Explore ideas in sustainability by browsing TED talks and articles from experts in the field on TED's website. Which questions and issues in sustainability are most interesting to you?

Career

Explore sustainability.

Describe a time when you faced an unexpected challenge and had to readjust your direction. What was most challenging? What did you learn?

Reflect on challenges you've experienced. 

Being environmentally sustainable doesn't mean living without luxuries, but rather being conscious of unnecessary waste. Challenge yourself to "go green" by implementing these easy changes to your lifestyle!

Advice

Go green!

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Second Interest High-Point

First Interest High-Point

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Third Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Chief Executives

Management Occupations

Top Executives

Identify educational, training, or other development opportunities for sustainability employees or volunteers.

Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.

Conduct sustainability- or environment-related risk assessments.

Create and maintain sustainability program documents, such as schedules and budgets.

Write project proposals, grant applications, or other documents to pursue funding for environmental initiatives.

Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.

Write and distribute financial or environmental impact reports.

Review sustainability program objectives, progress, or status to ensure compliance with policies, standards, regulations, or laws.

Formulate or implement sustainability campaign or marketing strategies.

Research environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests.

Evaluate and approve proposals for sustainability projects, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives.

Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.

Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.

Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.

Develop methodologies to assess the viability or success of sustainability initiatives.

Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.

Direct sustainability program operations to ensure compliance with environmental or governmental regulations.

Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.

