Greensider Stories

Constanza Moreno-Sánchez is a Student Entreprise Officer at the University of Edinburgh,  supporting student entrepreneurship and skill building, including implementing sustainability in their businesses. In our conversation, we discussed her work in detail, but we also touched on intrapreneurship, her dealing with a challenging period because of visa, networking tips for introverts, her source of inspiration and of course, food. Now, let’s dive in. 

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:57) Moving from Mexico to Edinburgh

(03:14) Supporting startups and daily work routine

(07:29) Implement sustainability in every business

(13:05) AI as a trend and its impact

(16:07) Being an intrapreneur and future ambition

(22:33) A challenging period 

(29:01) Networking tips for introverts

(31:49) Role models

(37:00) Book recommendations on sustainability

(39:21) Climate-friendly food

In this episode, our guest Grace Chua talks us through her work as the Head of Writing and Storytelling at Kite Insights, as well as her previous experience as an environmental journalist. We discuss our perceptions of using AI, strategies to avoid greenwashing for clients, issues of misinterpreting scientific findings etc. For readings on sustainability, Grace recommends ⁠What If We Get It Right?⁠, ⁠Climate Action for Busy People⁠, ⁠Braiding Sweetgrass⁠, ⁠The Field⁠ and an essay on ⁠Solarpunk⁠. When it comes to climate-friendly food, she enjoys recipes from ⁠Plantasia⁠. Tune in to learn more!

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(00:47) About Kite Insights where Grace works

(03:43) Grace's job as the Head of Storytelling

(04:46) Favourite part of the job: ongoing learning

(05:20) Previous experience in journalism

(07:42) Transition from journalism to Kite

(08:59) Transferrable skills: ethos of trying to serve people and curiosity

(10:59) AI's impact on Grace's work

(15:09) How can storytelling bring us to a more sustainable future?

(16:42) Example of climate messages and how to avoid greenwashing for clients

(20:04) What was it like to be an environmental journalist

(22:08) Misinterpretation in reporting science

(25:36) Technical background and tips for asking questions

(27:48) Books recommendation: What If We Get It Right?, Climate Action for Busy People, Braiding Sweetgrass, The Field, an essay on solarpunk

(31:09) Grace's favourite climate-friendly food: recipes from Plantasia

This episode features Ben Gray, a Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator at Imperial College London. Since his work focuses on lab sustainability, we discuss what it means and why it’s important - even funders are demanding it! For books on sustainability, Ben recommends The Climate Book. When it comes to climate-friendly food, Ben enjoys the vegetarian version of butter ‘chicken’. Tune in to learn more about Ben’s career journey and yummy curry recipes!

For transcript and related links, please visit: https://greensider.org/stories

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(00:32) Rowing and coordination

(02:43) Ben's job as a Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator at Imperial College

(03:21) Challenges in lab sustainability: plastic and energy

(06:18) Striking a balance between sustainability and safety

(09:06) Ben's typical week at work

(12:04) Lab Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF)

(13:30) Funders demanding labs to be more sustainable

(15:50) Beyond the climate narrative

(17:57) Partnership in the higher education sector

(19:14) Ben's background in Chemistry and lab experience

(26:00) Essential quality in promote sustainability initiatives

(28:48) Book recommendation

(31:42) Climate-friendly curry recipes

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