Speak Up Woman! Uncomfortable conversations with Annie Beavis

About this episode

Emma Burlow and Annie Beavis discuss navigating difficult conversations in sustainability and building resilience in the industry.

In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma welcomes Annie Beavis to discuss navigating difficult conversations in sustainability, building resilience during economic turbulence, and supporting each other within the industry. The episode highlights the work of Not Sustainable, a collective focused on impact, and dives into the realities of driving change, especially in medium-sized enterprises. Key Topics The origins and mission of Not Sustainable ( 01:39 ) Economic pressures and resilience in sustainability roles ( 03:25 ) Changing industry attitudes—showcasing sustainability less and its consequences ( 04:26 ) Marketing, messaging, and sales as fundamental skills for sustainability professionals ( 07:53 ) Strategies for having difficult conversations and pushing back constructively ( 07:25 ) The value of leveraging previous experience (finance, procurement, social housing) in sustainability roles ( 16:00 ) Importance of trust-building and self-awareness for gaining traction ( 34:09 ) Insights on imperfection, authenticity, and working with boards ( 25:50 ) Advice for new entrants in sustainability: take your time, build trust, and don’t carry all the weight…

People in this episode

Host: Emma Burlow

Guest: Annie Beavis

Topics covered

• difficult conversations
• sustainability
• economic resilience
• medium-sized enterprises
• trust-building
• authenticity

Keywords

• sustainability
• resilience
• Not Sustainable
• medium-sized enterprises
• trust-building
• difficult conversations
• marketing
• authenticity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Not Sustainable

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