Seeing this a few years late! I have a BA in Marketing and Communications and a Masters in International Dev and Sustainability. The more I learn about CSR, the I get incredibly excited because I feel it would be an excellent fit for me. I have been working for grassroots NGOs and nonprofits for 5+ years now - is there any chance for me in CSR? Thank you!!
Heyy Mikaela, please do reply to with how things turn out for you :) Or maybe we could connect somewhere? I'm in a similar place and I've been asking the same questions 🙈
Hi Mikaela. Thanks for the question, and apologies for the delay. In short, I have always recommended that future CSR professionals work for grassroots NGOS and nonprofits as a start, so yes, I think there is a chance! Why I say this is that with that experience, you are more likely to have the street level experience that companies are looking for, you are likely creative with small budgets/ teams, you are willing to do the work, and you are able to speak about it passionately. If you'd like to discuss more, send me a message and I'll be happy to chat.
Hi Sam. Working off limited information here.... one of the most powerful ways is to work for an NGO whose stated mission is align with solving a problem you are passionate about. Spend a couple of years IN THE FIELD getting to know the roots/ intricacies of the problem, stakeholders that are involved, barriers/ gap to progress, etc ... and from there, look for another opportunity to leverage those insights into something more actionable within the organization, by moving externally, etc. Feel free to follow up with some additional information should you wish I give you a more focused response/ direction, but if nothing else, feel free to binge watch some of the podcasts I have with people like Sammie Ho (Supply chain sustainability), Stephanie Choi (Banking), Mitzi (Activist), Joshua & Nathaniel (NGO / Capacity Development), Tim Sweeney (Sustainable Branding/ Communications), Elin (circularity) and others. R
Thanks for the question. To be honest, as we are based in China it is difficult to provide much assistance, but to better understand the range of options we would recommend three ways to better understand your options: 1) Look at the schools you are applying to and see what opportunities they advertise as part of the marketing materials 2) Speak with the career placement office 3) Spend time on Linkedin researching general opportunities for someone with your background, but also graduates from the schools you are considering. Finally, a bonus tip, reach out to alumni directly and learn more about how they found the opportunities, classes they recommend, etc. Their insights will likely be the most valuable We think through these activities, you will gain better insight... and thus, be in a better position to judge the opportunities, which school would be best, or even if gaining a masters in sustainable development is the best path for you.
@@Coresponsibility I have done my bachelor's in commerce from Mumbai university and am starting my MBA in Sustainable development this year from XSOS. I directly contacted the alumni to get to know about the college.
Abu, I highly recommend you checkout the youtube channel Verge Permaculture. It's a guy who is an engineer turned permaculture educator/consultant in British Columbia!
My intermediate education was all medical sciences until i discovered how right-brained i was and science was not for me. Then i graduated with a fashion degree and have been working as a very small part in the business of fashion since a decade. I am in my mid 30's and wish to divert my career path to sustainability field for good. I have the resources to go about it, i have the direction but not sure what kind of programs to enroll myself with in order to create a shift towards sustainability in the fashion retail industry, where fast fashion is booming right now. Plz suggest.
Apologies for the delayed response. Based on your comment, I’d consider two areas. First is get involved (or start) a brand where sustainability is at the core. From design, to manufacturing, to expected life of garments, to waste management. Don’t have to do it all at once, but set your vision high. Second, do something within the supply chain. Either with materials, or with waste/ circulatory. In the end, you’ll end up working with both, but start with one. Again, apologies for the delay. Wish you all the best with your journey!
Seeing this a few years late! I have a BA in Marketing and Communications and a Masters in International Dev and Sustainability. The more I learn about CSR, the I get incredibly excited because I feel it would be an excellent fit for me. I have been working for grassroots NGOs and nonprofits for 5+ years now - is there any chance for me in CSR? Thank you!!
Heyy Mikaela, please do reply to with how things turn out for you :)
Or maybe we could connect somewhere?
I'm in a similar place and I've been asking the same questions 🙈
Hi Mikaela.
Thanks for the question, and apologies for the delay.
In short, I have always recommended that future CSR professionals work for grassroots NGOS and nonprofits as a start, so yes, I think there is a chance! Why I say this is that with that experience, you are more likely to have the street level experience that companies are looking for, you are likely creative with small budgets/ teams, you are willing to do the work, and you are able to speak about it passionately.
If you'd like to discuss more, send me a message and I'll be happy to chat.
@@KarthikAnjanappa1125 Yes! Find me on LinkedIn - names the same:)
@@RichardBrubaker Ok, great! Thank you!
Thx for your perspectives n sharing 👍
This was amazing, thank you!
Sustainability is not a career, it is a passion.
Or maybe.. a passionate career!
Great strategies! Thank you Sir
How do you “go and get that “ issue-specific work background if you have a general sustainability degree ? Thanks
Hi Sam.
Working off limited information here.... one of the most powerful ways is to work for an NGO whose stated mission is align with solving a problem you are passionate about.
Spend a couple of years IN THE FIELD getting to know the roots/ intricacies of the problem, stakeholders that are involved, barriers/ gap to progress, etc ... and from there, look for another opportunity to leverage those insights into something more actionable within the organization, by moving externally, etc.
Feel free to follow up with some additional information should you wish I give you a more focused response/ direction, but if nothing else, feel free to binge watch some of the podcasts I have with people like Sammie Ho (Supply chain sustainability), Stephanie Choi (Banking), Mitzi (Activist), Joshua & Nathaniel (NGO / Capacity Development), Tim Sweeney (Sustainable Branding/ Communications), Elin (circularity) and others.
R
Thanks a lot...Can we get connected over linked in..
Thank you
I'm a graduate mechanical engineer. I'm think of getting a masters done in sustainable development in Canada. What are the job prospects ?
Thanks for the question. To be honest, as we are based in China it is difficult to provide much assistance, but to better understand the range of options we would recommend three ways to better understand your options:
1) Look at the schools you are applying to and see what opportunities they advertise as part of the marketing materials
2) Speak with the career placement office
3) Spend time on Linkedin researching general opportunities for someone with your background, but also graduates from the schools you are considering.
Finally, a bonus tip, reach out to alumni directly and learn more about how they found the opportunities, classes they recommend, etc. Their insights will likely be the most valuable
We think through these activities, you will gain better insight... and thus, be in a better position to judge the opportunities, which school would be best, or even if gaining a masters in sustainable development is the best path for you.
@@Coresponsibility I have done my bachelor's in commerce from Mumbai university and am starting my MBA in Sustainable development this year from XSOS.
I directly contacted the alumni to get to know about the college.
Abu, I highly recommend you checkout the youtube channel Verge Permaculture. It's a guy who is an engineer turned permaculture educator/consultant in British Columbia!
My intermediate education was all medical sciences until i discovered how right-brained i was and science was not for me. Then i graduated with a fashion degree and have been working as a very small part in the business of fashion since a decade. I am in my mid 30's and wish to divert my career path to sustainability field for good. I have the resources to go about it, i have the direction but not sure what kind of programs to enroll myself with in order to create a shift towards sustainability in the fashion retail industry, where fast fashion is booming right now. Plz suggest.
Apologies for the delayed response.
Based on your comment, I’d consider two areas.
First is get involved (or start) a brand where sustainability is at the core. From design, to manufacturing, to expected life of garments, to waste management.
Don’t have to do it all at once, but set your vision high.
Second, do something within the supply chain. Either with materials, or with waste/ circulatory. In the end, you’ll end up working with both, but start with one.
Again, apologies for the delay.
Wish you all the best with your journey!