Sustainable Edge: Trending careers for Gen Z, embracing Ikigai and writing a sustainability report.

Summary

In the 'Sustainable Edge' podcast by Position Green, Joachim Nahem interviews Pola Nachyla, a sustainability professional representing Generation Z. Pola shares her journey into sustainability, starting from an epiphany in China to her role as a senior associate and sustainability manager at Position Green. The discussion delves into the exponential growth of sustainability professionals, the importance of integrating sustainability into business models, and the personal lifestyle choices that contribute to a sustainable future. Pola emphasizes the concept of 'Ikigai' in finding purpose and balance in both professional and personal life, advocating for sustainable pragmatism over perfection.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The podcast 'Sustainable Edge' by Position Green discusses the rise of sustainability as a profession, particularly among Generation Z.
• 🎙️ Joachim Nahem, the Executive Chairman at Position Green, hosts the podcast and engages in conversation with Pola Nachyla, a colleague representing the new generation of sustainability professionals.
• 🔑 Pola has dual roles at Position Green as a senior associate working with clients on strategy, communications, and climate, and as a sustainability manager responsible for the company's ESG reporting.
• 📈 There is an exponential growth in job titles that include 'sustainability' across various sectors such as consulting, professional services, design, and tech.
• 🦋 Pola's journey into sustainability began during an exchange semester in China, where she was inspired by the concept of circular economy and social entrepreneurship.
• 🎓 Pola pursued a master's degree in sustainability and social innovation, reflecting a generational trend of studying and seeking employment in sustainability-focused roles.
• 💡 The discussion highlights a strategic pragmatism in approaching sustainability, focusing on integrating sustainable practices within existing business models rather than as a purely ideological stance.
• 🌐 The podcast touches on the backlash against ESG and the cultural wars in the United States, contrasting the practical approach of Pola's generation to sustainability.
• 🏡 In her personal life, Pola practices sustainable choices without striving for perfection, emphasizing the importance of consistency over perfection in making an impact.
• 🧵 Pola refers to the Japanese concept of 'Ikigai' to explain her career path, which involves doing what she likes, is good at, gets paid for, and contributes positively to the world.
• 🔄 As the sustainability manager, Pola is tasked with ensuring Position Green practices what it preaches, managing the company's own environmental and social impact.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the 'Sustainable Edge' podcast episode?

The main topic discussed in the episode is the rise of sustainability as a profession, particularly among Generation Z, and the role of Position Green in promoting sustainable practices both internally and with their clients.

Who is Joachim Nahem and what is his role in the podcast?

Joachim Nahem is the Executive Chairman at Position Green and he serves as the host for the 'Sustainable Edge' podcast.

What are Pola Nachyla's two roles at Position Green?

Pola Nachyla serves as a senior associate working with clients on strategy, communications, and climate topics, and she also acts as the sustainability manager responsible for Position Green's own reporting and ESG report publication.

How did Pola Nachyla's interest in sustainability begin?

Pola's interest in sustainability began during her exchange semester in China where she attended a panel discussion on recyclable materials and the circular economy, which sparked her fascination with the concept.

What is the 'butterfly effect story' mentioned by Pola Nachyla?

The 'butterfly effect story' refers to Pola's unexpected journey into the field of sustainability, which started with her attending a panel in China and led to her working in social entrepreneurship and eventually joining Position Green.

What is the significance of the Japanese concept of 'ikigai' in Pola's life?

The concept of 'ikigai' is significant in Pola's life as it helped her find her purpose in life and her dream job, which aligns with her passion for sustainability and making a positive impact on the world.

How does Pola define 'sustainable pragmatism' in her personal life?

Pola defines 'sustainable pragmatism' as making conscious decisions to reduce her environmental impact without striving for perfection. This includes limiting flights, reducing meat consumption, repairing items instead of buying new ones, and utilizing public transportation or car sharing.

What is the role of the sustainability manager at Position Green?

The sustainability manager at Position Green is responsible for managing the company's own sustainability reporting, ensuring the organization practices what it preaches to its clients, and working on internal initiatives to reduce the company's environmental and social impact.

