us that flexibility to adapt in an unpredictable world.In addition, the low‐carbon shift is the perfect time for us to dream up a new future that is sustainable – a time to really think about what has worked and what hasn’t, and where do we collectively want to go from here. Coming up with a new story about how we operate on this planet takes creativity, imagination, and courage, but it will serve as the foundation for your new reality – so dare to dream, be bold, and claim the future you want.Don’t let the old definition of environmental careers limit you. Even now, there are many jobs that don’t immediately seem environmental‐related but are actually connected in unexpected ways. In fact, I would argue that all jobs can be related to the environment as long as we are willing to explore the possibilities. Start with your own unique skills, talents, strengths, points of view and how you want to contribute to the environment, you will find where you belong.But what if your new‐found possibilities become too overwhelming and paralyzing for you to make a decision? How do you know which path is the right one for you? A lot of times, a dream is very different from the reality. This is where prototyping comes in – a concept from the world of design and engineering, where a simple model of an idea is built out and tested before further development. Prototyping helps you avoid huge time, energy or monetary commitments before you decide to jump into something. Prototyping is coming up with a quick way of actually experiencing your idea so you can make a decision on how to proceed.Decision making is not unique to environmental careers. Decision making also doesn’t only happen at the beginning of your career. Choosing a path to pursue is only the first of millions of decisions you have to make throughout your career. Getting good at decision making is going to make your life and career a lot easier.4 ‘Networking’ – Leadership, Collaboration and Building a CommunityMany environmental careers are about making the world a better place, which goes beyond personal gains and advancement. So, what are the bigger goals that you are serving?We so often think career development is just about the individual, but it’s not. It’s about what values you can bring to others and the world. What the world really needs right is good leadership and systemic change, which ultimately requires you to be good at working with others from a place of selflessness and service.What might networking look like from a place of selflessness and service? No matter what stage of career you are in – networking and building a community is important for your career wellbeing and development. My preferred way of ‘networking’ is a big‐picture approach where you focus on building a coherent personal brand with a solid mission.Personal branding is not just for entrepreneurs or businesses – everyone has a brand, even if you don’t think about it that way. Your ‘brand’ will naturally influence the way you attract, reach out to, and interact with like‐minded people. Networking, in this context, is just authentic and enthusiastic interaction based on your genuine passion and interest. Figuring out your personal brand starts from understanding yourself.Personal branding should be developed while you undertake solid actions to learn about environmental careers – things such as internships, volunteering, extracurricular activities, improving communication skills on and offline, joining local chapters or groups for environmental activism or careers, contacting university or community career centers, and more. Don’t stop networking even when you are studying or at another job. Having a purpose or a mission in mind (these are part of your personal brand) will help motivate you and anchor your actions in the long run. In addition, don’t just network for your resume or other personal gains – always try to offer something in return. What can you offer in return? Dig into your uniqueness and you’ll see many ways you can contribute. In the spirit of learning, have a curious conversation with someone you’re interested in. Ask about them and their stories. Ask about anything – things you don’t know and things you do know. It’s always great to have a different perspective.Finally, and perhaps more importantly, your community will become your support system on the often difficult road of an environmental career or the activism that you may participate along the way. Burn‐out and disillusionment are common in environmental careers for many reasons. The systemic changes you long to see from your hard work may take years to happen – or never at all in the timeline of your career. While there is no quick solution for this, being surrounded by the right people as you work towards your goal is absolutely crucial.
5 Working with a Career CoachA career coach acts as a trusted partner, a listener, a cheerleader, a truthsayer and a guide to help you navigate through all the points below. Your coach can help you identify your goal and plan strategic steps towards it. As you move towards your goal, your coach can keep you motivated and resilient when times are hard, by helping you overcome any problems that might keep you stuck. Your coach is also a neutral voice that will provide you unbiased guidance that your friends and family may not be able to do. From an unbiased point of view, a coach could also effectively lead you to discover new options that you may have never thought of before by yourself.If you’re starting fresh in an environmental career, a coach can also help you rebrand yourself and make sure all your past experiences and transferable skills are presented in the best light possible. Together, you can also plan strategic and intentional actions to establish your personal brand and network as you advance in your career. Most importantly, whatever it is that you want to achieve, your coach can keep you accountable to the actions you decide to take, so that you can move forward in the right direction with strong momentum.You can follow Charlotte’s work at www.greengrowthcoaching.com
Source: Charlotte Lin, Founder & Career and Climate Action Coach at Green Growth Coaching, Canada. © John Wiley & Sons.
Personal Profile
Janavi Da Silva, MSc Pr.Sci.Nat, Programme Manager, GreenMatterZA, South Africa
I am the Director of Programmes at GreenMatter, the engine for growing the minds that shape the green economy in South Africa. I am responsible for implementation of Human Capacity Development programmes across the organisation. I have a deep curiosity for social and environmental enterprise and skills development, and I believe in working from someone’s highest values and creating a unique place in the market for their special skillset and values. I coach green professionals and green entrepreneurs to make their greatest impact. I aim to help people to participate meaningfully in the Green Economy on a global scale.
I have an Environmental background and an interest in working towards social change. As a result, I studied a Master’s degree in Environmental Science at the University of Johannesburg and have a Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship from GIBS Business School. I am also a facilitator and digital marketing enthusiast!
Top Tips
1 A deep awareness and a clear picture of your personal mission statement and your true values will lead to your greatest legacy.
2 Volunteerism is also a great way to get noticed and be found in the green economy, even if you just volunteer on a project basis.
3 The best way to add real value in your career, towards promoting a sustainable future, is to work in a few disciplines that are opposing but complimentary. Say, a Marine Biologist who is also a circular economy expert. These two disciplines go hand in hand, because the marine ecosystems could do with more circular economy designs to prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean. These are rare pairings of skills but are in dire need to make real changes
4 I also strongly believe in developing your digital skills in a changing world and the best way to reach people now and more so into the future will be through the internet in some way or another. Figure out which digital skill you can use to really stand out from the crowd and create a lasting impact in your field.
Source: Janavi Da Silva, MSc Pr.Sci.Nat, Programme Manager, GreenMatterZA, South Africa. www.linkedin.com/in/janavi‐da‐silva‐pr‐sci‐nat‐a90409aa. © John Wiley & Sons.
