ProGRESS brings insights and information about eclectic career paths direct from people working, living and learning in Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible ways (the GRESS of ProGRESS).
Every episode features a specially selected interviewee explaining how and why got where they are.
Guests include sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture, campaigning, city planning, comedy (yes really!), philosophy, psychology, serious games creation and technology, all united by their goals to improve the planet and offer a hand up to younger listeners and carer changers seeking values-led careers and activities.
Expect revelations and lightbulb moments and an informative listen in every episode, with plenty of tips for anyone who wants advice about how to follow in their footsteps.
So whether you're starting out, mid-career, looking for a new direction or happy where you are, subscribe to ProGRESS wherever you usually listen and you'll regularly hear uplifting stories and a few wise words to help you on your way.
About
Podcast host, interviewer and journalist Sandra Kessell set up ProGRESS to provide an inspiring and entertaining listen to make the world a greener, kinder place and to help Gens X, Y and Z as they search for their own why and what.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
ProGRESS brings insights and information about eclectic career paths direct from people working, living and learning in Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible ways (the GRESS of ProGRESS).
Every episode features a specially selected interviewee explaining how and why got where they are.
Guests include sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture, campaigning, city planning, comedy (yes really!), philosophy, psychology, serious games creation and technology, all united by their goals to improve the planet and offer a hand up to younger listeners and carer changers seeking values-led careers and activities.
Expect revelations and lightbulb moments and an informative listen in every episode, with plenty of tips for anyone who wants advice about how to follow in their footsteps.
So whether you're starting out, mid-career, looking for a new direction or happy where you are, subscribe to ProGRESS wherever you usually listen and you'll regularly hear uplifting stories and a few wise words to help you on your way.
About
Podcast host, interviewer and journalist Sandra Kessell set up ProGRESS to provide an inspiring and entertaining listen to make the world a greener, kinder place and to help Gens X, Y and Z as they search for their own why and what.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here's the Series 5 grand finale, featuring the best bits of the latest guests on ProGRESS, the podcast promoting green, ethical, sustainable and socially responsible careers.
The podcast was set up with the notion that listeners might like tips and ideas for how to follow in guests’ footsteps if they wanted to do something similar. As time has gone on, and 50 episodes in, it’s apparent that many of the guests have good human interest stories to tell about making a difference to the planet so win-win!
Everyone on the show has brought something special - and usually more than one single thing - to their episode, so here’s a round up of some, by no means all, of the best bits from Season 5.
Featuring:
If you enjoy this little meander through some of Season 5 subscribe to the podcast wherever you usually listen so you don’t miss out.
And please share the link to the podcast, here on Acast, through or our webpage, LinkedIn group or wherever you usually listen.
Keep listening for more career insights. Season 6 will start dropping in September.
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Drawn to both science and the arts when she was at school, Reena Mahajan’s studies and work took her to three continents. She studied architecture in New Delhi before moving to Paris to study urban planning and sustainable development. When she moved to Uruguay, she broadened her horizons and studies into gender responsive design and children-friendly planning.
Now a strong advocate for sustainable development, women’s mobility, social impact and gender equality – among other things – Reena founded Studio Divercity, with a mission to transform car-dominated urban areas into people-centric spaces. She recently set up StreetSmart, a digital platform that enables communities to reimagine their streets and environment, and she has joined the contributors to Lab of Thought, a Netherlands-based organisation set to transform urban environments.
So far so stellar – so what's next? She has some brilliant advice for anyone searching for values-led employment and says optimism comes from action, even if it's small.
Mentioned in this podcast
Prof Dr Marco Te Brömmelstroet and the Lab of Thought
The Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo
Other episodes to listen to:
Sanjuktar Jithendar, Architect, Mikhail Riches S1 E9
Nick Molden, CEO and founder of Emissions Analytics S1 E4
Sarah Daly, Sustainability strategist, marketing professional, lobbyist, entrepreneur, thought-leader and visionary S3 E1
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
David Kohnstamm, Chief sustainability officer and co-founder, Leafcloud S4 E3
Connor Cashell, Campaigns manager, Cycling UK S5 E5
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sarah Flynn is a career coach who works with purpose-led, empathic leaders making a difference to the world. In addition, Sarah teaches resilience for sustainability leaders on the Cambridge sustainability leaders masters.