How does Position Green approach its own sustainability efforts?

Position Green approaches its own sustainability efforts by tracking and monitoring its impact, setting targets, and involving stakeholders across the organization to drive action where it matters, even though its environmental impact as a professional services business is relatively small.

What is the importance of the 'consistency over perfection' principle in making sustainable life choices?

The 'consistency over perfection' principle is important because it encourages individuals to make sustainable choices that are realistic and can be maintained in the long term, rather than striving for unattainable levels of perfection that may not be sustainable.

How does the podcast episode address the backlash against ESG and its association with 'woke' culture?

The episode addresses the backlash by distinguishing between the commitment to sustainability as a genuine concern for the environment and climate needs, and the perception of ESG as a form of political correctness or 'woke' culture. It emphasizes the practical and business-oriented approach to sustainability taken by Pola and her generation.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Introduction to Sustainable Edge Podcast

The podcast 'Sustainable Edge' by Position Green is introduced by Joachim Nahem, who serves as the Executive Chairman and host. The episode's focus is on the rise of sustainability as a profession, particularly among Generation Z, and the company's own sustainability reporting. Joachim welcomes Pola Nachyla, a colleague at Position Green, who discusses her dual role as a senior associate and sustainability manager. Pola represents the new generation of sustainability professionals, and the conversation hints at her unique journey into the field.

05:02

🌟 The Growth of Sustainability Professionals

This section delves into the exponential growth of professionals with 'sustainability' in their job titles across various sectors like consulting, professional services, design, and tech. The discussion highlights a recent study indicating the emergence of over three hundred thousand such professionals. The conversation with Pola reveals her background and the generational trend of seeking education and employment with sustainability at its core, emphasizing the strategic and practical approach of Generation Z towards sustainability.

10:05

🌐 Pola's Journey into Sustainability

Pola shares her personal story of how an exchange semester in China sparked her interest in sustainability, particularly through exposure to circular economy practices. Her path led her from social entrepreneurship to an impact fund and eventually to a master's degree in sustainability. The narrative underscores the importance of practical skills and the desire to work with larger companies to create significant impact, culminating in her role at Position Green.

15:05

💼 Sustainability as a Business Opportunity

The conversation explores the concept of sustainability not just as an ideological stance but as a business opportunity and a pragmatic approach to risk management. Pola discusses the gap between her peers in the business school and those in traditional finance or MBA programs, reflecting on the different perspectives on sustainability. The discussion also touches on the influence of media and the increased awareness of environmental issues among younger generations.

20:07

🌍 Personal Sustainability Practices and Challenges

Pola talks about the importance of aligning personal lifestyle choices with sustainability values. She candidly shares her struggles with veganism and the impracticality of completely giving up flying due to her expat status. The summary highlights her efforts to make sustainable choices in areas such as diet, consumption, and transportation, emphasizing the balance between idealism and practicality in living a sustainable life.

26:26

🔄 The Professional and Personal Application of Ikigai

Pola introduces the Japanese concept of Ikigai as a guiding principle in her life and career decisions. She explains the four aspects of Ikigai: doing what you love, what you're good at, what will be paid for, and what is good for the world. The summary illustrates how her role at Position Green fulfills these criteria, reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact through her work in sustainability consulting.

07:06

🌿 Position Green's Internal Sustainability Initiatives

The final paragraph discusses Position Green's commitment to tracking and managing its own environmental and social impact, following the merger in 2022. Pola, as the sustainability manager, is tasked with engaging stakeholders and ensuring the company practices what it preaches. The summary outlines the challenges and responsibilities of her dual role and the importance of aligning internal practices with client recommendations.

📅 Closing Remarks and Invitation to Subscribe

The podcast concludes with a reminder for listeners to subscribe and leave a review, highlighting the value of the insights shared by Pola and Joachim. The summary emphasizes the engaging nature of the discussion and the practical advice offered for both professional and personal sustainability efforts.

🌡️ Global Awareness of Climate Change

This brief paragraph acknowledges the global impact of climate change and the constant reminder of its effects on various continents. The summary points out the universality of climate-related events and the difficulty of ignoring their significance in current times.

