Success Story: From Ops Manager for Investment Firm to Carbon Free Electricity Program Lead
Clare Mengebier made the energising work she was doing in her personal life into her full time Contribution
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
I am a Program Operations Lead for Rocky Mountain Institute's Carbon-Free Electricity program.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING?
I've been an operations manager for organizations working at the intersection of business and impact, including an international development nonprofit, a company that managed data for global health research, and an impact investing firm.
WHY DID YOU CHANGE?
I've always been excited about working on innovative approaches to global impact but mainly worked in the social impact space. In my personal life I started to get passionate about climate work and volunteered for a number of environmental nonprofits. I was so energized by the work I was doing in my personal life I decided I'd like to bring my professional, full-time work to the climate space as well.
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT MAKING THE SHIFT?
I went about my job search in the most structured way possible. I started having informational interviews with a wide variety of people in the climate space to learn more about different opportunities in the climate space (a very wide-ranging industry!) and learn what I can read and listen to in order to be more informed.
This was a long process that started a year before I transitioned. As I started networking, I wrote a short statement about my background and what I was looking for so I could tell friends, colleagues and other contacts and ask if they knew anyone they could connect me with.
Here's mine: I’m an operations manager with background managing complex projects, handling data, and implementing technology. I’m looking to work for an international climate organization that is focused on systemic solutions to climate change - think food systems improvement, creating a circular economy, or global climate policy agenda). I’m based in San Diego but looking for remote positions.
I then created a shortlist of organizations with which I'd like to work. The climate industry is huge and multifaceted, so as I started researching I created a master list of organizations that interested me and people I came across in a similar role or area of work that I'd like to talk to.
Finally, I regularly checked the numerous climate job boards for jobs that matched my interest. I only applied for jobs where I had at least an indirect networking contact that worked with the organization in some capacity.
“The climate industry is huge and multifaceted, so as I started researching I created a master list of organizations that interested me and people I came across in a similar role or area of work that I’d like to talk to.”
WHAT RESOURCES WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
Climate job boards! There's a ton: Climate Tech List, ClimateBase, Green Biz, Workingreen, CTVC job board, etc.
Listen to podcasts to learn more about different areas of growth in the climate world that may be hiring. My Climate Journey and Catalyst are 2 good ones!
Read books about climate change. There are a ton but my favorites were Speed & Scale by John Doerr and Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson.
Follow climate leaders on LinkedIn that you admire!
WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO THOSE LOOKING TO MAKE A TRANSITION THEMSELVES?
Spend the majority of your time networking. I found out about the organization I currently work for through someone who used to work there!
One discouraging aspect about networking is sometimes you won't hear back from someone who you reach out to. Don't take this personally, as people are very busy and your message could have just fallen through the cracks of their busy inbox.
Make sure your messages are customized to that person and try messaging them a 2nd time. Also realize that being "ghosted" is a normal part of the networking process.
There are a ton of opportunities in the climate space and more to come! But these jobs get snatched up quickly. The best time to apply for a position is within the first few days of when it was posted.
