INTRODUCTION
Working in environmental & sustainability consulting is a fact-paced environment and requires a range of soft and technical skills to succeed.
Below we’ve listed the skills that you might need to enter into and progress in this industry, with case study examples from our Early Careers Advisory Board members to help you understand these skills in practice.
ARE YOU...
A student
Find out which skills you need to enter into the industry and decide if this is the right industry for you, and learn which skills you can start developing now
Working in the industry
Discover the skills you need to hone while working to help you progress your career
Working in a different industry
Learn about the skills you need in this industry to identify if you have the transferrable skills to workinto this space
SOFT SKILLS
Learn more about how you might use these skills in your career journey, with case study examples from our Early Career members
Adaptability
Adaptability is the ability to change and remain flexible when encountering new or different circumstances. In the workplace, this includes a change in environments, dealing with new policies and adjusting to a new team.
When you might use it...
In a recent sustainability project, I was engaged to develop a climate adaptation plan, but quickly had to adapt as the scope expanded, timelines changed, and the client priorities shifted. This highlighted how dynamic this space can be, as things constantly change from proposal to practice. I adjusted the deliverables accordingly while continuously aligning with the ever evolving stakeholder needs. This experience reinforced this reality in sustainability consulting, where uncertainty, policy change, and competing priorities are constant. Adaptability isn’t just a useful skill, it’s an essential practice.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Understand the technical skills you need to progress in your career journey, with case study examples from our Early Career members
Sustainability and financial reporting standards
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is an emerging indicator of financial risk. Through reporting frameworks, investors and other stakeholders can assess investment risks arising from climate and other sustainability issues.
When you might use it...
There are a number of reporting standards that companies are using to disclose their ESG impact and risk--which are dependent on jurisdiction, industry, stakeholder preference, and a multitude of other factors. Increasingly, companies are looking to align their annual sustainability and financial disclosures with the aim of being able to inform investments and strategic planning. I have supported a number of sustainability reporting projects, and its important to understand that the preferred level of transparency can vary greatly between industries. Subject to the maturity of your client's sustainability programs and overall contract terms, these projects often involve a significant amount of cross-departmental stakeholder engagement.
SOFT SKILLS
Learn more about what these skills mean and how you might use them in practice
Adaptability
Adaptability refers to the ability to change and remain flexible when encountering new or different circumstances. In the workplace, this includes a change in environments, dealing with new policies and adjusting to a new team. When you might use it: In a recent sustainability project, I was engaged to develop a climate adaptation plan, but quickly had to adapt as the scope expanded, timelines changed, and the client priorities shifted. This highlighted how dynamic this space can be, as things constantly change from proposal to practice. I adjusted the deliverables accordingly while continuously aligning with the ever evolving stakeholder needs. This experience reinforced this reality in sustainability consulting, where uncertainty, policy change, and competing priorities are constant. Adaptability isn’t just a useful skill, it’s an essential practice.
Project management
Project management is when you lead a project from conception to completion, while you monitor that the project meets key milestones at set points in the process. As a project manager, you oversee every stage of a product's development, such as pre-project planning, marketing and post-release evaluation.
Time management
Time-management skills are the skills that help you organise your time effectively to be more productive.
Leadership
Leadership is the ability to influence and guide a group of people toward achieving a common goal.
Organization
Organisational skills are the skills you use to keep yourself organised in terms of meeting deadlines, arriving on time and being able to find information as needed. When you might use it: Organization is a core capability in my consulting practice and a key element of how I build my professional brand. Much of our work requires balancing competing priorities to deliver high-quality results within tight timelines. Without strong organizational skills, it becomes difficult to manage shifting deadlines and evolving scopes while consistently meeting client expectations and building trust internally. Strong organization doesn’t just help me keep pace—it’s what allows me to take control, adapt quickly, and deliver with confidence no matter how complex or fast-moving the work becomes.