Keywords

💡Sustainable Edge

Sustainable Edge is the name of the podcast being discussed, which is produced by Position Green. It is focused on sustainability topics, indicating the central theme of the podcast is environmental responsibility and sustainable practices. The podcast serves as a platform to discuss various aspects of sustainability as a profession and its growing importance in the modern workforce.

💡Generation Z

Generation Z, often referred to as 'Gen Z,' typically includes individuals born in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. In the context of the video, Gen Z is highlighted as a demographic that is increasingly choosing to become sustainability professionals, indicating a generational shift towards prioritizing environmental and social issues in their careers.

💡Sustainability Professionals

Sustainability professionals are individuals whose job titles and roles involve implementing, managing, and promoting sustainable practices within organizations. The script mentions an exponential growth in such professionals, reflecting a broader societal and economic trend towards integrating sustainability into various sectors.

💡Position Green

Position Green is the company that produces the Sustainable Edge podcast and is central to the narrative of the video. It is portrayed as an organization that not only advises clients on sustainability but also practices what it preaches, as seen in its own sustainability reporting and internal initiatives.

💡Ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that refers to finding one's purpose in life. In the video, it is used to illustrate the personal journey of Pola Nachyla, who applies this concept to her career choice in sustainability, suggesting a harmonious blend of personal passion, professional skill, financial viability, and societal benefit.

💡ESG Report

An ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report is a publication that details a company's efforts and progress in these three areas. In the script, Pola Nachyla mentions her role in being responsible for the publication of Position Green's ESG report, which is a key aspect of the company's transparency and commitment to sustainability.

💡Circular Economy

The circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. It is mentioned in the context of Pola's experience in China, where she was inspired by a business that transformed plastic bottles into swimwear, illustrating the practical application of circular economy principles.

💡Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship involves starting and running businesses that aim to solve social, cultural, or environmental issues. The script references Pola's initial foray into this field as a research assistant, which sparked her interest in sustainability and led her to her current career path.

💡Sustainability Manager

A sustainability manager is a professional responsible for overseeing an organization's sustainability initiatives. In the video, Pola Nachyla discusses her dual role at Position Green, including being a sustainability manager, which involves managing the company's own sustainability efforts and reporting.

💡Greenwashing

Greenwashing refers to the practice of making a product or policy appear environmentally friendly when it is not. While not explicitly mentioned in the script, the concept is implicitly addressed through discussions about the importance of genuine sustainability practices and the role of Position Green in advising against such deceptive strategies.

💡Climate Change

Climate change is a significant theme in the video, discussed in relation to the increasing frequency and awareness of extreme weather events. It is presented as a universal challenge that underscores the necessity for sustainability professionals and the work they do in mitigating its impacts.

Highlights

Introduction to the podcast 'Sustainable Edge' and its focus on sustainability as a profession, particularly among Generation Z.

Pola Nachyla's dual role at Position Green as a senior associate and sustainability manager.

The exponential growth of sustainability professionals in various industries.

Pola's personal journey into sustainability, starting with an exchange semester in China.

Inspiration from an entrepreneurial lady in China who transformed plastic bottles into swimwear.

Pola's transition from social entrepreneurship to working with larger companies for broader impact.

The importance of integrating sustainability into business models for risk management and opportunity.

Generation Z's approach to sustainability as a core part of their jobs and studies.

The backlash against ESG and its entanglement in culture wars, particularly in the United States.

Pola's perspective on sustainability as a practical approach rather than an ideological statement.

The influence of media and increased awareness on natural disasters shaping Generation Z's views on sustainability.

Pola's personal sustainable lifestyle choices and their impact on her professional life.

The concept of 'Ikigai' and its application in Pola's career path and life choices.

Position Green's commitment to sustainability and its impact on its 600+ customers.

Pola's role in managing Position Green's own sustainability reporting and internal practices.

The challenge of balancing the dual roles of advisor and sustainability manager within Position Green.

The importance of finding what is material to a company and driving action where it matters in sustainability.

Transcripts

Hi, everyone, and welcome to Sustainable Edge,

a podcast produced by Position Green.

