Green Rising: 4 Lessons from Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

The increasing urgency of climate change has made the role of professionals from many different backgrounds crucial in driving sustainable innovations. Even so, women still only make up 22% of the global energy sector workforce, reflecting a need for greater representation in the field. At the inaugural meeting of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability’s NYC-based chapter, a group spanning generations and industries gathered at The Bliss Group’s headquarters to discuss driving green innovation. It was clear that speakers and attendees alike were passionate about uplifting one another’s work and missions.

This is no surprise given Women in Cleantech and Sustainability’s mission: to further the roles of women in growing the green economy and making a positive impact on the environment. Green Rising: Women Driving Cleantech Innovation in NYC brought together sustainability champions from technology innovators like Amazon, consumer goods companies like L’Oréal, startups like Sluicebox and itselectric, and humanitarian agencies like CARE for a dynamic evening of networking and knowledge sharing. Speakers included:

Here is what they had to say about empowering women in sustainability.

“Don’t burn out today – we need you tomorrow.”

Burnout in the industry is a major challenge. The problems sustainability professionals are trying to fix are enormous, and they can’t be solved alone or in a day. It’s important to remember that there is strength in numbers. Sustainability professionals should lean on one another – on their networks, their teams, their mentors, and even personal connections – and make sure that they are taking care of themselves and their own needs.

“Practice your resilience.”

Women in cleantech and sustainability should seek out peer groups that can help lift them up. Simply put: Find a support system. Keep the faith, be resilient, be brave, don’t be afraid to jump in.

“Believe in your expertise.” 

Don’t let self-doubt impact self-worth. It’s easy to underestimate the value of individual contributions to the field, especially when the challenges at hand are so vast and convoluted. But everything and everyone involved has value.

Additionally, sustainability professionals should view others who know more, or who have a different skillset or background, as an asset to the cause – not as a replacement or competition. Rising tides lift all ships, and mentorship benefits all. Sharing knowledge, connections, and experiences can help everyone involved.

“See the shades of grey.”

Women in cleantech and sustainability need to be able to see challenges in a multidimensional way. In a space like sustainability, individuals are pushing a boulder up a mountain every day, and that means they need to be able to quickly react to nuances and figure out how to pivot swiftly as things change.

The way forward

How sustainability professionals work – and communicate about their work – involves navigating the complexities of evolving regulation, the increasing politicization of climate-related activities, competition for funding, and other challenges. Understanding the nuances of the work and how to communicate them to various stakeholders is critical to success.

With that in mind, no individual can or should solve the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges in a silo. Together, with the support of the broader sustainability ecosystem, they can make the greatest impact.

By Sarah Eisler

Learn more about the role of communications in corporate purpose and sustainability by reading these next: