20 voices

Why?

This study was born out of necessity. I really really needed to get a grip on the meaning of what I was doing professionally. Back in the days, I chose an industrial ecology master because I wanted a career with more meaning than just generating salary. But ever since I feel like I have been running. Running without time or energy to sit down and reflect on what I am actually doing. Now, after fourteen years, three employers, three countries, two children and one PhD I want to do exactly that.

It would have been nice to stop pondering and uncritically keep on working in those interesting, challenging sustainability jobs with great colleagues (sustainability professionals are the best) like I have done until now, had it not been for those environmental crises so urgently knocking on the door. Sofie so perfectly formulates the question that troubles me:

“In sustainability, you need a longer perspective. There is a common goal for the whole planet, and it is very important that everyone works together. In my work I often wonder: is what we are doing the right method or project to accomplish what is needed?”

From the beginning I had no plan at all about what I was going to do with the outcome of the study. But I soon found out that the result was too interesting to keep to myself. By publishing it on a blog, and using it as a base for future posts, I hope I will inspire and engage other sustainability professionals. I think there are plenty more like me out there: sustainability professionals who desperately want to be part of the solution and not the problem.

How?

The interview study was carried out from November 2023 to March 2024, with 20 sustainability professionals based in four European countries, in their thirties and forties. For anonymity, names have been changed and workplace, industry type and country are not articulated. The interviewees did not receive the questions in advance (I wanted answers from the heart, not the head).

All interviewees are from my large network of sustainability professionals, mostly from my work life and studies. The sample includes people I have known for 20 years and a couple of months, friends and acquaintances I have not had contact with for a decade. The sample was chosen with the intent to have a diversity in the type of work place sectors. Everyone I approached gladly contributed. I am very grateful for their support (again: sustainability professionals are the best).

There are thousands of sustainability professionals out there and a range of countries, roles, workplaces, educational backgrounds and ages are not represented in my study. The study should thus not be interpreted as being representative for all sustainability professionals out there but rather as 20 individual voices.

The study is a passion project. It has not received external funding or guidance. All illustrations are by my seven-year-old daughter Marit.