Career Advice for Environmental Professionals

Gaining Energy through Inspiration

One of my mentors once told me that the best way to get energy and motivation is to get really, really inspired. I love this advice because it calls for some fun homework. When I’m in a career funk I close my laptop and float in a universe of whatever catches my curiosity at that moment. It refills my tank, reminds me of the simple joys of life, and taps into the bigger meaning of what I loose in hours of mindless typing and busy-work.

My favorite way to refresh and refocus is by going to events and meeting new people. So, when I heard about the Women in Green Conference last August, I knew 100% that I had to be there.

And honestly, I’m still beaming.

In a nutshell;

“The mission of the [annual] Women In Green Forum is to create a venue for sustainability professionals to develop the skills necessary for professional success, to promote women’s leadership across the environmental industry, and to channel our efforts to build a better world where both genders have equal access to and are involved in leadership and decision-making.”

– WIGF

The event started off with a mentor/mentee program. Volunteers were paired up with a student who’s interested in the environmental field. Over coffee and baked goods, we answered questions students had about sustainability. I was completely in my element with people who shared my passion.

Community in a Zero Waste Environment

After some awesome introductory speeches we had a delicious, healthy vegetarian lunch! I was impressed with how low waste this event was. There were no paper napkins, plastic cups, and minimal mindless flyers. Some people even avoiding handing out business cards (a bit overkill, but I appreciate the intention). Everything there was either purposeful or joyful, with no clutter in sight.  A special touch was the collection of glass straws along the coffee table.

Careers in Sustainable Technology

Another really interesting discussion was by Julie Pecson, the Director of Engineering Program Management at Planet Labs. She asked the question – How can we improve the planet’s health from outside our atmosphere? She explained how her company uses satellite imagery to collect global mapping data and snapshots of the earth’s surface. This data can be used to study environmental issues, such as climate change, or deforestation. The ability to see in detail the level of tree cutting in the Amazon, or glacial melting in Greenland, is powerful information. Image the power the world has in tracking environmental damage in real time.

Sustainability and Job Security

Another workshop I loved was the ‘Future-Proof Your Career’ portion led by Sarah Backhouse. She discussed job security within the sustainability sector, and how networking is essential to make your career last. At this time, she encouraged us to find another woman in the room, introduce ourselves, and have us each brainstorm 5 different career paths either of us could embark on. I matched with Robyn Seetal a brilliant young woman who’s heading Natural Capitol Solutions. It meant a lot to me to have another woman understand my career path and have the background to point out viable options for my career to divert.

I am sort of spread in several directions in the environmental sphere (hazwaste, EHS, sustainable fashion, freelance), so having another environmental professional game plan with me was career-coaching (even just for 5 minutes) was something I didn’t realize I had been itching to have.

The most impactful thing I walked away from was how broad the sustainability industry is. It made me so excited to hear so many unique career paths, and meet women of all different ages/ethnicities/backgrounds doing amazing things for the environment.

Networking is Worth the Effort

Another thing that really pleased me from this event were the familiar faces. I knew some of the women – business owners, nonprofit founders – and in those moments it really showed me how networking is worth the work. Sometimes it feel exhausting to show up to an event at 6pm straight from work, but in the end, it’s really worth the trouble when those relationships build over time. It made me feel like I’ve become more well-rounded and known within the green community by giving a few hugs to familiar faces.

In a similar vein, networking is also worth the effort because you meet people so different from you. I was pleasantly surprised that I was the only EHS Specialist in the crowd (that I’m aware of), and one of two bloggers at the event. That means that 99% of the attendees were in careers that I was insanely interested in learning more about!

Some career paths that interested me included…

• Sustainable Business Consultant
• LEED sustainable construction engineer
• Eco-friendly children’s computer game programmer
• Manager of Corporate Sustainability
• Producer of Environmental films

My 9 Networking Tips:

1. Bring business cards. 

     Don’t have one? Here’s some recycled options. Some people chose to snap a pic of my business card rather than take one. Still good to have!

2. Charge your phone prior, and bring a spare charger

     Make it one less thing to worry about.