Discussing her own squiggly career journey, Sarah explains how she felt when she discovered psychology as a teenager and then became inspired to study it in depth, thinking she’d work in clinical psychology.
She talks about moving to Italy to teach English as a foreign language, what led her into working in psychotherapy and how she became first a research psychologist and then a corporate career coach.
Listen in to hear Sarah's tips for developing a career in psychology, her co-authored book Climate Change Coaching: The Power of Connection to Create Climate Action, and how to introduce resilience and empowerment into life.
Mentioned in this podcast
Association of Sustainability Practitioners
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
Books
Parenting out loud – Elliott Rae
Find your zone of genius – Laura Garnett
You might also like to listen to:
Shaheer Hafeez Director ESG strategy and climate risk KPMG S3 E2
Jonathan Mearns OBE careers coach, sustainability entrepreneur and adventurer S3 E9
Lydia Carrington Sustainability manager, Edgbaston cricket stadium S2 E1
Stuart Mabbutt Wildman environmental learning S3 E3
Dr Matthew C. Halteman Professor of philosophy S3 E10
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When he was young Matteo Menapace spent many afternoons playing video games and learnt to code so he could hack his first game.
So how does a kid playing video games (with a Saturday job making pizzas) turn his hobby into a professional career that challenges people to think about the most pressing issues of the era, including climate change?
Listen to hear the philosophy and ethics behind serious games design, why you don’t need to have studied graphics, games design or even to have a degree to be a successful games designer and what Matteo does in a typical week.
Mentioned in this podcast
Paolo Pedercini aka Molleindustria
Elizabeth Magie and the story of Monopoly
Norwich University of the Arts
Matteo's LinkedIn profile
You might also like to listen to:
Maddie Booth Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6
David Kohnstamm Chief sustainability officer and co-founder of Leafcloud S4 E3
Rachel Warren Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Johnathon Miller-McCall grew up in South London, seemingly an unpromising location for wildlife observation and a career as a conservationist, science communicator and storyteller.
Yet, Johnathon reveals, there are more than 14,000 species in the city, and it’s one of the world’s largest urban forests – you just need to know where to look.
Now Johnathan wears three hats, working as a comms and engagement officer for Synchronicity Earth, as a presenter and content executive for Earth Minutes and creating content for his own feeds.
So how does a shy boy go from keeping his (slightly uncool) interests to himself at school to finding a course that suits his knowledge and satisfying his calling to spread a love of nature, especially when there was little guidance at school and nobody like him on television?
Johnathon explains how he forged his own career path as a nature nerd, rather than in finance, how he found a community at London Wildlife Trust (LWT) and what keeps him resilient.
Mentioned in this podcast
Natural History Museum Generation Hope
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan – 10 year water clean-up plan
Johnathon Miller-McCall Linktree (J Talks Nature)
You might also like to listen to:
Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5
Stuart Mabbutt, Wildman environmental learning S3 E3
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Connor Cashell combines his socially responsible and ethical values with a push for sustainability and a job campaigning for Cycling UK.
After university Connor worked in Belgium where he facilitated meetings between European leaders and the people who really understood what was going on in exploited mining communities, particularly in South America.
From there, it wasn’t a huge step to move to Peru to work for a partner organisation, Grufides, among the people being affected by the mining.
When Connor returned to England, he found his role at Cycling UK, where he supports and connects campaigning groups seeking to improve cycle networks in the UK. That includes making cycling more child- and woman-friendly, improving cycle paths and lobbying for better cycling facilities, such as improved lighting and safer parking.
