In thisepisode of the GreenCollar Careers Podcast, I sit downwith Stacy Savage, founder of Zero Waste Strategies and the self-proclaimed“Texas Trash Talker.”
Stacy’scareer path is a masterclass in transferable skills.
She wentfrom slinging fajitas and margaritas in Austin to knocking on doors acrosslegislative districts in Texas as a grassroots organizer. Over nine years, shelearned how to handle rejection, regulate her emotions, communicate acrosspolitical divides, and qualify conversations quickly…skills that would latershape her work in policy, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
Today, sheadvises companies on a “zero waste” strategy and helps them see sustainabilitynot just as compliance, but as competitive advantage.
In thisepisode, we talk about:
· Howdoor-to-door organizing builds elite communication skills
· Handlingrejection and staying mission-focused
· Transitioningfrom nonprofit work to entrepreneurship
· Building amemorable personal brand
· Turningadvocacy experience into business value
· And how tocarve out your niche in the environmental field
If you’re astudent, career changer, or early professional wondering how your currentskills translate into environmental work, this conversation is for you.
Subscribefor more stories from people building meaningful careers in environmental,climate, and sustainability work.
#GreenCareers#SustainabilityCareers #EnvironmentalPodcast #CareerAdvice
Timestamps:
00:00 –Introduction
00:51 –Introducing Stacy Savage
01:29 – The“Texas Trash Talker” Origin Story
03:55 –Growing Up in Southeast Texas Oil & Gas Country
06:00 – FromBiology Major to Bartender
08:50 – GetPaid for Grassroots Organizing
10:30 – 9Years of Door-to-Door Environmental Organizing
12:45 –Organizing Across All Texas Legislative Districts
13:30 –Handling Rejection & Emotional Regulation
15:00 –Sales Skills, Qualification & Finding Supporters
31:24 –Breaking Into Sustainability & Business Skillsets
45:29 –Final Career Advice: Trust the Nudge & Take Action
🔗 Connect with Stacy & Jose!
Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn!
💼 LinkedIn: /in/stacysavage
🔗Consulting for Women in Waste: 0waste.org/consulting-for-women-in-waste/
Connectwith Jose!
💼 LinkedIn: /jose-almanzar-esq
🔗Substack: /josealmanzar.substack dot com
Linktree: linktr.ee/jalmanzar
🎵 Music Credit - Kwae: 📷Instagram: @kwaemusic
🎨 Logo Credit - Leo: 📷Instagram: @logic9uy_art
About Green CollarCareers
The Green Collar Careers Podcast explores the many paths into environmental andsustainability work, what those careers actually look like, how people getstarted, and how they grow over time.
DISCLAIMER:Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal advice. This podcast is not attorneyadvertising. Nothing said in this podcast is endorsed by the podcast host,their guests, or their employers. The views expressed by the podcast host andtheir guests are their own and do not reflect the opinions of their employers.By listening to this podcast, the listener is not entering into anattorney-client relationship or any other relationship with the host or theirguests.