10-key calculators

Computer data input scanners

Desktop computers

Handheld computers

Laptop computers

Multi-line telephone systems

Personal computers

Photocopying equipment

Smartphones

Video teleconferencing systems

Email software

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Dynamics GP

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Word

Scheduling software

Teleconferencing software

Web browser software

Sustainability Director

 (female narrator)  Everywhere you turn,   people try to tell you  what to do.  for yourself?  that empowers people  roads in life.  teams of Roadtrippers  gain insight into their lives. of interesting people   found their way. I don't know about this. People really do this? Yeah. Really? I don't know.  [laughter] This seems really dangerous. [laughter]  I'm going to die. I make things difficult the negative aspect to take part in. this fear. But I'm going to fall, I can't. get over the fear, all that thought pursuing something. Today is Friday,  July 17th, road for 19 days. We're on the road this summer talking with people who have and defined their own road. at our age? I was working full time and doing a night program It was a lot of work. when he ran the company, always stuck with me. and he would talk about of stress. life here at New Belgium And my own personal life. necessary for growth, time of recovery and ease of integrate your gains. always be sprinting always be coasting, both in life. take the long view are necessary. your adventure. English lit major. And my dad was like, business school" "Alright." all his life. school for a year, was there was to properly shake hands. ridiculous, I'm done." "I'm going to study lit!" "Well, we're paying for it" sort of the compromise. me very well writing skills myself down and be brief. my writing skills. to hit the ground running, for a good number of years. my first year in news grinding on me. a lot of death and mayhem downer stuff. to funerals-- was not my thing. movie Edward Scissorhands Christmastime. in the movie theater, "This is brilliant, move out to Los Angeles," sister and said that. I quit my job. journalism, to move out there with me try to sell screenplays. a while followed that. questioning Jen about, and these things like, things you'd like to be doing?" and you try them they're like. like to go to L.A. selling screenplays, I don't know, not resolved-- decisions I've made to get here. still be thinking about it. little warm. I always knew myself as an adventurous person, made me see that I really love I'd say 95 percent of the places never been before. different, new geographies, been really mind-expanding. We're going to go wash the RV. It hasn't been washed at all a power washer! Sweet! [laughter] I really like the road.  What's nice about is  we're seeing so many places And there's a constant, It's nice. So nobody's going  in the Jacuzzi? Are you? It's not a Jacuzzi, it's a public fountain! It's not even warm! [laughter] When people talk to us and say,  what it is that you love" I'm gaining so much time. Calvin...he's just  always like, this, and I don't know we're just going to do it." learn from him, learn from him. have the confidence, into something. dinner, a nice nightcap. Goodnight. Goodnight. Goodnight. Well, I just got a call from Karen Anderson, of Greg Carroll. of the American Jazz Museum and she just called us back now until 3:30. He sounds really  interesting, with education and music. And he's a vibraphone  artist. A vibraphone? What's a vibraphone? waiting for me out here? This wonderfully patient team. Greg Carroll Hi, I'm  Vanessa. American Jazz Museum? I'm a studio fine artist, really helps me be spontaneous I thought it would be great who is here. he's my man! jazz initially? Colorado, we used to-- Ford, who was really Mr. Ford, or aunt, you know? kids up, right? and dad were on the porch. great jazz station called KADX. what they were doing, the best time-- this great music. with you next week?" "Okay, son." had a little corn pipe for me. them little candy-- bubble gum thing? You know, I was a little kid-- heard was Ella Fitzgerald. " A tisket, a tasket, [humming song] resonated with that rhyme, and I said, "Ooh, I just love  that music! And then the next recording, Lionel Hampton playing... heard him playing, um... [plays melody] "Ahhh!" that instrument!" together, they heard me... and I picked it up by ear. son has a little talent, there." piano in elementary school. lessons so I took 'em for free And my teacher looked at me heard of the vibraphone?" that instrument And he said, "Yes!" instrument I wanna play!" get you a vibraphone." bought their vibraphone. way through school, playing the instrument. of a reckoning very early age. years old, and it was the last time fast-food restaurant. Friday before I quit, time I was gonna ask anybody with that Coke. what did your parents say, just were giving up-- to be a jazz musician? [laughter] fortunate in that my parents to do what we wanted to do, to do it at the highest level. I came up in my early years, get a little disheartened, course, tell them. tell my students that, grow up and get a real job." that does is that: in the position that I'm in, a real job. and paying my mortgage, light bill, payment every month. does that, and it's-- that is a successful job driven by their passion a job that's just there getting the paycheck. of a whole bunch, [laughs] when you weren't sure to continue with music, crossroads? feel like I'm there. going to continue with art more of something else. where I've had to question, I want to do?" that age-old human yearning of all now, and if I don't get it So I had to get over that, may never be achievable, doesn't define success. often tell students that, mindful of it myself, world-famous jazz vibraphonist, of my music career. I can do in music, I can be an executive, scenes, I can be a manager, go into production. is a pursuit. more important to me the product, I think. light shining, you know? "This little light of mine, let it shine, let it shine." light going, that you let it dim, with it, and then McDonald's and ask somebody, fries with that?" Step on up. Alright! "Let your light shine swingin'." Gregory A. Carroll. Aw, thank you  so much. [laughter] All these different  Leaders extremely powerful people, that I would have higher than me, to contact them otherwise. that that boundary pedestal that I've put them on, useless. We're supposed to be o'clock, and it's 4:23. I am afraid of  being wrong, navigator's position the one who gets us lost, every city. Okay, thanks. Make a right? I guess. Liberty? right on Liberty? Oh, this is 12th street. it was that, there? Yeah, it was. it's called-- Oh here it is.  1409. Press. Michelle says, "No problem. so take your time. Michelle." I'm really interested  in printmaking, be an art major." materials that have something really valuable, that's what I like doing. Hi! I had done this type printing, and like, when I was in school. in illustration, wasn't going where to printmaking, really got into it. no idea what I was doing. and going to grad school, So, I had interned my senior year. several years, exposed to the process little nitty gritty stuff, know, we had all this space. that I wanted to have a shop. coffee shop conversations around smoking cigarettes doodling, you know, and like, yourself doing? do you want to have?" to have my own shop." I started looking it found me. the decision up your own shop, kind of always thought about, with, like, a reason not to? where I just felt like something, and it's like-- just decided... I'm waiting for. so fast. thinking about, like, then it's like five years later. "I could have been doing So when I decided to start idea exactly what but it's like, it was better right moment, never a right moment. wanted to do something... and just get started. it for your parents? he's just, "Whatever." Korean, she supported me. what I wanted to do. "This is what I want to do." that I don't have much money now and then it's like, you be a doctor." considering being a doctor. out of my mouth. I wanted to be a doctor, making the money be making, now it's like, done something else." something, and she'll be like, "You did this? You drew that?" And I'm like, "I have skills." So then, this is sort of of using these patterns at scientific diagrams further where now I have the DNA strands. What kind is this?  When We Were all the Same . hard for her to comprehend Some of my friends, doesn't understand how it is at all. live paycheck-to-paycheck But, I mean, I don't have much. I'd rather sacrifice comforts fancy toasters want, when I want. think about stuff too much. do you really want about what you want to do, do something? try something. better than nothing. I said, "Just take a leap." Thank you so much. What was it like  for you, Tina, doesn't really appreciate if she was a doctor? I feel like with her parents background with my parents, much rather me just conventional job. think she understands I just need to follow my path it's leading me to a place and successful. understand at a point, they understand now. Starting out with this trip that it was just going to be to meet a lot of cool people, be very inspiring. shift where wonder: me for the future? I think I'm going to be these last ten days. your position-- just sort of wide open. freedom in that. One of the things  about this trip, different points of my life plans and should you not, that you really yourself. ahead and say, be doing this for three months" things as they come to you? you find that works for you? keep working for opportunities to arise arise and the question is ready for them. I feel like I may not know if there even is an endpoint. I feel like I've learned and compassionate person at very basic levels that will help me grow. On your tombstone at the end of the day, three things: your birth date, that dash, see your death date. back: They're done. importance to me is that dash. during the time you were born passed away? as a person?  Roadtrip Nation extends beyond  the program you just watched.  includes students  Roadtrip Experiences.  Movement in the classroom. I have anxiety about what's going to happen in the future. love my job? Career-wise, there's so many options mind-boggling. about one thing something else tomorrow. Mary Catherine Swanson. of AVID. get to college that you love doing. look up to her as a role model.  I'm, like, freaking out.   I'm kind of nervous. meet you. We can do different  things in our lives focused on our passions. it becomes just a job, exciting life. excited about what you do won't be ups and downs. and downs, learned determination. and the important thing the next place? yourself up? She kind of connected  with all of us. to me, and then Saban, and then Rosemberg. advice to each one of us. Now I have a clearer image  of what I want to do, determination thing. hyped up and excited. We only have two days left of our trip. When you're following your desire there is that comes with that, you're born with it. We never felt normal. mold of the nine to five. the grain. Always. always going against the grain. At the end you realize: something, what I'm receiving.  To watch more interviews   from the road  keeps us driving,  Online you can learn more  and how to  into your classroom. 