Connor shares good advice about avoiding overwhelm at university, and insights into how he found his role at Cycling UK – searching for an organisation that matched his values was key.
Mentioned in this podcast
Links
Charity Job (job board)
You might like to listen to:
Don Weatherbee CEO of RegenX Tech, S3 E7
Jo Faulkner-Harvey Head of income generation at Shakespeare Hospice S3 E5
Duncan Goose founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10
Lydia Carrington Sustainability manager, Edgbaston cricket stadium S2 E1
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There's no doubt that Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley's scientific career has been one of purpose. A medical molecular microbiologist, she’s researched tuberculosis (TB), listeria and cancer, working with Glaxo Wellcome, then enabled other researchers as an account manager for Roche Diagnostics.
Delve a little deeper and there’s a tale of a thwarted career however – she’d have liked to be an archaeologist but her father wanted her to go into medicine, so she compromised and studied sciences.
Alongside her career path, Fernanda has embraced many different experiences and roles, from Reiki Master and reconnective healing practitioner, to orienteer and photographic model.
The inspiration behind Fernanda’s business actually started in the 1980s and was parked.
Find out what took Fernanda so long to follow her dream, and why.
Listen out for Fernanda’s insights into managing parental expectations, changing career and why freeing your mind can open up a wealth of possibilities and opportunities.
Mentioned in this podcast
Links
Anita Roddick (Wikipedia entry)
University of Otago, New Zealand
University of Cape Town, South Africa
You might also like to listen to:
Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer at University of Manchester S1 E11
Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2
Duncan Goose, Founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10
Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Still in his early twenties Matthew Payne parked his career plans and degree course to work for a tech start-up to try, as he puts it, to fix the National Health Service.
Matthew was due to finish his final undergraduate year and had ticked all the boxes to make himself a good candidate for a well-paid traineeship in corporate law.
So what drives a person to work in a tech start-up facing such a tricky task – risky even if you believe in its products, the founders and can see that it might be going places?
The answer, in part, lies in Matthew’s strong ethical values, his sense of social responsibility and his push for sustainability.
With more than 1000+ GP practices in England signed up for Healthtech-1’s support, the firm is already making a difference and is looking to expand and improve its offerings.
Listen to the podcast to hear Matthew’s thoughts on taking on voluntary roles, the benefits of part-time work and of getting involved in new things at university. He runs through ideas for what might happen later in his career and emphasises the importance of getting young people's voices into the places that matter.
Mentioned in this podcast
Links
Sustainable Recruitment Alliance
Science and Tech investment to ignite UK Growth
Do you need a degree to work in tech? (BBC)
Other episodes you might like to listen to
Laura Yeates and Leora Schlasko – Sustainable recruitment alliance S1 E3
James Adeleke – Founder and CEO of Generation Success. Equality champion S4 E5
Maddie Booth – Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6
Stuart Goldsmith – Climate comedian and podcaster S5 E2
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What’s funny about climate change, you might think if you spot comedian Stuart Goldsmith’s job title.
The answer is, of course, nothing, but after a long and successful career as a performer and stand-up comedian Stuart found himself wanting to talk about just one thing - climate change.
So how does that pan out when you need to be paid for laughs? And who is in the audience when Stuart is delivering his message?
How do you even start a career like Stuart’s? And if you’re young, how do you sell the idea to your parents and teachers, who might think you should go out and get a ‘proper’ job?
Stuart answers all these questions and more, plus he explains why he started his podcast interviewing comedians and what to do if you want to have a values-led career.
Mentioned in this podcast
Stuart Goldsmith's website
Stuart Goldsmith on Instagram
The Comedian's Comedian podcast
Glastonbury 2025 Instagram
BBC News: The lack of working class actors
Atomic Habits - James Clear
You might also enjoy listening to:
Shaheer Hafeez, Director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
Jo Faulkner-Harvey, Head of charity fundraising S3 E5
Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7
Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10 and S4 E8
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Katie Goldsbrough is a woodland officer, ecologist, conservationist and bat carer. She’s passionate about the outdoors, something that started in childhood and guided her through university, where she studied for a degree in zoology.
