Greensider Stories: Recent Episodes
Greensider Foundation
This podcast is created by the Greensider Foundation. By sharing personal green career stories, we hope to inspire more people to work for a greener future.
More about the Greensider Foundation:
We're building a green career platform for Europe, where people can find green jobs, learn about green career stories and gain support for training that can lead to green careers. By investing all of our profits in the next generation of green professionals, we aim to create a virtuous cycle in the green labour market.
Visit us on greensider.com
Artwork by instagram.com/pattiruan
Working in policy and advocacy is one of the most impactful careers, especially if you want to push for systemic changes for a sustainable future. As a Climate Policy Researcher and Consultant, Max Schmidt talked us through what’s involved in his job and day-to-day. We also touched on the impact of AI on his work as well as one of the important skills for a climate policy job - language. Tune in to learn more!
For transcript and related links, please visit: https://greensider.org/stories
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:47) What is a climate policy researcher
(02:36) How a climate policy institute functions?
(06:58) Transform negative public climate finance to positive public climate finance
(08:55) Day-to-day routine and mentorship
(12:36) Impact of AI
(15:38) Important skills for climate policy research: data crunching and language
(17:52) The power of language
(21:35) Max's journey from language study to climate policy research
(27:38) Potential career pathways
(30:59) Tips to destress
(33:04) Books recommendation
How can a recruitment agency make an impact on sustainability? Let’s follow Rob McKay’s journey of repurposing his executive search firm, Sherrington Associates, into influencing sustainable leadership - from creating the 4A Model of Sustainable Leadership to becoming a B Corp. But this isn’t just about what recruitment businesses can do. There’s so much to learn from this conversation if you aspire to be a leader in sustainability or even if you want to switch to a green job - you’re your own leader, after all. Tune in and find out more!
For transcript and related links, please visit: https://greensider.org/stories
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:45) About Sherrington Associates
(01:21) Founding the business and a moment of realisation
(02:42) Repurposing Sherrington into sustainability
(05:44) Certifying for B Corp
(07:00) Clients' response to the repurposing
(08:02) Sherrington's client profile
(09:01) Rob's work routine
(12:36) Rob's education background
(14:15) The most essential transferrable skill in recruiting
(16:02) A discussion on empathy
(21:09) Sherrington's 4A Model of Sustainability Leadership
(26:48) Maintaining mental health while working in sustainability
(31:51) Books recommendation
Every bit of our virtual activities emits actual greenhouse gases. In this episode, Chris Butterworth, the founder of Aline, addresses the importance and benefits of digital sustainability. If you are a business owner or entrepreneur-to-be, this can be your entry point to a greener operation. If you want to work in this space, don’t miss out on the insights for what developers, designers and marketers can do. If you’re looking to change your habits as a user, there are some easy tips too! Chris also recommends two books that inspire sustainable digital design: Dark Matter and Trojan Horses by Dan Hill and Simplicity by Edward de Bono.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:30) Chris' work in digital sustainability
(01:12) Carbon footprint of the digital world
(05:01) Benefits of running a greener digital operation
(06:10) Reducing data is the key
(08:41) Best practices for emails
(10:52) The story of Aline
(16:07) Cultivating meaningful relationships as a means of growth
(19:17) Impact of digital tools, such as social media and AI
(24:23) Career journey from chef to design to Aline
(28:29) Connection between cooking and web development
(31:33) Communication as a sustainability skill
(33:55) Career prospects and tips for digital professionals in sustainability
(38:42) Dealing with climate anxiety
(40:51) Books recommendation
Following a 15-year flourishing career in TD Bank, David decided to pivot to the forefront of combating climate change. After another six years with setbacks, studies and sacrifices, he landed his dream position as a Senior Manager for Financed Emissions at the same bank, integrating his seasoned experience and new credentials in carbon management. When it comes to climate anxiety, David advises setting boundaries for work, while celebrating progress in the field. For books that spur positivity and actions, he recommends Active Hope and Drawdown.
For transcript and related links, please visit: https://greensider.org/stories
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:42) A banks' financed emissions and emission scopes
(04:54) Day-to-day routine
(06:43) TCFD and PCAF
(08:25) Essential skills
(12:22) Favourite part of the job
(14:45) Challenges in the career shift
(19:45) Prospect of green jobs in the financial sector
(21:02) Transferrable skills from previous banking roles
(23:25) Motivated by love and progress in the field
(27:20) Fending off climate anxiety
(30:04) Recommended books about sustainability
As a Nature Associate at the Green Finance Institute, Phoebe engages with stakeholders across various sectors to develop ideas and solutions in nature finance, such as farmers' access to nature markets and biodiversity net gain (BNG). Having worked in traditional finance, Phoebe capitalised her knowledge in how the system works and her interpersonal skills, enabling her to thrive in an emerging sector that is nature finance. Reading is a part of her work - she finds Land Healer inspiring and The Vegan interesting for switching off.