<p>In Fort Collins, Colorado, Calvin, Tina, and Vanessa stop to have a pint with Jennifer Orgolini, Sustainability Director, and Bryan Simpson, Media Relations Director, of New Belgium Brewing Company. The team then proceeds to Kansas City to interview Greg Carroll, CEO of the American Jazz Museum. Across town, they are also able to connect with Michelle Dreher, printmaker, owner, and operator of Two Tone Press.</p>

Fort Collins - Kansas City

I think for a lot of people, and especially including myself, we've had as well, in the person who's going through it. through moments of struggle, are happy you went through? yourself that was shocking or new? of struggle are times of growth. figuring out, who am I? do I wanna do with the rest of my life? the metaphor that's always stuck with me. the periodization of stress. here at New Belgium in that way, and that you need those time of stress. growth. time of recovery and ease, of integrate your gains. And that you can't always be sprinting, kind of try and take the long view and 

Self-Reflection

Struggle

Periodization of Stress

(Roadtripper #1) We're set on the road this summer talking with people their passion in life are doing what they love, to talk with you by asking you, Um, I'll have to think what year that was. started working at the brewery. calibrates me. advisors said, to grad school in philosophy." philosophy as an undergrad. and literature. my masters thesis, job at the brewery. help doing office work office work and I was like, doing that. big career vision. asked, someone needed help, then I just realized that company for me to get my MBA. management having an MBA and doing the night program. almost 16 years. What were you planning to do, or did you have plans? for you? sort of the whole way through the options are at option that appealed the most. like a five steps ahead plan. transition from philosophy, chief operations officer, sustainability director. have been a, "What am I doing? with my life?" myself a lot about, fullness of your identity. it to fulfill a lot of things be the receptionist sometimes. achievable and go home at night. um when he ran the company, periodization of stress. life here at New Belgium own personal life, necessary for growth. time of recovery and ease of um, integrate your gains. always be sprinting, be coasting. take the long view and necessary. Earlier you talked about how just your career and sometimes just the receptionist the end of the day. working full time, I did was work, anything in my free time, effort to change your life career? I think it's really important to find a job that you believe in for self-satisfaction. a realist about that, for some people. a lot of jobs out there not very fulfilling. their family, you know, so um, off as an elitist, fulfilled by their jobs." that some of us can be. you see other folks, made the decision all the way to material well-being and much about their soul, a very deadening way to live. it was important for me following my life's purpose well-being. age is a much better time after you have kids. encourage you at this point make arrangements because I tell you, used to a certain salary away from it. 

Choices

Education

Experience

Fulfillment

Goals

Hard Work

Money & Financial Security

Planning

Risk

Regrets

Values

Interview

What were you planning to do? leave your undergraduate career? I have figured out what chosen the option that appealed most, like a five steps ahead plan. 

One Juncture At A Time

Yeah, so you can imaging making the transition from philosophy, to finance, and now I'm Sustainability Director. have been a what am I doing, that I have had the ability to so I feel very fortunate. what you're gonna do with your life. 

Transitions

Luxury of Introspection

I think it's really important to find a job that you believe in, and self satisfaction. that that's a luxury for some people. of jobs out there that I imagine people have to support their family. as an elitist and be like oh, fulfilled by their jobs. that some of us can be. other folks who have made side, related to material well-being. about their soul at work at all. is a very deadening way to live. contemplated leaving New Belgium is me to make that choice, of following than material well being. risks than after you have kids. you at this point, not that are financially comfortable. really used to a certain salary, and 

Your Soul At Work

I do think that it would pay to think about where you wanna be in the end. have thought more about that. happiness look like for me? me have less of that anxiety, oh, should I have? in academia or public service. in private enterprise. 

Where You Want To Be In The End

When I was writing my master's thesis, at the brewery. on the bottling line, help in doing office work, office work, and I was like, and so I started doing that. a big career vision. asked, someone needed help, So you can imagine uh, philosophy to finance, Officer, and now I'm So all of those junctures doing, is this what I Career doesn't have to be of your identity, you know? expect it to fulfill a lot. um, necessary for growth, for recovery and ease of um...integrate your gains, And that you can't, and you can't always 

Jennifer Orgolini

Sustainability Director

Videos

Jennifer Orgolini

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Business

Food

Accomplishing Goals

Interviewed By

A Million Definitions