I'm Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman at Position Green and your host for this podcast.

In this episode we speak about sustainability as a profession

and why a large number of Generation Z are becoming sustainability professionals.

We cover Position Green's own sustainability reporting.

We speak about the Japanese concept of ikigai that encourages people to discover

what truly matters to them and how to live a life filled with purpose and joy.

Hi, everyone.

We are back in Oslo at the Position Green Office.

I'm very excited to introduce Pola Nachyla,

who is a colleague at Position Green.

Pola, tell us, what do you do at Position Green?

And welcome by the way.

Thank you, very nice to be here.

I didn’t have to move

too far since I sit the Oslo office.

I have two roles at Position Green.

First of all, I'm a senior associate, so I work with our clients

on different types of topics,

usually in the teams of strategy and communications or in climate.

But I also have a second hat which is sustainability manager,

and that's where I work with all our own reporting and our own sustainability work

at Position Green and I'm responsible

for the publication of our ESG report.

Now, the reason we have you on this podcast is, is also twofold.

you represent a new generation of sustainability professionals.

So there was a recent study that showed that we have more

than I think, probably by now, three hundred thousand

professionals that have sustainability in their work title.

There was actually a study done that looked at job ads and has seen this

almost exponential growth of professionals

where whether it's consulting, professional services, design and tech.

Sustainability is in their title and then presumably part of their job.

And we're going to talk a little bit more about this,

that you represent a generation that has purposely

studied chosen degrees or coursework

at universities and graduate schools related to sustainability,

and that you seek jobs

with sustainability as a core part of that.

So that's something we're going to talk more about.

And actually let's start on that, sort of why,

how did you end up at Position Green?

Tell us your story.

Okay.

I like to call it the butterfly effect story because

I had no clue I was going to end up here back a couple years ago. My adventure

of sustainability started actually during my exchange semester in China.

And you would think that that China is probably not extremely sustainable compared

to whatever practices or regulation we have in Europe.

But while I was there, I was trying to go to any type of panel, meeting, events

for expats and for English speakers just to get as much exposure as possible.

And I ended up in this panel that I really didn't know what

it was about and it was about recyclable materials

and how companies use circular economy to give more efficiency

to their operations to produce value and so on.

It was really the first time that I heard the term sustainability, I think,

and I got really, really fascinated by this one entrepreneurial lady,

an American lady in China, that decided to find a business

that was transforming plastic bottles into swimwear.

And that for me was something that I really wanted to dive into.

I didn't even know there was a problem with trash or plastic bottles

back then, and I started researching it more. and I started researching it more. In the same time.

I was looking for a part time job during my studies and I was interviewing

for a job of a research assistant,

and it was in the area of social entrepreneurship,

which again, I didn't really have that much knowledge of.

But when I was on a call with the professor

I was going to be the assistant of and she asked me,

okay, so what are you doing in China?

Why did you decide to go there?

And I could not stop

talking about this lady that does swimwear out of plastic bottles.

And the professor just thought,

okay, you know what, you have a fun personality.

You get excited about small things.

I'm going to take you in.

And that's how I ended up working with social entrepreneurship.

And I started to get to know all the stories of people,

how they are trying to make the world a better place, how

they were trying to solve environmental and social problems around the world.

And I felt that I want to be a part of that.

So one thing led to another, and from that research

assistantship, I started working at an impact fund.

After that, I managed to get into a master's degree in sustainability,

and that's how my path just got formed.

And I ended up here at Position Green.

So you had an epiphany in China.

Yes.

Which took you on to a track of

social entrepreneurship, impact,

then you did a degree, I believe at HEC

the business school in France,

which was specifically on sustainability.

Yes, it was a master's degree in sustainability and social innovation.

We had about 60 people in that class and every single person

somehow had that epiphany at some point in their life and really knew that

they want to be a part of driving change in the world for the better.

But each one of

them had a completely different background or a different idea to go about it.

So there was someone who studied tourism and wanted to make it more

sustainable. There was someone who wanted to work more in policy.

