Columbia Climate Schools Hosts Seventh Annual Sustainability Careers Reception
Practitioners attending the 2022 Sustainability Careers Reception. (*see names and affiliations below)
Columbia Climate Institute’s Earth Institute Hosts Seventh Annual Meeting Nov. 4 Sustainability Reception. Thirty-five sustainability professionals and 120 Columbia students from diverse backgrounds and degree pursuits came together to discuss the increasingly pressing challenges and real-world applications of sustainability and climate. After hosting receptions via Zoom for the past two years, we are pleased to move the event back to its standard venue: The Columbia Club in Midtown Manhattan.
The reception is dedicated to students enrolled in one of the five educational programs affiliated with the Climate School: Sustainability Undergraduate ProgramThis MPA Environmental Science and PolicyThis MSc Climate and SocietyThis MSc in Sustainability Managementand Master of Science in Sustainability.
The first hour of the event focused on roundtable discussions on topics such as career advice, stories of entering the sustainability and climate fields, and strategies for integrating sustainability issues within organizations. This gives students the opportunity to interact with some practitioners in a smaller group setting.TonThe evening ends with a reception where the conversation continues over food and drink.
These interactions with practitioners are invaluable for students pursuing a career in sustainability and climate. “Events like this are a great platform to network with like-minded people. I enjoy discussions with professionals and gain insight into how to effectively align people, profit and environmental goals in an organization,” says MS Sustainability Management Program Student Arushi Singh shared.
Practitioners in attendance come from backgrounds in finance, consulting, consumer products, energy, resilience and conservation. Their employment ranges from private companies like Google, PepsiCo, and Con Edison to nonprofits and start-ups like the New Jersey Electric Vehicle Association, Action Evergreen, and the Green Jobs Council.
“I find that talking to talented young people at receptions rejuvenates me,” said Briana Carbajal of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “I applaud the urgent need for many to apply environmental and social justice frameworks to climate crisis adaptation and mitigation. I look forward to continuing to see young people lead in our nation’s just transition to a clean energy future for disadvantaged communities.”
This year’s program was a huge success and we look forward to hosting it again next year. Thanks to this year’s guest!
Kayley Jewel Beard, Annie Delgadillo and Arushi Singh are outreach interns at Columbia Climate School.
The Climate School’s Professional Development Program provides students and alumni with resources and programs to complement their respective schools’ career services. The program includes skill-building workshops, networking opportunities and tools that, together, prepare students to pursue job opportunities in the sustainability field. The following will be available on February 10, 2023: The 20th Ivy Environmental and Sustainability Career Fair (Virtual).
* Practitioners, from left to right, top to bottom: Sue Allchurch (UN Global Compact), Sarabeth Brockley (Nasdaq), Uchenna Bright (E2), Briana Carbajal (WE ACT for Environmental Justice), Catarina Carvalho ( Arup), Mathew Chamish (CBRE Investment Management), Jessica Cheng (Citi), Jeffrey Crawford (Sustana), Patricia D’Costa (ICF), Kristy Drutman (Brown Girl Green & Green Jobs Board), Diana Farmer (CDP), Adam Fisher (JLL), Shaun Hoyte (ConEdison), Stanislav Jaracz (NJ Electric Vehicle Association), Ishita Kapur (Natural Resources Defense Council), Paramjot Kaur (Sustainalytics), Nora Kyrkjebo (Ecovadis), Sydney Mainster (Durst Organization), Richard Oliveras (CDP), Rachel Patterson (Evergreen Action), Emir Pekdemir (WSP), Carrie Ellen Phillips (BPCM), Kibui Pyron (Moody’s Corporation), Eric Roston (Bloomberg), Beth Sasfai (Verizon), Marina Severionvsky (Schroders), Gregory Stevens (Voltus), Jonathan Sullivan (PepsiCo), Christopher Vangerven (Nasdaq), Emily Viola (This Virtuous Circle), Sophie Waskow Rifkin (Banza), Jessie Wasser (Tapestry), Samantha Skonie czny (TRC), Charlotte Matthews (Google/Sidewalk Labs), Claudia Villar-Leeman (New York Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice)
