Completing his MBA earlier this year in Australia, Mathias Witt, originally from Chile is currently undertaking an internship with a Melbourne based sustainability consultancy. Dean Steele-Bennett from Sustainability Jobs chatted with Mathias about his recent transition into the sustainability sector.

Dean: Mathias, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Could you please share with us a brief overview of your background?

Mathias: When I finished secondary school in Chile I wanted to further my studies in a way that incorporated engineering and environmental elements and so undertook a degree in Forest Engineering. Following this I worked as a Sales Manager in the wood products industry, exporting finished wood products to the US and Canada. This role allowed me to develop my people management skills, coordinating efforts across different departments within the company and the supply chain, and provided me with many client engagement opportunities.

After taking up residence in Melbourne in 2006, in order to broaden my career opportunities I commenced my MBA with the Melbourne Business School, which I completed in January this year.

Dean: What are you passionate about and how has this helped you in your career so far?

Mathias: I have always been passionate about the environment and like to spend time outdoors trekking, photographing and surfing. Understanding the importance of the environment has been crucial to turn my passion into focused action, by pursuing a career in the sustainability field where I could make a difference.
Combining engineering and sales management experience, coupled with the broader strategic and general business administration knowledge, acquired during my MBA studies I now work as a sustainability strategy consultant. In this role I work with various companies, enabling them to recognise the importance of sustainability, its effects on their business and how to benefit from incorporating it into their strategic objectives.

Dean: Considering your MBA background how did you go about moving into the sustainability sector?

Mathias: Through the alumni network at business school I learned about the industry, the roles most suitable for my skill set and also how to make further contacts in the sector. Establishing that I wanted to apply the strategic thinking skills from my MBA to solve sustainability related problems in different industries, I realised that I could make the biggest impact in a consulting role, where I could apply the client engagement experience and communication skills I gained from my previous position.

As an intermediate step to gain more practical experience, I volunteered at The Centre for Sustainability Leadership (CSL). CSL is a Not for Profit organisation with a mission to develop young peoples’ leadership skills and empower them to generate change towards a better world, through a nine month course in sustainability leadership. My role at CSL has been to develop a business plan to launch a global online version of the program, reaching thousands of potential young sustainability leaders around the world. It was this volunteering experience that led me to my current role as a consultant at Sustainable Business Practices.

Dean: What advice would you offer to individuals or students looking to make the transition into the sustainability sector?

Mathias: To learn as much as you can about sustainability and the current events that are taking place in Australia around climate change mitigation. A good starting point is reviewing the numerous existing websites and attending seminars and presentations on sustainability and climate change, which is fundamental in building a solid knowledge base and especially an opinion.

The other part of the equation is to analyse the skill set that you have developed, either through your studies or work experience. Based on these skills, together with personal areas of interest, it is easier to map out where you could transfer them into, or see what skills and knowledge need further development to make the transition successfully. As I have found, the skills and experience that you gain in another sector can often be valuable in their application within a sustainability context.

Also, some great advice that someone once gave me was to volunteer at a Not for Profit organisation. For me it was a great learning experience, both from a sustainability point of view, as well as being part of the kind of organisation which otherwise I would probably never have come in touch with.

Dean: Have you found anything difficult about your transition into the sustainability sector?

Mathias: I found it hard to make a transition into the sustainability industry in Australia as employers seemed very keen on previous work experience in Australian business and/or in a sustainability related field. In addition with English as my second language, another dimension of difficulty was added to my quest. Volunteering provided me with my first Australian work experience and also gave me an entry point into the sustainability industry.

Dean:  What skills and attributes do you feel were most important for you when transitioning into your current role?

Mathias: In a sustainability strategy consulting role, strategic and critical thinking are essential
skills that I apply and develop continuously. Good client and time management practices are also critical aspects of my role, all underpinned by solid business understanding.

Other important skills in business revolve around the broader “people skills” category. Being able to listen, understand, make yourself heard and be open to new experiences and opinions will always be fundamental in any role and will make learning in your job and enjoying it much easier. Technical skills and “pure knowledge” come as a by-product and can be learnt off the job or through courses.

Dean: Mathias, we thank you again for your time and wish you every success in your new role in sustainability consulting.