Problem-solving
Problem solving is the act of defining the problem, diagnosing the problem’s root cause, identifying and implementing a solution, and sustaining results When you might use it: Problem solving is a critical skill in consulting and one that underpins the value we bring to our clients. At its core, consulting is about navigating complexity—whether it’s untangling technical challenges, interpreting incomplete data, or responding to evolving client needs. Strong problem-solving skills allow us to think critically, identify root causes, and develop practical, defensible solutions under tight timelines. Without this ability, it becomes difficult to move projects forward effectively or provide recommendations that clients can confidently act on. Effective problem solving isn’t just about finding answers—it’s about bringing clarity to uncertainty, driving progress, and delivering meaningful impact in even the most complex situations.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Understand what these skills are and which careers you might need them for
Adaptability
Adaptability refers to the ability to change and remain flexible when encountering new or different circumstances. In the workplace, this includes a change in environments, dealing with new policies and adjusting to a new team. When you might use it: In a recent sustainability project, I was engaged to develop a climate adaptation plan, but quickly had to adapt as the scope expanded, timelines changed, and the client priorities shifted. This highlighted how dynamic this space can be, as things constantly change from proposal to practice. I adjusted the deliverables accordingly while continuously aligning with the ever evolving stakeholder needs. This experience reinforced this reality in sustainability consulting, where uncertainty, policy change, and competing priorities are constant. Adaptability isn’t just a useful skill, it’s an essential practice.
Adaptability
Adaptability refers to the ability to change and remain flexible when encountering new or different circumstances. In the workplace, this includes a change in environments, dealing with new policies and adjusting to a new team. When you might use it: In a recent sustainability project, I was engaged to develop a climate adaptation plan, but quickly had to adapt as the scope expanded, timelines changed, and the client priorities shifted. This highlighted how dynamic this space can be, as things constantly change from proposal to practice. I adjusted the deliverables accordingly while continuously aligning with the ever evolving stakeholder needs. This experience reinforced this reality in sustainability consulting, where uncertainty, policy change, and competing priorities are constant. Adaptability isn’t just a useful skill, it’s an essential practice.
Adaptability
Adaptability refers to the ability to change and remain flexible when encountering new or different circumstances. In the workplace, this includes a change in environments, dealing with new policies and adjusting to a new team. When you might use it: In a recent sustainability project, I was engaged to develop a climate adaptation plan, but quickly had to adapt as the scope expanded, timelines changed, and the client priorities shifted. This highlighted how dynamic this space can be, as things constantly change from proposal to practice. I adjusted the deliverables accordingly while continuously aligning with the ever evolving stakeholder needs. This experience reinforced this reality in sustainability consulting, where uncertainty, policy change, and competing priorities are constant. Adaptability isn’t just a useful skill, it’s an essential practice.
Time management
Time-management skills are the skills that help you organise your time effectively to be more productive.
Adaptability
Adaptability refers to the ability to change and remain flexible when encountering new or different circumstances. In the workplace, this includes a change in environments, dealing with new policies and adjusting to a new team. When you might use it: In a recent sustainability project, I was engaged to develop a climate adaptation plan, but quickly had to adapt as the scope expanded, timelines changed, and the client priorities shifted. This highlighted how dynamic this space can be, as things constantly change from proposal to practice. I adjusted the deliverables accordingly while continuously aligning with the ever evolving stakeholder needs. This experience reinforced this reality in sustainability consulting, where uncertainty, policy change, and competing priorities are constant. Adaptability isn’t just a useful skill, it’s an essential practice.
Organization
Organisational skills are the skills you use to keep yourself organised in terms of meeting deadlines, arriving on time and being able to find information as needed. When you might use it: Organization is a core capability in my consulting practice and a key element of how I build my professional brand. Much of our work requires balancing competing priorities to deliver high-quality results within tight timelines. Without strong organizational skills, it becomes difficult to manage shifting deadlines and evolving scopes while consistently meeting client expectations and building trust internally. Strong organization doesn’t just help me keep pace—it’s what allows me to take control, adapt quickly, and deliver with confidence no matter how complex or fast-moving the work becomes.