What are ESG Careers?
Panel Timing and Registration
- Session 1 (11:30AM-12:45PM)
- Altschul Atrium
- Registration Link
Panel Description
Environmental, Social, and Governance (or ESG) jobs involve working on projects that focus on sustainability and social responsibility in the workplace. As societal awareness of the need for environmentally sound and responsible business practices has increased, there has been a rise of ESG jobs that will continue to expand. ESG work takes many forms and can be found across industries, including finance, consulting, law, technology, and more. Hear from alums working in different corners of the field as they speak about their work, what led them there, and what they see as the future of the field. We will also discuss sustainability and social impact work, as well as differences and areas of overlap within ESG spaces.
ESG Panel Participants
Bio:
Madhuri Pavamani is the Director of the Sustainability & ESG Advisory Practice at Paul, Weiss. She advises leading companies on their public disclosures, corporate governance practices, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. A graduate of Barnard College and Brooklyn Law School, Madhuri was a recipient of the Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Law Fellowship and an editor for the Journal of Law and Policy. She volunteered for several years on the Mumia Abu-Jamal death penalty case, is a published poet, certified yoga instructor, and an Advisory Board member at practicalESG.com and The Elisabeth Haub School of Law’s Sustainable Business Law Hub. This Fall, she kicks of her career as a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School.
Career Advice:
You do not need to have all of the answers all of the time. There will be moments when you do not have a plan mapped out well in advance, and that is fine. Sometimes you just need to trust the (non-linear) process. You'll be surprised where it might lead.
Bio:
Nina Eisenman, VP and Head of Corporate ESG Strategy at Nasdaq, has over 25 years of experience in pioneering corporate sustainability and ESG initiatives. An alumna of Barnard, Nina went on to lead Eisenman Associates, a women-owned marketing communications agency that specialized in corporate financial and sustainability communications. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with blue-chip clients such as PepsiCo, Morgan Stanley, AIG, and Comcast. At Nasdaq, she has played a crucial role in defining the company's climate-change strategies and refining its ESG reporting, reflected in the company's enhanced ESG ratings. As she currently wraps up her master's in Sustainability Management at Columbia, Nina is deeply committed to encouraging and nurturing the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Career Advice:
Embrace change! Change in the ever-evolving landscape of the professional world is not just inevitable; it's accelerating. Cultivate adaptability, remain open to fresh perspectives, and never shy away from taking thoughtful risks. Importantly, prioritize building genuine, long-lasting relationships. These connections will become invaluable anchors as you navigate the shifting tides of your career.
Bio:
Chun Yee Yip has more than two decades of experience in social impact, sustainability, and ESG programming with private and public partnerships. Currently, the Vice President of Social Impact at Lendlease, she oversees the Foundation’s efforts to create social value in workforce development, mental health and wellbeing, climate action, biodiversity, and food security. Prior to her current role, she was the Director of Social Impact at Global Brands Group, where she developed strategic philanthropy programs, sustainability initiatives, and community engagement solutions. In the non-profit sector, Chun Yee worked in development and external affairs at Third Street Music School Settlement, the Museum of Chinese in America, and the US Fund for UNICEF. She received her BA in political science at Barnard College and MIA in international economic policy at The School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University.
Career Advice:
Stay curious and be a lifelong learner!
Liora Hostyk is a Manager with the Climate Change and Sustainability Services group at EY. Liora has worked with clients across a sectors including technology, AM&M, financial services, food and beverage, beauty, and energy. Prior to joining EY, Liora worked at ERM (formerly SustainAbility), focusing on research and analysis for ESG advisory and sustainability strategy projects. Other experiences include environmental consulting at Rambøll (formerly ENVIRON) with a focus on environmental investigations and high-profile M&A due diligence, as well as working at a water-related non-profit and the municipal coastal management department of Tel Aviv. Liora earned an undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy from Barnard '14, as well as a graduate degree from Tel Aviv University in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Business and Sustainability '18.
Career Advice:
When I was an undergraduate, I had no idea what a career in the environmental field really looked like outside of research and academia, and thought I needed to just pick a lane. But building strong analysis skills and soft skills like presenting, or making/maintaining connections – things I did in my time at Barnard – have been instrumental to all of the different jobs I've held, which eventually led me to my current role in this newly evolved field of ESG.
Bio:
Emily started her career at Malk leading private equity buyout transactions and supported more than 100 diligence transactions. In her current role, Emily partners with private equity, growth, and venture capital GPs to develop foundational elements of ESG programs. She also supports GPs existing programs through portfolio management, policy development, training, and stakeholder reporting. Emily has supported numerous GPs at varying levels of maturity and across asset classes navigate varying LP expectations and reporting obligations including UN PRI, among others. Prior to Malk, Emily developed and implemented social impact and sustainability communication strategies at B2B and B2C companies.
Career Advice:
When looking for a job, always think about your next next job to help you plan what your goals are and what the journey can be to get where you want to be.