Here's how you can navigate the challenges of pursuing a sustainability career in late career.

I get asked this question a lot - having been in sustainability for almost 20 years, I really love how many people want to reconfigure their careers towards sustainability. Much has changed and it didn't use to be so easy! Later in our careers, we have so many transferable skills that are much needed in climate and sustainability - we are at a point where it should be 'all hands on deck' and so I encourage everyone who wants to navigate towards sustainability to go for it. We need authentic leaders, whose strength is their ability to see beyond today and to inspire action for future benefit. The beautiful thing about being in later life is the wisdom we can bring to these discussions - nothing speaks like experience!

There are many verticals in Sustainability such as Strategy, Reporting, Sustainable Finance, Policy Work. Identify the right vertical you are interested in and develop the skillsets in the right areas Look for mentors to help guide you

Here are the 5 focus areas for supply chain leaders to accelerate the transition to a circular supply chain: 1. 🧢People & Structure Develop organisational structures and equip supply chain teams to excel in a circular supply chain 2. 🧢Network design Optimise network designs for cost-effective reverse flows that prioritise the maximum retention of the value embedded in products and materials 3. 🧢Supplier engagement Engage, support, and incentivise suppliers to adopt circular economy practices 4. 🧢Data & Quality Deploy technological solutions, or adapt existing ones, to facilitate circular flows of information 5. 🧢Metrics & Performance management Adjust performance measurement and align employee incentives to support the shift

My 6 Tips to overcome the challenges of starting a Sustainability career late in a professional journey: 1-Use your varied experience from other fields to offer unique perspectives in sustainability. 2-Engage with local or online sustainability communities to stay updated on trends and job openings. 3-Pursue certifications like LEED, ISO 14001, or circular economy to enhance your credibility and expertise. 4-Seek out or become a mentor within the sustainability sector to exchange knowledge and foster professional growth. 5-Participate in or lead volunteer sustainability projects to gain hands-on experience and demonstrate commitment. 6-Build a strong digital brand by sharing insights and engaging with sustainability topics on LinkedIn.

Good thing about sustainability is that it is a mindset and not a "skill" on its own. It combines different streams of topics and skills which you have to apply to get into sustainability. It could in fact also be that one can already work in sustainability without having to make a career move as sustainability is more of an application of your existing skills

Sustainability is an area that is constantly evolving. Build a community of like minded individuals to learn from each other. There are many industry events that discuss latest developments These area great avenues to meet like minded people and form a community, to learn and grow together

Motive e participe de conferências e eventos de sustentabilidade. Isso pode expandir a rede de contatos do funcionário e proporcionar insights sobre tendências e oportunidades no campo. Apoie a associação a organizações profissionais de sustentabilidade, como a Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia de Sustentabilidade (SBES) ou o Instituto Ethos. Esses grupos por exemplo podem oferecer recursos, eventos de networking, e oportunidades de desenvolvimento profissional.

Expand your professional network by connecting with sustainability professionals, joining relevant industry groups, and attending conferences or webinars. Networking can provide valuable insights, mentorship opportunities, and potential job leads in the sustainability sector.

Networking is clearly key for career development. Especially in late career, most jobs that are filled are never posted or recruited based on contacts.

LinkedIn is the perfect place to network with like-minded individuals in the sustainability space. I have always maintained a world view - that we are all connected, and all need each other, wherever we are based on the planet. So I don't attend local network events - I want to broaden my mind, broaden my contacts, broaden my influences. We don't need face-to-face meetings any more, we are used to video calls and online chat - we can still get valuable work done this way, and at greater speed. LinkedIn gives you access to all the main players in the sustainability space - people you would normally find it difficult to get a sit-down meeting with. Use this network to learn, share your own thoughts and talents, and build.

Here are ways to further optimize a mid-career transition to sustainability we can afford: 1)Leverage Existing Skills: Identify transferable skills from our current career that are relevant to sustainability like Project management, communication, data analysis, and leadership skills are all highly sought after in the sustainability field. 2)Volunteer our time and expertise to environmental NGOs or sustainability-focused initiatives. This provides hands-on experience, allows us to network with professionals in the field, and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability. 3)Network Strategically: Connect with other sustainability professionals on online platforms, attend industry events, and participate in sustainability-related conferences

Seek out opportunities to gain hands-on experience in sustainability, such as volunteering for environmental organizations, participating in sustainability projects, or taking on sustainability-related responsibilities in your current job. Practical experience can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field.

Gaining experience is of course not bad advice, but how crucial it is depends on the type of job you are looking for. Let's say you are a data scientist and you want to work in sustainability: if you are passionate about data science and want to stay in that field, just for a sustainability-focused company, then you might already have all the experience you need. You don't need to gain sustainability expertise if your existing expert skills are needed in the market and a good fit for the role you're seeking.

Revise your resume to highlight relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments related to sustainability. Use keywords that are specific to the industry and tailor your resume for each job application to reflect the specific requirements of the position.

Uma reformulação do currículo para destacar as habilidades e experiências relevantes para papéis em sustentabilidade. É importante criação ou atualização de perfis em redes profissionais como LinkedIn, com ênfase nas competências e experiências relacionadas à sustentabilidade.

Put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter at your dream job, or that of the AI that will scan your resume. Tailor your CV to the skills they are looking for, while staying true to your experience of course!

Online courses are a great way to supplement learning in the Sustainability field Many European and US Universities have credible online courses on these topics One example is the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in sustainability by taking courses, earning certifications, and reading industry publications. Continuous learning will keep your skills relevant and demonstrate your dedication to potential employers.

Embracing learning later in life may seem a daunting prospect, but it really doesn't have to be. You don't have to go back to university, you don't even need to enrol in an online course. There are many, many genuine experts who share their real life experience - and you can't beat that for learning - on YouTube and on podcasts. The beauty of learning this way is that you can learn on the move, listen while you walk, drive or do other tasks. Make the most of the time you have, be smart about learning new skills and the latest trends.

Transitioning to a new career late in life can be challenging. Stay resilient by maintaining a positive attitude, being open to new opportunities, and persisting through setbacks. Resilience will help you navigate the ups and downs of career change.

A transição para uma nova área pode ser estressante. Busque ou ofereça apoio emocional e, se possível, acesso a coaching de carreira ou aconselhamento. Considere oferecer opções de trabalho flexíveis, como cargos temporários ou consultorias, para permitir que o funcionário experimente o novo campo antes de uma mudança total de carreira.

Consider seeking guidance from a career coach who specializes in sustainability or career transitions. They can provide personalized advice, help you navigate the job market, and support you in developing a strategic career plan. Additionally, look for roles in organizations that value diverse experiences and are open to hiring individuals making a late-career transition.

Desired work life balance and reflection on alignment of your personal values and a sustainability career may help to navigate the challenge. Demonstration of existing skills, active engagement with various stakeholders and continuous learning will help in creating a meaningful and long lasting impact which will ultimately help in successful transition.

I believe that the points covered the milestones of the career transition process. Keep up to date (take an MBA or specialization courses) and try to connect with key people. Choose a subject and go to deep into it. Sustainability and ESG are very broad topics and we need to look more closely at a specific group of subjects and focus on them. Create valuable content in research groups, professional networks or digital platforms that support other people starting out on their journey. Be flexible and see what strengths you have in your current experience that can provide a systemic vision in this new area.