Pencils and Pistons

In this episode of Pencils and Pistons, I sit down with Julie Wojtanowski, a behavioural scientist and sustainability strategist who bridges research and practice to turn insights into tangible impact. With a background spanning psychology, behaviour change, sustainability, and gender equity, Julie brings an interdisciplinary lens to one of our most pressing challenges: how do we actually get individuals and organisations to adopt sustainable practices?

We explore the psychology behind sustainable transformation, discussing why good intentions often fail to translate into action, and what behavioural science teaches us about designing interventions that stick. From her work at an architecture and spatial design firm to her research on urbanism, circular economy, and intersectionality, Julie shares practical insights on creating meaningful change at the intersection of environmental and social issues.

Whether you're in consulting, research, or leading sustainability initiatives within your organisation, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on how understanding human behaviour can unlock the path to a more equitable and sustainable future.

Connect with Julie: LinkedIn

Join us as we talk with a mechanical engineer who discovered her true calling in supply chain management after three years in the field. Driven by her fascination with process improvements, she pursued an MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, graduating with distinction.

Now committed to growing as an engineering expert in emerging industries, she shares her experiences navigating career transitions, finding professional fulfillment, and supporting women in STEM. Her story showcases how technical expertise combined with supply chain knowledge creates unique professional opportunities.

This episode offers valuable insights for engineers considering career pivots, professionals interested in supply chain optimization, and anyone passionate about increasing women's representation in technical fields.

Professor Sue Black OBE is a trailblazing figure in computer science and digital advocacy. Named among Forbes World's #Top50 Women in Tech, she serves as Professor of Computer Science at Durham University while actively seeking paid Non-Executive Director roles.

Her extensive governance experience includes advisory positions with the UK Government Digital Service, the Fawcett Society Commission of Gender Stereotypes, and Comic Relief—a major UK charity committed to creating a just, poverty-free world.

With over 20 years in academia, Professor Black brings substantial experience as an academic manager and research centre director, having authored more than 40 publications and earned a PhD in software engineering.

As a passionate champion for women in technology, she founded BCSWomen—the UK's first online network for women in tech—and #techmums, a social enterprise empowering mothers and their families through technology education.

Professor Black gained widespread recognition for her innovative digital campaigning, particularly her successful social media-driven effort to save Bletchley Park, the historic home of WW2 codebreakers.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is a proud mother of four children and grandmother to five.

As a Technical Program Manager , Shimon Gowda leads cross-functional teams that deliver supply chain optimization and innovation projects across various products and services. She applies her deep expertise in supply chain network design, analytics, and software asset management to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate customer satisfaction.

Shimon holds a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University-New Brunswick with a specialization in supply chain management and logistics. Her professional credentials are further strengthened by multiple certifications in Lean Six Sigma, Supply Chain Management Fundamentals, and Agile Project Management.

Her exceptional contributions to the field earned her recognition as one of the Top Women in Supply Chain by SDCE in 2021, complemented by victories in several national-level business plan and consigliere competitions.

Shimon is driven by her passion for solving complex problems, embracing new technologies, and creating meaningful value for both her organization and society at large.

Nikitha Angela Fernandes is a dynamic Business Development & Program Management professional in Service Logistics at DHL Supply Chain. As a recent graduate of Indian School of Business's Advanced Management Program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (AMPOS Co'24), she combines industrial engineering fundamentals with strategic management principles to deliver effective supply chain solutions.

With nearly 7 years at DHL Supply Chain, Nikitha has progressed through several roles, demonstrating her expertise in program management and business development. In her current manager position, she focuses on sales growth and business development within DHL's Service Logistics division.

Nikitha holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Management from Dayananda Sagar Institutions and is a Certified Sales Specialist through DHL. Her educational foundation is complemented by specialized training, including Harvard Business Publishing's Mathematics for Management certification.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nikitha is committed to community service as a long-term volunteer teacher with Teach For India since 2021. Her career achievements include recognition as "Employee of the Year" at DHL Supply Chain in 2020 and "Achiever of Quarter" in 2019.

Nikitha is an advocate for women in logistics, having participated in podcasts and professional development programs focused on empowering women in the industry. She emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and bringing one's unique skills and talents to the table regardless of gender.

Her professional interests include sustainable supply chain solutions, efficient logistics implementation, and mentoring in STEM fields.

Passionate about driving sustainable change and combating climate change, Amol is a professional with expertise in climate policy, sustainability, and capacity building. Currently, an Executive at CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, leading the implementation of the Climate Action Charter for MSMEs. His previous role at KPMG India involved Scope 3 emissions calculation and ESG compliance checks.
Recognized as one of top 75 global submissions by NITI Aayog and Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change for innovative sustainability practices through LiFE initiative, he is the founder of Climateसामर्थ, a startup empowering individuals and organizations for sustainability that offers professional and student dashboards, data repository, and capacity-building resources.

