91. Sustainability Is Everyone's Problem: Engineering, Values, and Raising the Next Generation with Ashley Hernandez

About this episode

Ashley Hernandez discusses her journey from civil engineer to sustainability consultant and the impact of motherhood on her career and values.

In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ashley Hernandez, a civil engineer turned sustainability consultant who has worked across Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. Now a key member of the boutique consultancy Losee Consulting, Ashley brings a rare blend of technical engineering knowledge, sustainability expertise, and mindfulness practice to her work. Ashley opens up about her unexpected journey into engineering, her time in Abu Dhabi chasing the mysterious “green kilometre,” and why she walked away from big consultancies to align her career with her values. She also shares how becoming a mother reshaped her perspective on work, leadership, and legacy. From the power of single-tasking to the importance of turning cameras on, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for anyone navigating the human side of infrastructure. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Sustainability as Integration, Not Silos: Why sustainability isn’t just “something the enviros do” How infrastructure rating systems (like Greenroads and ISC) create a common language The challenge of moving goalposts and why that’s actually a sign of progress Career…

People in this episode

Host: Lauren Karan

Guest: Ashley Hernandez

Topics covered

• sustainability
• engineering
• career transitions
• values alignment
• motherhood
• activism
• infrastructure

Keywords

• sustainability
• engineering
• career transitions
• motherhood
• activism
• infrastructure
• values alignment
• consultancy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Losee Consulting

Places: Australia, Middle East, United States, Abu Dhabi

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