3. Bring a Snack

     Networking is draining, so get rest the night before, drink lots of water, pick up a coffee, and stash a snack for later. You will be so glad later! If you’re driving across town, you’ll want to stay the whole time to make the most of it

4. Dress Professionally

     The best thing you can do for yourself is to feel the best you can feel. Our wardrobe can do a lot of that for us, even if we’re nervous or insecure. Especially if you’re young (or young looking), a pair of slacks or a fitted button up can make you look and feel like you’re here to be taken seriously.

5. Meditate and Embody Gratitude

     Networking is about receiving. Are you present today? Are you ready to have a miracle happen? Clear your consciousness, and let go of the little things. Today’s an investment for your future, so don’t let something silly divert your energy.

6. Be Excited!

     People love to help professionals, especially if you’re pumped and passionate. Keep the smile on your face, throw on some music during your commute to the event, and feel okay to laugh at yourself. Networking can be intimating and awkward, but in the end we’re all people who want success, love, and respect. Treating everyone with love will make everyone seem less scary and more human.

7. Brand Yourself

     Embrace an elevator pitch. What’s your game plan? What you’re excited about, and what you’re currently doing about it to get you there? If you’re totally lost, start with your name, your occupation, and what you’re currently interested in. Easy peasy. This will get easier with time.

8. Follow up

      Add everyone on LinkedIn, and thank them for ‘x guidance/advice. Keep the relationship alive!

9. Be Proud of Yourself

     You did it! And you should be proud of yourself for investing in yourself.

One Thing Leads to Another

I’ll wrap up this article by giving an example of my own personal branding. I sort of unintentionally branded myself by staying in line with environmentalism from the start. It started off by volunteering at my alumni’s Sustainability Office by interviewing professors and writing articles about their research for a ‘Sustainability Scoop’ newsletter. I also worked a summer as a Snowy Plover conversationalist which taught me to be bold and strike up important (and awkward) conversations with strangers.

Not knowing it at the time, but these intern-like roles prepped me for my career with the Cal/EPA in environmental enforcement. I already learned how to write technical articles from interviewing sustainably-driven professors, and the growing pains of kicking people off sensitive estuaries for endangered birds made unannounced inspections as an Environmental Scientist a tad bit easier.

Every Experience is Useful, No Matter How Irrelevant

I have a photo of myself beekeeping in Italy the summer after college, which is erringly similar to another photo I have of myself in a hazmat suit with the Cal/EPA a couple years later. Call it a stretch, but I think my openness at the time to take on the beekeeping gig subconsciously empowered me to tackle work in hazardous waste industry. I’d been in a hot, heavy, uncomfortable yellow suit protecting myself from the environment around me… my brain probably figured ‘Piece of cake. We’ve already done this. We got this.’ This is the push the universe provides. When you have a gut intuition, take it and run with it.

Gut Instincts and Taking Risks

What really stirred things up was when I started my sustainable fashion blog, Sustainable Daisy. That’s when things got interesting. Through my own research, I found that very few people were talking about sustainable fashion back in the day (around 2014). I saw an opportunity to speak about something no one else really was, and it worked. Surprisingly so, that I filed a sole proprietorship with the City of LA and ran this blog as a side business. I’ve cooled my jets a bit, as I’ve recently picked up a new role in EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) in the Entertainment Industry, which definitely has my hands full and is fulfilling me in so many ways (I really love it!). Even so, blogging taught me about business decisions, marketing, filing taxes, pleasing clients, and balancing my time. The best part of it all was the huge network that opened up of interesting creatives that I probably would have never met otherwise. Not to mention the amazing opportunities that opened up, like moderating a panel during LA’s Fashion Week, and being a guest in FIT’s NY fashion seminar!

One of the best outcomes was how it led to me to my friend and mentor Taryn Hipwell who I co-partnered to write the book How to Shop for Shi(f)t, among the rest of the amazing Beyond the Label team.

Looking Ahead

I am excited about what I have accomplished in just a few years, and what lies ahead for other young professional in the green community. Whether you’re diving into a technical career, or taking on a creative freelance gig (or a combination of both), environmentalism is exciting, it’s not going away, and there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Xo,

Sustainable Daisy