Aware of the masses of plastic tree guards used when planting saplings, which are rarely documented or removed when the trees start growing and which degrade and fragment, Katie founded the Plot That Plastic app. It's something every listener can use to document plastic guards in woodland.
In addition to her passion for trees, Katie has a great fondness for bats and explains that in the UK we have micro-bats, tiny in comparison to the types found elsewhere in the world.
Katie advocates enjoying your job rather than enduring it and explains why recent parenthood has added to her motivation to do her bit for conservation.
Read more here
Mentioned in this podcast
Links
Forest Plastics Working Group (plot that plastic)
Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline
Anglia Ruskin University Zoology degree
You might also like to read about and listen to:
Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5
Helen Walsh, designer, writer and conservation sector communications expert S3 E11
Stuart Mabbutt, aka The Wildman – Part 1 S3 E3
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Duncan Goose, the founder of Global Ethics and the brand One Water, returned to ProGRESS to talk about what has happened in the 12 months since we last spoke, including why he undertook a round Britain road trip to echo the world tour he was on more than 20 years ago that changed his career direction.
Duncan also speaks about tracking down the girl (now woman) who sparked his mission to bring water projects to communities living in extreme poverty around the world, and you can see the story of that in the link below.
One Water gives away its profits to projects that provide clean drinking water to communities. With 5 million lives changed and more standpipes planned for the future, it is definitely a success story.
Read about One Water here and watch the story of 'the girl at the standpipe' here (link to YouTube).
Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here
Listen to the first episode with Duncan in 2024 here.
Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10
You might also like to listen to:
James Adeleke, Generation Success founder, equality champion, social entrepreneur S4 E5
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this wide-reaching discussion, ProGRESS's first-ever guest Rae Wilkinson rejoins the podcast to tell Sandra more about her career as an award-winning sustainable landscape and garden designer.
Recording from her studio at the Knepp Estate in Sussex, Rae talks about introducing her clients to sustainable design and the notion of reducing carbon footprint as well as managing the budget when creating a garden for them.
Rae also discusses giving back to the next generation of designers who want to benefit from her wisdom and experience and how much value there is in giving back to your community through volunteering.
Click here to listen to Rae on the first-ever ProGRESS podcast
Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 E1
Links mentioned in this episode
Rae Wilkinson MSGLD, garden and landscape designer
Hear more of our guests talk about their values-led careers. How they got there and how you can too.
Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2
Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sustainability consultant and environmental educator Maddie Booth started her first enterprise while at the University of Warwick, where she was studying for a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in global sustainable development and politics.
In the spirit of no experience is wasted, Maddie says being an entrepreneur has been the biggest talking point in every job interview she’s had since exiting her business. Having worked in several jobs since graduating, Maddie has just taken up a newly created role as digital learning and development specialist at the Science Based Targets Initiative.
Despite all the success and progress she’s made following her degree, Maddie says if she were 15 now she would consider further education and apprenticeships rather than university. In fact, she is helping her younger brother as he makes course choices.
She urges older generations not to overburden Gen Z with the woes of the world, but is optimistic about their determination to find greener, more ethical, sustainable and socially responsible jobs.
You might also like to listen to:
Shaheer Hafeez , ACA, director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4
Beccy Dickson, Co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12
Sarah Daly, Sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E 1
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Adeleke thought his future lay in football, but a serious injury meant he had to rethink his plans (much to his mum's relief) and study law instead.
In this episode James talks about how meeting a homeless man after the London Riots affected his thinking, what turned his society at law school into the social enterprise Generation Success and why his mum has forgiven him for not following a legal career.
Generation Success empowers young people from all backgrounds across the UK reach their career aspirations, regardless of their circumstances. Hear what James has to say about social mobility, diversity, and inclusion and why his work is more important than ever.
