On Group Meetings, Sustainability, & Change

Why group meetings aren’t enough when managing a sustainability team 

Working in sustainability means bringing together people with diverse skills, backgrounds, and motivations, scientists, risk experts, communicators, data analysts, compliance officers, and more. 

While regular team meetings are great for alignment, they don’t always allow space for: 

- Personal feedback

- Unspoken tensions

- Tailored support

- Individual growth goals

- Early warning signs of disengagement

That’s why regular one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders or team members are so important.

In these conversations, I’ve often found the real breakthroughs, concerns that weren’t raised in a group setting, creative ideas still half-baked, or hidden roadblocks that would have slowed the whole project down.

Especially in sustainability, where cross-functional collaboration is critical, these one-on-ones aren’t a luxury, they’re a leadership necessity.

If you're managing a sustainability team or initiative, ask yourself:

When was the last time you had a meaningful one-on-one with each key contributor?

Let’s build sustainability strategies that aren’t just smart, but also human-centered.