Answer
Hello Breona! I'm a Chief Sustainability Officer based in the beautiful country of France.
My career has always been centered around transforming businesses, with a special focus on digital evolution. I'm drawn to work that brings about positive changes for everyone involved.
We're all aware that climate change is a significant hurdle we need to overcome. It requires us all to shift our perspectives, modify our lifestyles, alter our operations, and adjust our work habits.
To deepen my understanding of this issue, I decided to hit the books again. I studied climate change, the challenges of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), regulations, the circular economy, and the transformation towards sustainability.
I then made the decision to merge my knowledge of digital transformation with my newfound expertise in sustainability. After all, data is the backbone of implementing change, and ESG strategies are primarily driven by data.
I absolutely adore my job. It's a broad field that requires a willingness to embrace change management, mandatory disclosures, and operationalizing these within your own company. It also involves working closely with all the stakeholders you interact with, as well as the ecosystem you're a part of.
It's a highly technical role. For instance, the EU disclosure, also known as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), involves about 1100 data points. You'll find yourself collaborating with your finance team, your supply chain, your customers, and your partners. It's a challenging but rewarding journey!
My career has always been centered around transforming businesses, with a special focus on digital evolution. I'm drawn to work that brings about positive changes for everyone involved.
We're all aware that climate change is a significant hurdle we need to overcome. It requires us all to shift our perspectives, modify our lifestyles, alter our operations, and adjust our work habits.
To deepen my understanding of this issue, I decided to hit the books again. I studied climate change, the challenges of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), regulations, the circular economy, and the transformation towards sustainability.
I then made the decision to merge my knowledge of digital transformation with my newfound expertise in sustainability. After all, data is the backbone of implementing change, and ESG strategies are primarily driven by data.
I absolutely adore my job. It's a broad field that requires a willingness to embrace change management, mandatory disclosures, and operationalizing these within your own company. It also involves working closely with all the stakeholders you interact with, as well as the ecosystem you're a part of.
It's a highly technical role. For instance, the EU disclosure, also known as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), involves about 1100 data points. You'll find yourself collaborating with your finance team, your supply chain, your customers, and your partners. It's a challenging but rewarding journey!
Erin Baudo Felter
VP, Social Impact and Sustainability
9
Answers
Berkeley, California
Updated
Erin’s Answer
The exciting aspect of today's job market is the abundance of opportunities in the sustainability sector. There's a wide array of roles you can explore, with a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) being just one of them. Here are some exciting fields you might want to delve deeper into:
- Corporate Sustainability - This involves assisting businesses in setting and achieving sustainability goals. It typically demands a blend of specific sustainability knowledge and business insight, understanding the inner workings of the company.
- Sustainability Consulting - A rapidly expanding field where you can provide guidance on sustainability strategies to a diverse range of organizations, including corporations, governments, cities, nonprofits, and more.
- Government - There's a significant demand for more sustainability-focused roles within the government. This could be within environmental bodies like the US Environmental Protection Agency, for officials crafting climate laws, or regulatory authorities enforcing these laws.
- Climate Startups - A burgeoning sector of startups are tackling sustainability issues with innovative new models in the climate and climate-tech sphere.
- Environmental Nonprofits and NGOs - These organizations step in where governments and corporations fall short, addressing sustainability areas like wildlife conservation, support for frontline communities, protection of natural spaces, and more.
Hopefully, this gives you a wider perspective on what might pique your interest. The fantastic news is that all these jobs are on the rise - making sustainability not just a secure career choice, but also one where you can truly make a difference. Best of luck!
- Corporate Sustainability - This involves assisting businesses in setting and achieving sustainability goals. It typically demands a blend of specific sustainability knowledge and business insight, understanding the inner workings of the company.
- Sustainability Consulting - A rapidly expanding field where you can provide guidance on sustainability strategies to a diverse range of organizations, including corporations, governments, cities, nonprofits, and more.
- Government - There's a significant demand for more sustainability-focused roles within the government. This could be within environmental bodies like the US Environmental Protection Agency, for officials crafting climate laws, or regulatory authorities enforcing these laws.
- Climate Startups - A burgeoning sector of startups are tackling sustainability issues with innovative new models in the climate and climate-tech sphere.
- Environmental Nonprofits and NGOs - These organizations step in where governments and corporations fall short, addressing sustainability areas like wildlife conservation, support for frontline communities, protection of natural spaces, and more.
Hopefully, this gives you a wider perspective on what might pique your interest. The fantastic news is that all these jobs are on the rise - making sustainability not just a secure career choice, but also one where you can truly make a difference. Best of luck!
Christina Gunnell
Sustainability Consultant
1
Answer
Weehawken, New Jersey
Updated
Christina’s Answer
Not a CSO, but within this industry.
A few things that those who go into this field prefer or are good at...
1) Making a positive impact with their day-to-day
2) Understanding business, or more specifically, business in the industry you are in, and the different moving parts that drive operational success
3) Working with lots of different people across an organization, and building consensus
4) Relatively but not necessarily overly technical skills
5) Always learning something new (as this space is shifting rapidly and requires people to constantly reinvent themselves, their roles, and what their companies are doing)
A few things that those who go into this field prefer or are good at...
1) Making a positive impact with their day-to-day
2) Understanding business, or more specifically, business in the industry you are in, and the different moving parts that drive operational success
3) Working with lots of different people across an organization, and building consensus
4) Relatively but not necessarily overly technical skills
5) Always learning something new (as this space is shifting rapidly and requires people to constantly reinvent themselves, their roles, and what their companies are doing)