I, on the other hand, after

looking into social entrepreneurship and working with entrepreneurs,

I wanted to go a bit bigger,

start working with bigger companies because I felt like this is where

the impact would

actually be the the easiest for me to influence.

This is where I could contribute

and what I have learned in the two business schools that I studied at.

So I started looking more into practical skills

for corporates, for bigger companies.

And this is also why I wanted to be a consultant

because I didn't want to stomp on just one idea or one industry.

I wanted to keep exploring and trying to see where do I have

the biggest impact for businesses to become more sustainable.

So I think you're touching on something really interesting there

because before we started this recording, we were discussing

what actually makes up Generation Z

where according to the definition I looked up, which is that

if you're born in the nineties or early 2000s, you're labeled as Generation Z.

Yes. You had some qualms about that.

But we've for the sake of this podcast, we've agreed

you are within that realm of Generation Z. Yes.

Now, we've also

in this podcast before discussed some of the backlash against ESG

and the culture wars that are,

I would say, have

taken over ESG or that ESG has been pulled into a larger

sort of, especially in the United States, a sort of culture war.

And it is somehow, you know, now even part of a discussion of

is it part of woke and that the driver for a lot of this ESG and sustainability

is your generation and your generation is woke

and that it's basically a sort of political correctness and that it

somehow gets pulled into these sometimes not very helpful discussions on

culture and identity.

But what you're actually saying

is that the drive, at least in your case and some of your

fellow students,

was, yes, a commitment to sustainability, to planetary

and environmental and climate needs, but actually through business models

and actually thinking about how this is an opportunity for businesses

trying to sort of learn the language and the models

and the thinking of businesses and integrating this there rather

than being some kind of an ideological or a cultural statement.

Yes.

Or am I taking it too far?

Obviously, I cannot speak for a whole generation

and it will vary depending on the country.

At the business school where I was in France, there was definitely

a big gap between the ones that were taking my master's degree

and then all the masters in finance, master in business administration and so on.

They called us the hippies.

We were the tree huggers.

There were a lot of

people in my class that I would say deserved that name

because they were really driving sustainability

so extremely

that it did at some point become unrealistic.

And I figured out that I don't want to not fly at all

in my life, that I am not able to become vegan.

I cannot do all those different things that some purists

for sustainability would come up with.

But at the same time, I don't want to not think about sustainability in my job.

I do realise that it is very important.

I think that's why the current generation thinks about it

so much is just because we hear about it more in the news.

There are so many more

natural disasters or extreme weather events that are being documented.

I'm not saying that there's more of them than before.

I think that they're just being documented more and we talk about them more

in the media and that influences

an entire generation into how they think and how they make decisions and so on.

So woke I think is a bit of a term

that was invented by the older generations for whom

this is a very new topic and they didn't find the need for it before.

I remember when I was trying to get inspired from LinkedIn

and trying to see some people that I want to be, that I want to be in the future.

I would look up different chief sustainability officers

and I would see a lot of people that have a marketing background,

maybe supply chain background, not really something

that was sustainability from the very beginning

and I felt a bit lost because I don't really want to start with marketing.

I don't want to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer,

but I want to work in sustainability.

So what do I do?

So that's the opportunity that my generation has right

now, is to start with sustainability from the very core,

from their studies,

rather than suddenly be thrown into that box because of

the circumstances that they have at work, because there was a need for that position

and they just kind of were thrown in there. So

yeah, I think that

our generation just has it a bit more going around in the news

and in the way that they speak and make decisions.

And because of the fact that you said that there's twice as many jobs right now

available in sustainability, this is just something more mainstream,

not necessarily woke. It's not new anymore.

Exactly. So it's not a very helpful label.

It's basically we've had the awakening.

There is a realisation and it's what do you do about it?

And essentially what you're describing is a kind of strategic pragmatism to it,

meaning how do you, what skill sets do you need to go along

with sustainability to make you more impactful

at the workplace, to convince colleagues, to convince customers,

to basically understand that the industry and

the processes that still drive businesses

rather than it being a, as I said,

ideological statement, it's basically, okay, how do we get people on board?

How do we make impact?

Definitely.

And at this point, it's definitely not an ideology.