For transcript and related links, please visit: https://greensider.org/stories
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:47) What is Nature Associate
(03:18) Natural capital management and Green Finance Institute
(07:00) Day-to-day routine
(09:39) The most memorable project
(13:10) Why shifting from traditional finance to sustainability
(15:35) Controversy around biodiversity
(18:53) Preparation for career change
(20:13) Transferrable skills from banking
(28:31) Quality of life and hobbies beyond work
(33:52) Job opportunities in the green finance sector
(37:19) Recommended books about sustainability
As the faces and brains of The Green Journey, Megan and Polo tell stories of people who are tackling the nature and climate crisis on the ground and in the sea while sharing their own low-carbon travel adventure. With a background in environmental consultancy, the duo highlight the importance of asking questions, which has turned out to be a useful skill for entrepreneurs and globetrotters. As both care about impactful actions, they recommend Drawdown as a comprehensive guide for climate solutions.
Follow and support the Green Journey: https://thegreenjourney.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=1ndk9p
For transcript and related links, please visit: https://greensider.org/stories
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:33) About the Green Journey
(02:06) Current stop and stories in the Caribbean
(05:23) Why started the Green Journey and climate storytelling
(11:03) How to get people share their stories
(15:19) Dividing work in a two-person team
(16:27) Day-to-day or week-to-week
(18:53) Challenges as remote entrepreneurs
(19:52) Work experience prior to the Green Journey
(22:21) Learning on the go
(24:46) Funding the Green Journey
(25:59) Quality of life
(28:17) Recommended book about sustainability
Soumaya is the founder of TAQA, a healthy snack brand based in Lebanon that champions sustainability. With the team, she’s found creative ways to do just that while facing up to the local challenges in Lebanon, such as political instability and economic crises. Over 7 years of running the business, Soumaya recognises the importance of self-care. She draws inspiration from outdoor activities and books, including Let My People Go Surfing.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:48) About TAQA snacks
(03:34) Creative ways to achieve sustainability
(10:37) Open Water Swim Traverse
(12:46) Most challenging periods and teamwork
(16:18) Creating a green business as a foreigner in Lebanon
(21:16) Fun parts of Soumaya's entrepreneur journey
(23:58) Experience prior to TAQA
(25:40) Current day-to-day
(27:08) Work-life balance
(28:20) Love for the outdoor
(29:03) Tradition vs consumerism
(31:57) Inspiring books about sustainability
As an expert in advocacy and strategic communications, Alyssa Pek currently spearheads projects at Offshore Wind Learning, World Bank's Offshore Wind Development Program and Global Solar Council. She collaborates with engineers, governments and industry stakeholders to amplify the voice of the renewable sector, by combining her background in International Development and the technical knowledge acquired through her career journey.
Alyssa is very motivated by her passion for the renewable sector. Not only that, but working remotely also keeps her excited: gaining perspectives outside of the Western European bubble, learning from local people beyond the spotlights of mainstream media, meeting people of all sorts, including those who also have remote green jobs.
“The industry of the future is renewable energy,” Alyssa said, acknowledging the potential bottleneck in skills. According to her team at Offshore Wind Learning, nearly 1 million workers will need to enter the sector in the next decade. That’s why Alyssa encourages people, including oil and gas professionals, to skill up as soon as possible and seize the many opportunities along the green energy transition. If you wish to have a virtual coffee with Alyssa, she welcomes outreach via LinkedIn.
The concept of natural capital has made its way out of the academic circle and into industries such as real estate and finance, as well as to the forefront in policy. It refers to services and assets provided by nature.
As the Head of Natural Capital for Scotland at Savills, Lucy explains how she’s working with landowners in Scotland to find opportunities in restoring and enhancing the natural capital in their properties. She also gives some insights about several industry guidelines. Alongside her job, Lucy is doing a part-time PhD, looking at trade-offs in different land uses and how to make better decisions.
In terms of tips for green careers, Lucy encourages people to try things and be comfortable about being a beginner! She puts this in action by getting involved in side projects, such as being Trustee in Climate 2050 Group and founding her own business Unwrapped Bars, as well as learning her business skills on the job.
