Beth has labored in numerous roles at Danone since 2016 and has discovered her calling in company sustainability
Greater than only a record, edie’s annual 30 Underneath 30 initiative shines a highlight on gifted sustainability and net-zero professionals – aged below 30 – who’re delivering on efforts to construct a greater future and displaying incredible promise for his or her future potential.
After a two-year hiatus as a consequence of Covid-19, the initiative has returned for 2023-4, with the brand new class having been announced last September.
On this weekly collection, we can be sharing their tales and successes past the group, giving edie readers perception into the minds of those that can be main the cost in creating the low-carbon, resource-efficient economies of the long run.
Our subsequent profile interview is with Beth Underwood, international sustainability model supervisor at Danone Waters.
How I acquired to the place I’m now:
“In school, I needed to be a medical psychologist. Nonetheless, my college placement yr at an nervousness clinic in Australia helped me to understand that I not needed to pursue that as a profession, regardless of how superb this expertise was for me.
“To realize some enterprise expertise and understanding, I utilized to numerous internships, and this led me to an ‘Insight Week’ at Danone. Danone’s mission resonated with me, and favored how their graduate scheme concerned a yr in gross sales and advertising and marketing, so was grateful to be provided a spot beginning straight after college.
“My first few roles at Danone had been in account administration, technique and insights, and shopper advertising and marketing. Alongside the core duties of those roles, I used to be all the time placing my hand as much as be concerned with any ‘extra’ actions similar to volunteering, B Corp, and worker useful resource teams.
“So, I had an unbelievable alternative to maneuver into the function of ‘Health, Sustainability and B Corp Activist’. I needed to be taught quite a bit about company social duty while on-the-job, which I discovered equally difficult and rewarding.
“Following this, I went back into sales, in a more senior position which allowed me to get involved with some interesting strategic partnerships, such as a food waste activation with retailers and Too Good To Go. Nevertheless, I missed sustainability being core to my scope, so I took the leap into Danone’s global headquarters in 2022, into an exciting role working on sustainability for the waters category and brands.”
My largest profession achievement to this point has been:
“Being nominated to join a Kenyan water brand that needed marketing support, alongside my day job. I witnessed first-hand the efforts to build water infrastructure in rural areas of Kenya, and I now work with the team based in Nairobi on how to build their brand. I am motivated by the fact that I am contributing to positive outcomes locally, such as empowering women, who usually carry the burden of collecting water. It continues to be the most rewarding part of my wider work.”
The most important problem I’ve encountered has been:
“Moving from a local UK role to the global Danone team. I found it challenging to navigate a larger number of stakeholders, adapt to the cultural differences in working styles, and the shift from short to and long-term thinking. I had to be open-minded and seek formal coaching from colleagues.”
If I needed to describe my technology in a phrase or phrase, I’d say:
“Not afraid to call out where change needs to be made.”
A profitable 2024 for me appears like:
“Working extra intently with colleagues to enhance how we talk our sustainability and well being efforts to clients, shoppers, companions and model employees. Data on these points might be sophisticated.
“I also want to ensure that we have better-defined ambitions for our water brands to ensure they are investing efforts in the right areas.”
Exterior of my profession, I take pleasure in:
“The good outdoor. I dwell in London however I’m not an enormous fan of metropolis life, so I’m all the time trying to escape on the weekend to go to family and friends within the countryside or on the seaside.
“Also, I’m still interested in all things psychology, so I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading books, listening to podcasts, and volunteering in that space.”
“You need to frame sustainability as an investment into your business’ future, not just an added cost.”
My key piece of recommendation for any younger individuals getting into my occupation in the present day is:
“Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. I experienced this when I first moved into sustainability and still do, but I now know it’s ok to not know the answer. Sometimes the value is in bringing the right people together.”
The complete 30 Underneath 30 Class of 2023 membership is detailed here.
To remain within the loop for the subsequent spherical of annual nominations for the 30 Underneath 30, e mail newsdesk@fav-house.com. Nominations will open this summer season.
