Here's how you can develop the essential skills and competencies for a successful career in sustainability.

“Building out your T” is a concept I often discuss with mentees. It involves specializing in specific areas while also working across different functions. Imagine not only focusing on sustainability, diversity, and finance individually, but also understanding how they intersect. A true sustainability professional comprehends that every action has ripple effects elsewhere. To thrive in this field, one must become an expert in environmental, social, and governance (E S G) matters, as well as the industry in which they work. ??????

Systems thinking is at the essence of lifelong learning. Getting acquainted with different approaches can help understand the ramifications and complexities of different issues. Going beyond your field of expertise, your network and engaging with professionals from different disciplines and with groups that you have not engaged with before are some good ways to cultivate this skill. Reaching out to different groups (e.g., youth, women groups, Indigenous) can expand your horizons and get exposed to different ways of thinking

Learnimg how to use causal loop diagrams to visually map causal relationships and feedback loops within systems, enhancing understanding of complex dynamics is highly needed. Additionally, system mapping and iterative learning skills also can be very helpful.

Ethical leadership is essential for professionals working or seeking a career in sustainability. It involves honesty, integrity, and promoting a positive work culture that both creates a positive impact and helps in driving change. It also sets you apart, enhances your reputation, and contributes to a better future! To develop your skillset: 1- Understand ethical leadership principles. 2- Learn competencies related to sustainability. 3- Foster an ethical work culture. 4- Develop leadership skills by staying informed and educated.

I have found that having a thorough grasp of various cultural contexts and ethical frameworks can be extremely beneficial. It enables leaders to build meaningful connections with stakeholders and develop solutions that are universally acceptable. I always make an effort to understand the local customs and belief systems of the places where I work.

To excel in ethical leadership within sustainability, focus on developing your ability to communicate effectively and understand diverse cultural and ethical perspectives. This will enable you to balance the varying needs of stakeholders and prioritize long-term well-being over short-term gains. Engaging in team-based projects and community initiatives that promote sustainability is also crucial. These activities will help you inspire others to adopt sustainable practices and demonstrate the tangible benefits of ethical decision-making in achieving sustainable outcomes.

Ethical - no one wants to be unethical! In terms of sustainability we could draw this line between what we 'want' to achieve and what we 'will' achieve. That would help in inadvertently generating greenwash. For example, was dieselgate an intention (no it was not) or something that developed overtime and became to hard to correct so it wasn't? How much greenwashing, absolute failure - for sustainability and ethics happens this way? Setting tiered expectations often does not limit excellence. It is argued it does the opposite - it assures change, champions short & medium term outcomes and champions longer term outcomes, as well as team recognition, etc - it certainly combats greenwashing. Ethics is making a come back - don't you think?

Challenge yourself to continuously go out of your comfort zone! Sustainability evolves very fast and one of the best ways of sharpening your skills is practice, exchanging with peers that apply similar knowledge in different contexts and take the time to reflect… when possible, share your new knowledge with others. On of the best ways of learning is teaching!

To enhance your technical skills, actively keep up with the latest trends and breakthroughs in your chosen fields. Participating in specialized workshops or courses can deepen your expertise. Additionally, seeking guidance from mentors already established in the field or joining a peer-group can accelerate your learning process, providing valuable insights and practical advice to navigate complex sustainability challenges effectively.

It is important to gain technical knowledge and foundational understanding of core sustainability principles, like environmental science, life cycle assessment, and renewable energy technologies, circular economy principles, sustainable materials. A solid foundation in these core sustainability concepts will strengthen your problem-solving abilities and help build a successful career. There is abundance of information resources in simplified formats that you can read to gain understanding of these key concepts.

Technical knowledge goes beyond trends and the latest breakthroughs reported. Of course staying informed on these is really important but it goes further than that in terms of this topic of a 'sustainability career'. There are too many generalists in sustainability. To maximise a career it is important to build technical skills as much as possible - with focus. Know where your technical skills are strongest & keep building those strategically. Concurrently identify where your technical skills are weakest or non-existent & ensure that these are covered robustly via the analysis and reporting you do - e.g. SWOT, etc. Saying you 'don't know' or 'are not sure' is strength (not weakness) for you personally & more importantly for client outcomes.

I prioritize gaining a thorough understanding of key environmental science, renewable energy, and sustainable development concepts. This enables me to converse intelligently with experts and create comprehensive strategies. I stay up-to-date with the latest trends and breakthroughs through academic partnerships, technical conferences, and focused upskilling programs. Seeking guidance from mentors has helped me deepen my expertise over time.

Sustainability challenges demand fresh thinking and fresh perspectives. We cannot solve sustainability problems with the same approach that created the problems. Design thinking methodologies offers an approach to analyzing problems and creatively developing innovative solutions. We should embrace design thinking strategies. Emerging Technologies is another medium for innovation as updated advancements in areas like clean technologies, smart grids, and sustainable agriculture can provide creative solutions to sustainability problems. It is very important to stay updated and informed.

Achieving long-term sustainability necessitates a three-pillar-based balanced approach: economic, environmental, and social. Innovations must align with these pillars, ensuring that progress benefits all aspects of society while minimizing harm to the planet. The fusion of innovation and creativity is our compass toward a sustainable and thriving world which can only be done through exploring novel solutions and thinking beyond conventional boundaries.

To foster this mindset, don't shy away from experimentation and embrace the possibility of failure as a stepping stone to success. Dive into new technologies and sustainable design principles, and apply creative problem-solving techniques to your projects. Additionally, collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines can significantly expand your creative horizons, bringing unique perspectives that might lead to innovative and impactful solutions.

