How to Make Sustainability A Part of Any Job with Kelsey Kates | ESG Decoded #200

<p>What if sustainability isn&#39;t a job title, but a skill set you already have? </p><p><a href="https://www.climeco.com/our-team/"><u>Emma Cox</u></a> speaks with<a href="https://www.kelseykates.com/"> <u>Kelsey Kates</u></a>, founder of<a href="https://www.kelseykates.com/"> <u>Playfully Works</u></a>,about what it means to care deeply about the planet while working in a role not traditionally tied to sustainability. </p><p>At the time of this recording, Kelsey led learning and development at Google. While sustainability was never part of her formal job description, she became a keynote speaker on the company&#39;s sustainability efforts by volunteering her time, sharing her expertise, and consistently showing up. </p><p>Bringing a learning-science lens to a question many of us have asked—<em>how much can one person actually do? </em>Kelsey explores how individual conviction can become meaningful to organizational impact. </p><p>In this conversation, she shares insights on: </p><ul><li><p>Finding your own entry point into climate work through the expertise, influence, and passions you already have.</p></li><li><p>How small operational shifts, implemented at scale, can quietly change behaviors and norms.</p></li><li><p>Why explaining the <em>why</em> behind a change can matter just as much as the change itself.</p></li><li><p>Whether sustainability is best understood as a competitive advantage—or a competitive imperative.</p></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Disclaimer: </strong><em>Since this conversation, Kelsey has concluded her decade-long tenure at Google and launched her own company, Playfully Works. It’s founding idea is one she shares in this episode, you don&#39;t have to be serious to do serious work.</em></p><p><strong>Episode Resources</strong></p><ul><li><p>Google Sustainability: <a href="https://sustainability.google/"><u>https://sustainability.google/</u></a></p></li><li><p>Google’s 2026 Environmental Report: <a href="https://sustainability.google/google-2026-environmental-report/"><u>https://sustainability.google/google-2026-environmental-report/</u></a></p></li><li><p>Climate Action Venn Diagram by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: <a href="https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/climatevenn"><u>https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/climatevenn</u></a> </p></li><li><p>Playfully Works: <a href="https://kelseykates.com/"><u>https://kelseykates.com/</u></a>  <br></p></li></ul><p>-</p><p><strong>About ESG Decoded </strong>ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by Clime