Sustainability Services in the Corporate World
Our exploration of sustainability space as a career is just starting! From being an ESG Analyst, we’re now heading to Sustainability Services.
#AMA 02 with Diana Rose Sadili
Diana Rose Sadili is a graduate of BS in Human Ecology at the University of the Philippines and obtained her Master of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Currently, she’s working as an Associate Director at SGV & Co./EY Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS).
What do you exactly do in your field?
Though SGV & Co./EY is more well-known as an audit firm, they now provide and offer a variety of services depending on the needs of their clients.
According to Diana, the sustainability services that SGV & Co./EY CCaSS offered are to provide clients an understanding of the broader value, impacts, and outcomes of their business. It also helped clients in developing sustainability strategies and roadmaps to better understand the risks and take advantage of the opportunities arising from climate change and sustainability issues. They also offer sustainable finance advisory and guide clients in developing sustainability reports and climate change related-services like the development of a company’s decarbonization strategies.
What skills do we need to be in this field?
The job itself might be too overwhelming for you as you read it but Diana said that, currently, their team is open to other fields as well. They believe that sustainability is a combination of multidisciplinary fields and experience. But of course, while technical skills are the primary factors in the selection process, Passion and Willingness are also the key characteristics in building a team.
Passion for entering the sustainability field and willingness to take the initiative in helping others to achieve their goals.
What's your day look like as a sustainability professional?
Diana walked us through what her day looked like. Aside from numerous meetings and client engagements, her day as an Associate Director starts with managing the client’s expectations, continuously learning about the needs that they want to integrate into the business transformation, and of course, collaborating with team members in knowledge sharing.
Since SGV & Co./EY CCaSS is open to any other fields, the expertise of each team member is considered in a particular engagement. Should there be a member without an experience in a particular service, they ensure that they can learn from each other’s experiences and expertise. Willingness to learn every day and expanding your knowledge, per se, are a must in the field of sustainability.
How would you describe the sustainability industry in the Philippines compared to other developed countries?
As someone who’s worked in the field of sustainability for years, Diana learned, saw, and experienced the then and now situation of sustainability in our country. “I think we still have a lot to catch up on. Pero… our country naman is very active on these sustainability initiatives. In one way or another, makikita mo kahit hindi siya tagged as sustainability initiative, part [pa rin] siya nu’n. I believe there are a lot of things that the industry is trying to achieve right now, especially [sa] makikita natin sa businesses.” she answered
How did you transition to sustainability work?
Foundation. That’s one word that made her shift easier. Based on Diana, her degree in Human Ecology also has the foundation of sustainability, because it focuses on interactions between humans and the environment and vice versa. This helps her understand more about the industry she’s aiming for.
But wait! Her journey to sustainability space is not a smooth-sailing one. She shared that one challenge she faces was the difficulty to promote herself because of the limited resources, opportunities, and knowledge about her field — whether it’s Human Ecology or Sustainability. Way back, the market can’t understand both of them.
But Diana got us! That’s why she left us a bit of advice if you wanted to try sustainability jobs but your background doesn’t say it all.
- Learn more about sustainability topics
- Take advantage of the certifications — whether if it’s online or not
- Remember that sustainability is not just about the environment, but also the social impacts, therefore focus on them as well
- Lastly, identify which aspect of your profession or expertise can contribute to the ever-evolving world of sustainability.
And if you’re still hesitant, afraid, or confused about whether entering the sustainability field is for you or not, well Diana gave additional advice to enlighten this new path for you!
A wonderful answer to wrap up our discussion! This other side of the sustainability career that Diana introduced to us might be massive to think of, but it can also be a sign for you to do greater and purposeful work — making another impact on society.
If you wanted to know more about Diana’s role as an Associate Director you can watch the 2nd #AMA Session here.
Sustainability Jobs – Philippines is a group for sustainability professionals exploring for opportunities in ESG, sustainability, and sustainable development. Join the community and conversation for FREE! Be updated on sustainability jobs and learning opportunities at Sustainability Jobs – Philippines.
And if you’re a practitioner and/or professional looking to grow your skills, network, and career in sustainability, join the Society of Sustainability Practitioners (SSP) — the country’s first association of sustainability professionals nationwide. You may apply to be a member through SSP’s registration form. We’ll see you there!
Edited by: Diana Rose Sadili
Photo Header by: Giulia Lopez
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Crisyll Torres
Admin and Partnerships Head of SustainablePH
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