It's a risk management, whether it's reputational risk for businesses

for not talking about sustainability, but also the fact that nature

is reminding us that unless we do something about it,

we will face

some deadly consequences in the future.

So it's not something that you can just hide under the bed anymore.

No, it's here. It's real life.

And as you said, it's constant and it's and it's independent on geography.

I mean, one of the most striking things over the past few years is, as you said,

the sheer number of

events related to

climate change in terms of extreme weather, but also how

universal it has become.

But if we

jump for a second to we've been talking about your sort

of professional motivation, your journey.

There seems to be a parallel also of what you describe to

In terms of personal life, life choices, what is sustainability

mean to you in terms of how you live,

decisions you make on

travel, what you consume,

be it food or clothes, or,

as I said, how when you travel,

tell us your story there as well.

What does it mean in your personal life?

Sure.

I think that

being sustainable in your sustainable choices is as important

as just having sustainability on your mind.

And I'll unpack it right now.

As I already mentioned, I don't think I can go vegan.

I tried and I didn't feel good.

I cannot stop flying basically because I'm an expat

and I want to see my family from time to time and there is no train

that will take me from Norway to Poland in less than a week, perhaps.

Barely takes you to Sweden.

I was in Sweden this week.

Exactly, so Poland is a whole different journey.

So I understand that I cannot be perfect and I think that's okay

as long as I do have sustainability and my own environmental impact

at the back of my mind whenever I make a decision is already good enough.

I don't fly as much as I can, only when I have to.

I do limit meat when I eat.

I don't overconsume.

If I see that my clothes, are

ripped or broken, I will try to fix them myself.

I have my own sewing kit and I will first try to repair something

or find a different use for it rather than buy a new thing.

So I don't have a car.

I never had a car and I don't really find a need for it.

So far, public transportation or car sharing has gotten me pretty far.

So I probably could find a couple of more things.

But the true thing is that living in Norway is it brings you in a bubble.

I think there is much more awareness about sustainable living here

than in most other countries.

So I probably do more things that I just now take for granted, which is good.

Which is good.

So but basically it sounds like there's a red thread here

of sustainable pragmatism in terms of how you engage on this.

What how it brought you into the workplace,

how you work on this as a topic

and in terms of your personal life choices.

You are conscious

and it influences, but it is not

militant perhaps, and from that,

do you think also that can help convince other people?

Because sometimes again, even though we've dismissed woke

and some of these labeling, there seems to be an unnecessary gap chasm between

groups of people.

And we know if we want to have impact, we have to

convince people on sustainability still.

Whether it's my generation or your generation or the next generation, Alpha,

we're going to have to show that there are sustainable lifestyles.

There is a way to live around this that takes this into consideration,

but perhaps is again, not

completely dominant in your lifestyle.

In terms of that you feel bad about your life choices or that it becomes

practically impossible to live and be too much, right?

You end up being a purist, as you said.

So basically finding a way to live

that is possible for the vast majority of people.

So do you think your approach to sustainability here maybe holds

more appeal and a larger chance of convincing other people

who presumably have less awareness about this?

Yeah, I think so.

I think there is a very simple

comparison we can do here.

Whenever someone wants to get,

let's say, better looking or to better health, they have to change either

their eating habits or get on a workout plan, start working on themselves.

But something that is a red thread in any successful work

or nutrition program is consistency over perfection.

And it's the same with sustainability.

If you let it dictate your life, it will not stick with you

because life cannot be planned.

And so you have to take what works for you,

no workout plan will work for you

if you have to completely sacrifice everything else to do it.

And it's the same with making sustainable choices, it’s just this time

it's not only good for you, but it's also good for the world around you.

So it starts with this little initiative from your side that, okay,

I want to be better.

I want to make a better impact, I want to

do less harm.

But then you just take the bits and pieces of all those different things you can do

and make it work for you in order for them to stick with you

and so that you can do them in the long term.

So basically it's about sustainable life choices

and I would like to hear a little bit more.

I believe you live by a Japanese concept.

You mentioned that you had an epiphany in China,

but you live by a Japanese concept.

Yes.

Please tell us more. What is it?

