The opinions expressed here by Trellis expert contributors are their own, not those of Trellis.When I sit down with a candidate, I’m not necessarily looking for an environmentalist. I’m looking for leaders who’re comfortable handling data, communicating complexity across business functions, and helping embed sustainability as the foundation of long-term growth. To understand if candidates have those skills, I use the following questions, which are meant to reveal which candidates are the most determined to go beyond “checking the box” and instead use our mission to minimize risk and maximize competitive edge. What do you think sustainability should mean to an organization? This may sound simple, but I’m looking for a very specific response. Sustainability work extends across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, so it’s common for job candidates in this space to have varied experiences. With this question I’m looking to see if candidates proactively connect sustainability to business value. Depending on a business, that might involve energy costs, insurability, bond ratings or supply chain resilience. What’s important is that the candidate is prepared to discuss sustainability not just with like-minded advocates, but with finance-driven CFOs and deadline-driven product managers. I applaud all types of sustainability professionals, but naturally I’m looking for those primed to thrive in a private, growth-minded technology company. What technology are you most excited about and why? It should go without saying that at a technology company the sustainability team isn’t just focused on the rules or regulations of today—we’re on the frontlines…
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