Today’s guest is Dr. Mike Shriberg, a professor of practice and engagement at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, and the director of the University of Michigan Water Center. Mike has spent his career at the intersection of academia, advocacy, and leadership development working to prepare the next generation of sustainability professionals for the real-world challenges they will face.

Mike’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful insight: sustainability leadership is modern leadership. Our field is constantly changing, uncertain, and complex, which means success depends less on memorizing content and more on developing the process skills that help us adapt, collaborate, and lead.

In this episode, we dig into Mike’s research on how well higher education is preparing students for sustainability careers. We talk about the gap between theory and practice, why project-based and reflective learning are so critical, and how universities can better partner with organizations to give students meaningful, real-world experience.

Mike also shares what he’s learned about how skills shift across a career, why the most successful professionals are self-reflective, and how to stand out in interviews by showing not just what you know, but how you think.

If you’ve ever wondered what sustainability leadership really means, how to prepare yourself for a career in this dynamic field, or how higher education can evolve to meet the moment, this conversation is full of insight.

Today we’re joined by Emily King, Sustainability Specialist at Schreiber Foods.

We discuss the fact that a sustainability job means constant variety and change, which can be both the best and worst part about it! And we reflected on the implications for who is best fit for this work.

Emily described that her priority in sustainability leadership is creating a shared vision. Then she dove into strategies she uses to make sure everyone is on board and excited about making progress.

Because she started her career in marketing, Emily uses her storytelling skills to win buy-in and move projects forward.

We also covered how smarter data systems, including AI, can minimize the reporting grind so we can focus on real impact. This is one of her biggest efforts right now.

And Emily described what she looks for in sustainability interviews, providing some great tips for those looking to get into the space.

I really enjoyed her playful energy and spot-on analogies for the sustainability world. I think you will too.

Our guest for this episode is Carlos Villalpando, a technology leader, sustainability advocate, and enterprise architect who’s helping some of the world’s biggest companies make sense of their carbon data.

Carlos is a Director at Salesforce, where he works on the Net Zero Cloud team guiding organizations on their path to credible climate action through better data, smarter systems, and long-term strategy.

His journey into sustainability wasn’t planned. With a background in IT and customer success, Carlos spent years leading tech teams, mentoring architects, and building enterprise solutions across higher education and philanthropy. But after an internal realignment at Salesforce brought him into the Net Zero Cloud space, he discovered a new purpose.

Carlos stayed—and he’s been learning, building, and advocating ever since. Not just for better sustainability software, but for better collaboration between sustainability and tech teams.

In this episode, we explore what it means to be an enterprise architect in the world of sustainability, why Scope 3 emissions are such a beast to tackle, and how sustainability professionals can level up their data strategy to unlock real impact—not just reporting.

Carlos also shares how his background in IT helps him bridge the gap between business goals and sustainability needs, and why the best sustainability work often starts with asking the right questions—not just taking orders.

Whether you’re working in sustainability, data, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with insights on how to build smarter systems and stronger careers.

Today’s guest is Neil Yeoh, a sustainability leader, entrepreneur, and educator who's dedicated to accelerating climate solutions across industries.

Neil is the founder and CEO of a sustainability consulting company called OnePointFive. He also started OnePointFive Academy, which is a hands-on training program helping people from all backgrounds break into impactful climate careers.

But Neil didn’t start in this space. He actually began his career in oil and gas. He gradually became disillusioned and was looking for a change.

He began volunteering for a non-profit in the evening and went on to earn a master’s degree in Environmental Management. Over time, he shifted his career towards climate work.

Since then, he’s consulted for companies globally, published articles through Forbes and the World Economic Forum, and shared powerful insights on the skills needed to drive real sustainability progress.

Through his OnePointFive Academy, Neil has helped hundreds of fellows learn technical skills like carbon accounting, lifecycle analysis, and decarbonization strategy. His approach is grounded in the belief that anyone, no matter where they come from or what field they’re in, can have a real positive impact through their work.

This episode is full of insights on how to carve your own path in sustainability. Whether you’re looking to get into this work or already in a sustainability role, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

In this episode, I had a fantastic conversation with Mike Hower, a sustainability communication leader who has spent his career helping companies craft narratives around their social and environmental performance.