Rondi Allan is an award-winning Business Sustainability Consultant and Director at Sustainable X, a company she founded in August 2020. Based in St Albans, England, she helps businesses transform sustainability from a perceived cost or compliance burden into a strategic business advantage.

As the leader of Sustainable X, Rondi works with organizations at all stages of their sustainability journey, from those just beginning to consider sustainability to those striving to become purpose-led, socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Her approach emphasizes practical, business-focused sustainability strategies that deliver measurable value.

Rondi brings extensive corporate experience to her consultancy, having spent over 14 years at Henkel in various leadership roles, including Head of IT for UK, Ireland, and Nordics, and Beauty Care Retail executive responsible for field sales and key account teams.

Her expertise has earned her multiple recognitions, including being named one of the Top 100 female entrepreneurs in the f:Entrepreneur #ialso community for 2023, winning the Gold Award for Sustainability at the National Business Women's Awards, and receiving an award at the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Inspiring Herts awards.

Beyond her consultancy, Rondi serves as an Advisory Council Member for Harvard Business Review, an Advisory Board Member for The Global Chamber, and an Associate at The Supply Chain Academy. She is also deeply committed to education, serving as Chair of Governors at Cunningham Hill Junior School since 2012 and as a mentor for The Institute of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability.

Rondi's approach to sustainability consulting emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, practical examples, and awareness-building. Her work focuses on helping businesses build sustainable business cases, recognize existing sustainable practices, prioritize strategic next steps, and effectively communicate their impact through certification programs.

Dr. Emma Garnett is a sustainability researcher at the University of Oxford, where she investigates approaches to reduce meat consumption and promote sustainable diets. Her research focuses on understanding and overcoming the economic, social, and political barriers to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural ecosystems.

Currently working in the Health Behaviours Team at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Dr. Garnett examines various interventions to reduce meat consumption across different contexts. Her previous role as Research Fellow in Sustainable Consumption at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (2020-2022) involved working on sustainability in supermarket supply chains through a project funded by Sainsbury's.

Dr. Garnett completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge (2016-2020), where she researched effective interventions to reduce the environmental impact of diets and change consumer behavior. Her doctoral work spanned natural and social sciences, public health, and behavioral psychology, with a particular focus on encouraging plant-based food choices.

Her research has been published in prestigious journals including PNAS, Nature Food, and the Journal of Environmental Psychology, with notable papers examining strategies to increase vegetarian sales in cafeterias and reduce meat consumption. These publications have contributed valuable insights to the field of sustainable consumption.

Dr. Garnett's academic background includes a European Master in Applied Ecology from Kiel University (with distinction) and a BA in Zoology/Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (First Class). She has also gained practical experience through positions at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The Nature Conservancy.

Beyond her research, Dr. Garnett maintains an active interest in marine conservation, serving as a volunteer marine researcher at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre since 2010, where she monitors dolphin and seal populations.

Maryna Trepova is the CEO and Founder of IPSM Procurement, a consulting firm that specializes in optimizing procurement processes and supply chain management. Currently based in Portugal after relocating from Ukraine, she brings 16+ years of procurement and supply chain expertise to her role.

With dual MBA degrees from Edinburgh Business School and Kyiv National Economics University, Maryna has built an impressive career focused on procurement transformation, cost reduction, and transparent business practices. Throughout her career, she has generated over $170 million in savings for clients through procurement audits, portfolio analysis, category management, and supplier relationship management strategies.

As a recognised thought leader in her field, Maryna has founded or co-founded several influential initiatives in Ukraine, including the CPO Club, NGO "Transparent Procurement," and NGO "Procurement & Supply Chain Future." She also established CIPS educational programs in Ukraine as the CIPS Academic Leader and Approved Tutor, helping to elevate procurement standards across the country.

Her extensive client portfolio includes major international companies such as Japan Tobacco International, Vodafone, SoftServe, and DTEK. Her work spans multiple countries including Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, USA, UK, Germany, and others across Africa and Asia.

Beyond her consulting work, Maryna is an accomplished speaker and educator. She has organized three International Procurement and Supply Chain Conferences, presented at 15 industry conferences, authored 40 articles, and conducted 50+ webinars. In 2021, she was recognized as "The bravest entrepreneur in Kyiv region" by MC.Today.

Despite the challenges faced by Ukrainian businesses during wartime, Maryna continues to advocate for procurement excellence and transparent business practices while sharing Ukraine's unique experiences with the global business community. She remains dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine's future and developing world-class procurement professionals.

A Mechanical Engineering graduate with specialisation in Operations from Cranfield University. Experienced in workflow and supply chain modelling through softwares like AnyLogic and Witness. Collaborated with global companies such as GKN Aerospace for simulating their manufacturing processes and generating insights for them. Possesses good communication skills, collaborative in nature and passionate about the field of Operations Management and Network Design for Supply Chains.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/souryadeep-mazumder-59373293/