Speak Up Woman! Uncomfortable conversations with Annie Beavis

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 yourself (40:09)

Quotes

"It’s not about perfection, but about building trust and staying resilient—business is always hard, sustainability shouldn’t be treated as an optional extra." — Emma (18:36)

"Ground yourself in business reality first, because if you carry an expectation of perfection, leaders are less likely to be honest." — Annie Beavis (27:46)

Takeaways

• Build trust before pushing difficult conversations
• Resilience and adaptability are crucial as the sustainability agenda fluctuates
• Use your background and diverse skills to open doors in sustainability roles
• Don’t strive for perfection—progress is about small, authentic steps
• Support networks like Not Sustainable can help practitioners maintain perspective and avoid burnout

Next Steps

If you enjoyed the insights from Emma and Annie Beavis, please:

• Subscribe and leave a review
• Share this episode with colleagues or friends working in sustainability
• Join the conversation on LinkedIn and check out the Beacon newsletter for more straight talking sustainability content

Resources & Links

• Connect with Annie Beavis on LinkedIn
• Visit Not Sustainable: Learn more about the collective, their projects and join the community
• Lighthouse Sustainability: Subscribe to the Beacon newsletter

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Emma Burlow | LinkedIn