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Since the WorkforClimate Academy launched in 2023 it has driven tremendous action. From Laura Wilson’s ground-breaking climate work at global cycling company Specialized to Bernie Wiley shaking things up at Who Gives A Crap in his new role as Sustainability Director, Academy graduates have been kicking all kinds of climate goals at work. Wondering how you can be like them? Two of our most recent grads share why they signed up and the skills they learned to help drive climate action in the workplace.
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John Buchanan – Frontend Developer at Rome2Rio
Why did you join the Academy?
I joined the WorkforClimate Academy hoping to gain a solid knowledge base to begin influencing positive climate action at my workplace.
How did the Academy expand your climate knowledge?
My understanding of different techniques and approaches towards influencing corporate climate action have developed throughout the course, meaning I am better placed to approach difficult conversations with specific strategies in mind. I am now armed with the knowledge needed to pursue climate action and have strategies to not simply accept ‘no’, but to push for genuine change.
I've also discovered that everyone has the opportunity to try to influence change, regardless of position or seniority. For me, making change can mean starting the conversation and inspiring colleagues to involve themselves in climate action at work. And I plan to do just that.
What climate action do you feel equipped to take now?
My first step out of the Academy will be to start the process of moving my company to renewable energy by researching viable provider options and comparing costs to our current provider. I intend to make my case by outlining how volatile the market for fossil fuel energy has become and how it will only get worse moving forward.
Cornelia Klose – Head of Excellence, Ogilvy Spain
Why did you join the Academy?
I wanted to understand how to use my current skills and position to introduce actions on climate change in my current work. I also wanted to better understand what gaps there are that I need to close to have a better set of soft and hard skills.
How did the Academy expand your climate knowledge?
The content WorkforClimate put together is simply amazing. I cannot recall how often since completing the course one of the smart sentences from WorkforClimate’s Head of Experience Laure Legros helped me to make a point in conversations. Or how inspiring and helpful leadership ideas from WorkforClimate’s Director Lucy Piper were to advance in tough situations. Plus, all the materials The Academy pulled together are a real treasure and so helpful in my journey to become a climate intrapreneur.
What climate action do you feel equipped to take now?
Since graduating from The WorkforClimate Academy, I was actually able to pull some strings and set up several initiatives in my company before taking parental leave this year. This was one of the learnings I took from Lucy's amazing leadership lessons: " You do not have to manage it all alone." I decided that even though I will soon be off work for some time, I can still kick off initiatives and trust in the ripple effect they will initiate.
First, I found allies in my local office who were just as motivated as I was to start making a change here and now. Again, the leadership lessons were invaluable in identifying, positioning, and motivating them.
Next, we looked into existing resources within our corporate structure and discovered a team of five FTEs working solely on sustainability topics. We met them online and joined the worldwide group of supporters. All of a sudden I was not only not alone, but had found existing channels that supported us to get started.
We then organised a local meet-and-greet "get to know each other" event, which was truly inspiring. We made a list of things we wanted to tackle immediately, in the mid-term, and in the long-term, and appointed owners for each initiative. I will only mention the first initiative, as it was so simple and quick to implement with an amazing effect: we abandoned individual bins under each office desk and communicated the existence and correct usage of our designated bins for paper, plastic, and bio waste. So simple and yet nobody thought about it before.
Do you work for a for-profit business? Feel inspired? Enrolments are now open for the next WorkforClimate Academy cohort, due to kick off at the end of August. Head here to register.