Read more about James's career and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here
You might like to listen to:
Shaheer Hafeez, ACA, Director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2
Duncan Goose, Founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10
Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2
Justin Kelly, CEO of Glass Futures, Chair of Sustainable Ventures S4 E1
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An absolute livewire, Divya Kumar is a community engagement manager for Earthwatch Europe, responsible for overseeing Tiny Forests around the UK. She aims to hit the 300 mark by the end of 2025 and now describes herself as a socio-environmentalist. But when Divya was younger, though she had dreams of becoming a veterinarian or an animator, her parents encouraged her towards a corporate career.
Divya describes how and why she stepped off her parents' ideal career path and how life changed again when, supporting her husband's career, Divya moved to the UK. You'll also hear how Divya's parents feel now about her career.
Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes here…
Also mentioned in the podcast
Not The End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
You might also enjoy listening to:
Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2
Helen Walsh, designer, writer and conservation sector communicator S3 E11
Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5
Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS
On LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Kohnstamm is a thermal engineer and the chief sustainability officer and co–founder of Leafcloud, which offers its clients a truly green alternative to energy-hungry traditional data centres.
David is scathing about the misleading use of the word ‘cloud’ to describe most data centres, since they are not the nebulous things that the word conjures up. The reality is much more solid – huge computers located in large buildings in the middle of an open space, requiring vast amounts of energy, air conditioning and water to cool down the resulting heat.
Despite calling himself an introvert-extrovert nerd David, who is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, didn’t dream of becoming an IT entrepreneur. For a number of years he worked as a bicycle mechanic...
Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here
You might also like to listen to:
Nick Molden, CEO and founder of Emissions Analytics S1 E4
Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7
Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zoologist, microbiologist and science champion Dr Bushra Schuitemaker has carved out a career in research and is determined to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds know that science is for them too.
Bushra’s stella science career is all the more remarkable because her local secondary school offered pupils no opportunities at all to take science A level courses. Now the school has full physics, chemistry and biology classes.
Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here
You might like to listen to:
Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer at University of Manchester S1 E11
Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology, The Tyndall Centre UEA S1 E7
Matthew Halteman, Philosophy professor and animal and food ethicist, S3 E10
Lydia Carrington, Sustainability manager Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr Mark Sumner was one of ProGRESS's earliest guests, so his 2025 return to the podcast to talk about the latest developments in his career feels like a seal of approval.
Mark talks about leaving Leeds University's School of Design at the end of the 2024 academic year in favour of a new role at WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
WRAP is a not-for profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) and for 20 years it has been pushing for global environmental action and circular living.
Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here
Listen to Mark's original Season 1 interview here
You might also like to listen to:
Nicki Black, fashion and creative director S2 E3
Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur S2 E5
Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Business leader Justin Kelly stepped away from his C-suite role at the international engineering and technology company Siemens in 2022 and is now chief executive at Glass Futures, a not-for-profit tech membership organisation.
Glass Futures researches more sustainable glass manufacture across the globe, so this role fits well with Justin’s other recent appointment, chair of Sustainable Ventures North, a hub for climate tech business start-ups and entrepreneurs, building on the success of its London beginnings.
In this episode, Justin explains how he secured a university place, sponsored by Siemens, and how he rose to the top of the organisation.
As a business leader with a valued voice, particularly in England’s North-West region, Justin also discusses using his experience and knowledge to influence, guide and support organisations and programmes in manufacturing, technology, transport, skills and education…
Read more and find additional links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here
You might also like to listen to:
Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer, University of Manchester S1 E 11
Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7
Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 3 round-up: The lightbulb moment
Featuring all 11 guests, this end-of-season episode highlights guests' explanations of how, when and why they got into their career. For some, it was a natural progression from a childhood interest or obsession, while others had a lightbulb or lightning bolt moment that made them reassess their courses or careers.
About ProGRESS:
Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.
Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast
Original content © Sandra Kessell
Original music © Lyze Kessell
Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.