What is it like to be on the frontline of climate change research? It’s certainly demanding, but it can get addictive, according to Dr. Alaa Al Khourdajie.
In this episode, Alaa shares with us his personal experience with the IPCC, as well as giving a mini-explainer about the organisation. Beyond his current research on the application of integrated assessment models (IAMs) and the roles of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Alaa also shows up on social media with his limited free time. He tries to bring as many people on board as possible to tackle climate change by communicating scientific messages in a clear and accessible way, as he believes ‘social consensus building is as key as scientific consensus building'.
Dr. Alaa Al Khourdajie is a Research Fellow at the Centre of Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. He was a Senior Scientist and Contributing Author in the Working Group III of IPCC, which is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He is also a lead author at the UNEP 7th Global Environmental Outlook assessment, and a guest researcher at the International Institute of Applied System Analysis in Austria, University of Utrecht and the Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency.
Chapters
(00:00) Dr. Alaa Al Khourdajie
(01:08) Introduction to the IPCC and the Working Groups (WG)
(07:47) Alaa's Experience in the Technical Support Unit in WG III & as a Contributing Author
(15:15) Alaa's Career Journey & How He Got to Work with the IPCC
(20:53) Alaa's Current Research in Integrated Assessment Models and the Roles of Carbon Dioxide Capture & Storage with Machine Learning & AI
(24:00) IPCC Experience Helped Expand Professional Network
(29:08) How Alaa Discovered His Passion for Climate Change Research
(34:58) Why Alaa Showed Up on Social Media as a Science Communicator
(39:03) Handling Pressure from Social Media
(43:41) Work-Life Balance as a Researcher
(46:53) Books to Read
Booklist by Alaa
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The Climate Book, edited by Greta Thunberg https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61153762-the-climate-book?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=aXBQQCf7ow&rank=1
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Technical Summary, by the IPCC
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The Age of AI, by Henry A Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Daniel Huttenlocher https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56620811
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The Art of Explanation, by Ros Atkins https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64631477-the-art-of-explanation?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_18
We love watching TV! Globally, people spend around 2.5 hours every day watching various forms of TV programmes. That came with a carbon footprint of 9.2 tonnes for each hour of television produced, which is the equivalent of two households’ annual consumption.
As the Global Production Sustainability Manager at Fremantle, Katy believes the TV industry can have a big impact by reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions and influencing the audience’s climate actions. In this podcast, she shares how she combined her experience and passion for creative production with knowledge in carbon management, as well as her insights of green jobs in the industry.
Her message goes to all who want to pivot their career for the environment: be creative with your background and skills because everything has an impact!
For Carolina, who works at the E3G think tank in Brussels, being a policy advisor on climate change adaptation requires one to be adaptable and patient. Today she’s sharing with us insights into the day-to-day tasks, stress and joys in her job, as well as her first-hand experience in the recent COP27.
With a degree in civil engineering, one can have many options of career pathways. In Elias’ case, he started in the transport sector and is currently riding the new wave of electric vehicle charging facilities. Today, he’s speaking to us from London about what it’s like to work at an EV charge point operator. He's also sharing a fun sidestory: initiating a recycling programme in a Greek army camp.
Alongside the pandemic, we witnessed yet another summer of wildfires. In Greece, 125,000 hectares (The size of Greater London is 159,000 hectares) of forests were ravaged with 3 people killed. But that did not eliminate hopes. Today, we’re speaking with Filotas from We4All about how he combines his passion and professional skills in tree-planting.
In the backdrop of gas price hikes around the world, energy efficiency is more important than ever. Today’s guest, Jon, is showing us how he kills two birds with one stone. By improving the energy efficiency of houses, Jon’s business Ring Tree Project not only helps people live cosier and save money, but also makes a difference in the battle against climate change.
When it comes to jobs, the seeds can be planted way before the job application step. Same goes to green jobs. Today’s guest, Salua, is speaking to us from Bonn, Germany. Through activism during university, Salua found her passion for the environment, which is now guiding her career path.
Since both of our previous guests mentioned ‘Carbon Management’, some of our audiences asked me what that is. James, the program director for the online MSc Carbon Management at the University of Edinburgh, spoke to us from Edinburgh.
As a recent language graduate, Talia is building her green career through political campaigns in climate change.
*At 13:37, the speaker meant to say ‘COP26’
Fiona walked us through her seven years of experience working in sustainability, and gave some useful tips for starting a green career.