In this episode of On Becoming the Change, I speak to Katherine Ellsworth-Krebs, a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Strathclyde focusing on sustainable design and a coach for sustainability professionals. For the past year, Katherine and I have collaborated on a research project to explore the realities of working in a sustainability role within an organisation. We surveyed 92, and interviewed 28, sustainability professionals to find out what the main challenges were and what skills and support they needed. In this conversation, we share insights from our research, stories we heard from sustainability professionals, our personal experiences with eco-anxiety and the journey’s that led us to become coaches dedicated to supporting changemakers. Here’s what we discuss:

The stories we heard about sustainability professionals experience of imposter syndrome and eco-anxiety.

The unique struggles of the sustainability field, including loneliness, the newness of the industry, and the absence of clear career paths and guidance.

The cognitive dissonance that can happen when working in sustainability, the impact of greenwashing, and managing the tension between economic growth and environmental boundaries.

How burnout manifests and the profound lessons learned when you’re forced to slow down.

The transformative role of coaching in building confidence, resilience, and the ability to navigate challenges.

Why coaching and emotional intelligence are crucial skills for sustainability professionals and how they support personal and professional growth.

The question: Who holds the space for sustainability professionals to process what they’re going through?

We get personal in this episode and share more about our own experiences of burnout, climate grief and anxiety and what led us into coaching. And we explore the importance of emotional intelligence, building supportive networks, and recognising the value of self-care and boundary setting.

If you are a sustainability professional navigating the challenges of this work, know that you are not alone. We hope this conversation brings you some comfort, inspiration, and practical insights to help keep you stay motivated and deepen your impact.

Katherine Ellsworth-Krebs

Katherine is a Coach for Sustainability Professionals and Chancellor’s Fellow in Sustainable Design. She has worked alongside an Environment Team; co-founded Transition University of St Andrews; and spent over a decade researching low-carbon lifestyles and theories of change. She’s certified by the Ethical Coaching Collective and has over 300 hours experience coaching 1:1 and in groups.

Find more of her resources for sustainability professionals, including her podcast Joyful Climate Writing and the link to sign up for her weekly newsletter, at ellsworthkrebs.com. Here is the link to Katherine’s group coaching programme for sustainability professionals https://www.ellsworthkrebs.com/th

Read more about our research we discuss:

Our presentation and resources here

News articles published in edie and IEMA (about the challenges and the skills) and our research mentioned in IEMA’s Transform Magazine)

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