Work

The Economist Group runs online classes for executives looking to gain new skills, under the banner of Economist Education. The aim is to provide a balanced, well-rounded, accessible introduction to hot topics of the day. Given fast-growing interest in climate change among its corporate readership, senior leadership of The Economist Group decided to launch a course on the theme.

I was invited to join the founding team to craft the course via a series of workshops. Convened by The Economist’s business editor, the team included external learning experts and freelancers specializing in corporate engagement. The course came together over several weeks of brainstorming, followed by drafting of course content. I wrote half of the course, including modules on climate science and economics, net-zero, circularity, and corporate decarbonization. The content was subject to intensive editing and fact-checking, as per The Economist’s regular editorial process.

Since the launch of the course in 2022, I have also served as head tutor. This role entails regular engagement with students via online forums and other channels. I review all student submissions, post weekly video blogs summarizing course progress, and regularly answer student questions about course content. Student employers are a diverse bunch, from energy utilities to banks to a national Olympic committee. This job has given me a front-row seat to how executives—especially those not already seeped in climate discourse—think about the subject and address some of its hard questions and trade-offs, and keen insight on how best to engage them. This is an oft-overlooked cohort in the climate discourse, but their work will be crucial in the broader transformation of the global economy.

Emerald Technology Ventures is a Switzerland-based venture-capital firm that specializes in industrial transformation and sustainability. For over two decades, it has invested in startups solving hard problems at the core of the global economy: energy, heavy industry, utilities, agriculture, and more. Efficiency and emissions reductions are key aims of its work, usually via innovations in materials science, digitization, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge fields.

In 2021 it embarked on an initiative to upgrade its marketing presence. This included clarifying its corporate messaging and story, building a new website and generating thought-leadership content on a regular basis. I was brought on to assist with this effort and have played an integral role on its marketing team as a brand-voice consultant and writer.

In this role, I help ensure that Emerald’s story is being told in a way that highlights the broader societal implications of its work. Venture capital at Emerald’s level often involves granular analysis of a very specific technology; it is important to pull this back to the big picture so that its applicability to issues like climate change becomes apparent. Given its history, pedigree, track record of success, and high caliber of scientific and technical expertise, Emerald is well-positioned to offer a powerful voice in the broader discourse around industrial sustainability and decarbonization.

Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) convenes diverse stakeholders to tackle methane emissions from the energy sector—a vital climate lever and one that the International Energy Agency (IEA) says could dramatically slow global temperature rises. Methane, which has a far higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide, is often released as a byproduct of natural gas provision. MGP is a leading global body creating and promoting strategies, initiatives, and tools to curtail methane as quickly as possible by bridging gaps in awareness, technology adoption, collaboration, cultural mindsets, and other areas.

I started working with the organization in early 2023 to help guide and execute its outreach, communications, and thought-leadership work. The aim is to elevate MGP’s messaging to a level of influence that makes it the go-to resource for methane abatement. MGP hosts a wealth of resources from members and supporting organizations, including top energy companies, governmental bodies, solutions providers, nonprofits, and think tanks like the Environmental Defense Fund and IEA. I play a pivotal role in curating these resources, such as a playbook for influencing partners in the energy value chain and a methane policy toolkit. I also work closely with MGP’s communications team on day-to-day activities like news, events, and social media.