I like to refer to it

whenever I have to make a change in my life.

Or for example, when I was choosing my career path.

It is this a concept called Ikigai.

And it is a Japanese concept for finding your purpose in life.

I don't necessarily use it for my whole life

purpose, but precisely for finding my dream job.

That was very helpful.

The concept is about ticking four boxes.

Basically, one of them is do what you like to do.

Second one, do what you're good at.

Third one, do something that they will pay you for. And fourth one,

do something that is good for the world.

For me, working in a sustainability consulting

company checks all those boxes because I like to do what I'm doing.

I get paid for it.

I think it's good for the world since it's within the sphere of sustainability

and it's something that I'm good at, in my own opinion.

Okay.

And how does that apply to your job at Position Green?

How does it tick the boxes that you just mentioned?

Well, let's start with the last one, which is it's good for the world.

I believe that at Position Green we do have an impact on all the 600+ customers

that we're working with in smaller or bigger degree, we are all helping them

to have a less of an environmental or negative social impact.

So whenever I do go to

work, I do feel that I contribute to making the world a better place.

Second of all, well, it's my job, so I do get paid for it.

So that's the one of the boxes checked.

I like doing what I'm doing.

I like being a consultant, an advisor to different types of companies

because I get to see all different types of problems.

I tend to get bored easily.

So thanks to that diversity, I keep getting motivated every day

and in my opinion I'm quite good at what I'm doing. In consulting work

you have to be both creative, especially in sustainability topics

that are quite new.

You have to be quite analytical with analysing

a lot of different data and you have to have good communication skills.

So that all the analyses you have done,

you can pass it on to the customer and make sure that they understand

what is the recommendation, and they can actually implement it.

And just to be very clear to our listeners,

this is not a job promotion you're speaking from. No.

From generally why you chose Position Green...

It’s from the heart. ...or how it ticks your boxes.

But I do actually want to ask you to delve

a little bit more into it because you have two roles at Position Green.

One is as a senior associate, you are an advisor,

you provide services to our customers in terms of their strategy,

their reporting, their ESG footprint, if you like.

But you also have a second role, a second hat here at Position Green,

which is you are our sustainability manager.

You're actually responsible for what

we report on, what our impact is as Position Green

whether positive or negative, you've been tasked with pulling together

what our material footprint is, how we disclose it,

but perhaps more importantly, how we also then work on it

internally as an organisation to be aware of our own footprint.

Tell us a little bit more about that.

Yes, so it started with actually

with the merger that happened at Position Green back in 2022.

And it was no longer three small companies.

It was a quite big and fastly growing organisation.

That's we suddenly realised that we have an impact ourselves as well.

And now it's time for us to track it too.

We have to practice what we preach to our clients

and start measuring, monitoring, putting targets and so on.

So it started with that.

And my job is a lot about stakeholder management

because I have to involve a lot of people around our organisation.

Thankfully, I am surrounded by a lot of people

that had that same epiphany I did that they want to make the world

a better place and therefore they are really willing

to make our organisation sustainable and have a positive impact.

But it also comes with quite a bit of pressure

because since we have so many advisors, I have to spar with

so many people and check if that is really the best way to do this.

Is that the way we recommend it to our clients?

Having two hats allows me to cross-check

our practices with also what we recommend to our clients.

So it's very interesting, but sometimes gets quite intense

and confusing.

Thanks to that, I learned a lot and I can ensure that our organisation

can also be proud of what we do.

When it comes to our own impacts.

We obviously do not have a lot of environmental impact ourselves

as a professional business, professional services business,

and that's something that a lot of companies

that are similar to us will then discredit, as

in they will not report on their own impact

because they're small, because they don't have any big assets,

they don't produce anything.

But after all, ESG exists in every company.

So just finding what is material to us and driving action where it matters

is important.

Pola, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on the podcast.

Thank you very much. It was really nice to be here.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast

and leave us a review.

Thank you again for listening and see you soon.

and how to avoid greenwashing.

You know, it is one week

Asia and weather patterns

in Europe, Africa, North America, it's constant

and it it's it's almost impossible not to be cognizant of it.