From Senior Editor at Greenbiz, to Communication Strategist at Edelman, Mike has experience working on sustainability communications as a journalist, within companies, and as a consultant.

He recently started his own company, Hower Impact, to continue this work as a fractional executive and leadership coach.

Mike also holds regular sustainability career advice “connection sections”. So, he had plenty of relevant thoughts to share during our conversation related to what he’s seen and heard about the challenges sustainability professionals face.

Personally, I am inspired by Mike’s entrepreneurial spirit. I learned a lot and I enjoyed his candor.

I think you will too.

In this episode, I was honored to speak with career coach, Andy Nelson. In his past, Andy was involved with scaling multiple start-ups and worked in management consulting. He now focuses on helping mid-career professionals transition into the climate, sustainability, and social impact space.

Andy has mentored hundreds of people through career changes. He understands the major challenges they face and provides them with essential tools and tactics to be successful.

In our conversation, Andy and I uncovered so many actionable strategies for those who want to work on sustainability.

Most notably, we covered three of the most common hurdles Andy sees, related to identifying your transferable skills, understanding the sustainability jobs landscape, and developing a clear and confident mindset.

Even if you already work on sustainability, I’m confident you’ll take away new perspectives that will help you advance your career.

Please enjoy this conversation, with Andy Nelson.

In this episode of the Sustainability Skill Set podcast, I sat down with Stephanie Udler who is a leader at the intersection of public policy and corporate sustainability. After taking her first job fielding calls in a senator’s office, Stephanie spent much of her career supporting the U.S. government’s earliest sustainability programs before transitioning into corporate work. In our conversation, Stephanie describes her current role as a Fractional Sustainability Executive, the tremendous value they inject into organizations, and the relevance of this type of role in today's business landscape. Stephanie also shares instrumental advice for anyone interested in building a career focused on sustainability and the public policy, underscoring the importance of networking, exploring niches, and making savvy career moves.

In the latest episode of the Sustainability Skill Set podcast, I sit down with Shea Jameel, Senior Director of Sustainability at Marsh McLennan, to discuss her impressive career journey and the skills she uses to succeed. Shea shares insights on building meaningful relationships, making the business case for sustainability, and driving change within organizations.

Throughout the episode, Shea highlights the importance of strong relationships when implementing sustainability initiatives, regardless of industry. She emphasizes the need for effective communication, project management skills, and the ability to adapt to change. Shea also offers valuable advice on preparing for sustainability interviews, including the importance of storytelling and demonstrating concrete examples of skills and experiences.

We wrap up the episode by weighing the benefits of having either a focused or broad approach to sustainability careers. She encourages individuals to follow their passions and interests while also considering the industry landscape and personal flexibility.

If you're interested in a career in sustainability or want to enhance your skills in the field, don't miss this enlightening episode with Shea Jameel on the Sustainability Skill Set podcast. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and actionable advice!

In this episode of the Sustainability Skill Set podcast, host Louis DeMaso sits down with Michael Jung, the Executive Director of the ICF Climate Center. During the conversation, Michael provides valuable insights into the groundbreaking work of the ICF Climate Center, including their recent report on "super" solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. He emphasizes the importance of these solutions, combined with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), in helping the country reach its net-zero goals by 2050.

Some key takeaways from this episode are:

Tune in to this episode to gain actionable insights and inspiring stories that can further your career and make a positive impact in the field of sustainability.

In this episode of the Sustainability Skill Set podcast, host Louis DeMaso sits down with Rachel Lawton, a freelance copywriter who helps climate-conscious companies tell their stories. Rachel shares her insights on the importance of messaging in sustainability, the transferable skills she utilizes in her work, and the power of simplifying complex ideas. She also discusses her journey into freelance writing and offers advice for aspiring climate writers. Tune in to this engaging conversation to gain valuable tips for effective communication in the sustainability sector and to learn how you can make a difference through your writing.

Listen to this episode to discover:

If you're passionate about sustainability and want to learn how to effectively communicate your message, this episode is for you. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from Rachel Lawton and take your sustainability career to the next level.