Always explore and seek technological, innovative, and creative knowledge related to environment, social, and governance related matters. Expand your knowledge horizon by participating in technological events, networking with peers having experience in technology related to ESG issues and areas. Be adaptable and embrace technological advancements and changes related to ESG dimensions, areas, issues etc.

Innovation and Creativity. Creativity is a major path to innovation. The other major path is systemic process, i.e. where current status and circumstances are thoroughly assessed and developed to identify the next 'progressive' step. This could be considered a +1 approach - progress thru logical and iterative (reduced risk) stages - step by step - this is essential for all. Creativity is aligned to the adage of 'out of the box' thinking. This can be transformational, making great leaps in progress and outcomes. It can also be a lot more risky! Progress thru 'Innovation & Creativity' combined is the best strategy to drive outcomes. The skill is to approach the process based assessments and creativity separately - and then combine them!

#Stakeholder-Einbindung ist eine der wichtigsten und kniffligsten Aufgaben im Nachhaltigkeits-Management. Immerhin bedeutet das mitunter den Dialog mit Gruppierungen, die dem eigenen Unternehmen oder dessen Aktivit?ten kritisch bis negativ gegenüber stehen. Diese Gruppen gilt es mit Vertretern aus dem Unternehmen zusammenzubringen. Damit das gelingen kann, ist Fingerspitzengefühl, soziale Kompetenz und eine gute Planung n?tig. Auch Erfahrung in der Konzeption und Durchführung von Workshops ist hier von entscheidendem Vorteil. Zudem wird die Einbindung meist nicht mit einem j?hrlich stattfindenden Workshop getan sein. Vielmehr gilt es den begonnenen Dialog auch über das Jahr hinweg fortzuführen.

Engaging stakeholders is obvious isn't it! However, it is often not done effectively - or at all. The main error in stakeholder engagement is communication, for example: 1. Where communication to stakeholders is not clear in its vision, requirements or expectations - this is where the problems start - i.e. always with the initiator of change 2. From 1 above it is very unlikely that the stakeholders can achieve optimal outcomes, because the outcomes expected are not clear and/or the stakeholder is entrapped by their own internal barriers to change The key to success is re-initiating or refreshing step 1 above - sadly this is not often done or recognized under the erroneous thinking - how can going back to step 1 be a step forward!

In the rapidly evolving field of sustainability, adopting a mindset of lifelong learning is crucial. As you progress in your career, forming a peer group of like-minded professionals who are at similar stages can be incredibly beneficial. This network allows for the exchange of ideas and experiences at an equal level, fostering a deep understanding of new practices and shared challenges. Such groups provide support and collective intelligence that can help navigate the complexities of sustainability more effectively. Engaging with peers in this way ensures you remain at the forefront of the field, continually adapting and applying the latest knowledge to your work.

To develop competency and expertise remain committed to a continuous learning journey in sustainability. Learn in various dimensions of the environment, Social, and economic areas of the sustainability. Participate in seminars, webinars, conferences, stakeholder events, networking with peers etc. to explore continuous learning opportunities within your network and expand your network to seek more and more learning opportunities.

The path to sustainability is constant learning, but some tips on developing skills to get ahead in the game are: practical experience through internships, volunteer work, and industry certifications. Also, communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills are relevant, and stay updated on sustainable practices and trends. Network with professionals in the field and seek mentorship opportunities for guidance and insight.

It we are not continuously learning then what are we doing? The answer is we are always 'learning' - however, this is not always positive. For example, we can often clearly see in others (and hopefully ourselves) that they are 'learning' to hold on to what they already know and/or 'think'. This kind of 'reinforcement' is a kind of learning - and it is not positive. We see this at the levels of an individual, groups and even entire organisations. When you think about this perhaps we see more 'reinforcement' learning than 'actual' learning! If that is correct then the 'shift' in our thinking to actively learning new 'things' and ensuring that we are 'not just reinforcing' will change our world - and the world around us!

Para desenvolver habilidades essenciais em uma carreira de sucesso em sustentabilidade, adote uma abordagem estratégica. Comece identificando as competências-chave necessárias, como análise de dados, pensamento crítico e lideran?a. Em seguida, busque oportunidades de aprendizado, como cursos online, workshops e programas de mentoria. Além disso, participe ativamente de projetos e iniciativas sustentáveis para aplicar e aprimorar suas habilidades na prática. N?o subestime a importancia da experiência prática e do networking. Finalmente, esteja sempre atualizado sobre as últimas tendências e desenvolvimentos no campo da sustentabilidade para se manter relevante e competitivo.

In my experience conducting sustainability projects and leading sustainability professionals one important skill to consider is the combination of the impact of sustainability perspective with the business performance perspective as well. The skill is to go deeper always also on the business side to develop projects that combines sustainability with business performance in the long term. This is an accelerator skill, usually the natural focus for sustainability professionals is on sustainable effects, so what can be a real differentiation point is to always balance the spheres of sustainability and performance in your ideas/projects/presentations.

Do post-mortems often....and do not wait until the final end! Why progress is slow, or even non-existent, has been covered earlier. However, perhaps the biggest factor in non-optimised progress is lack of looking back - for the sake of this article let's call this a 'post-mortem' but let's make sure that we do this at pre-planned steps along the way - of life (personally) and each and every project and initiative. As earlier, looking 'back' critically (positively) and strategically is a powerful step 'forward' - looking back might feel strange, a waste of precious time, and/or otherwise regressive - but it isn't. A post-mortem often confirms what everyone knew or suspected all along - so don't ever leave a post-mortem until the very end!