College Experiences That Helped a Director of Programs at Greentown Labs Succeed
Michela, a Director of Programs, emphasized the importance of strong communication skills, honed through an undergraduate environmental studies degree and a substantial thesis requiring "a lot of research and reading and writing." This experience, Michela explains, proved critical for success in their current role, demanding both internal team communication and external engagement through various channels.
Communication, Research, Writing, Environmental Studies, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michela Grunebaum
Director of Programs, Greentown Go
Greentown Labs
University of Vermont
N/A
Environmental & Related Sciences
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Develop strong writing and communication skills. Michela emphasizes the importance of effective communication, both written and verbal, for success in her field. A strong ability to communicate is vital for interacting with team members and external parties.
2. Conduct in-depth research. Her undergraduate thesis required extensive research, highlighting the value of research skills in her career path. This skill is applicable to many roles.
3. Pursue an interdisciplinary major or develop relevant skills. Michela's environmental studies background provided a foundation for her career. While not explicitly stated, other related fields like engineering, business, or policy could provide a suitable basis for a similar career trajectory. Consider developing skills in areas relevant to the clean energy and sustainability sector.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
As an environmental studies major, I completed an undergraduate thesis. It was a research thesis, about 60 pages long, which required a lot of research, reading, and writing.
The environmental studies major in general required significant reading and writing. I believe this is absolutely key. Being able to communicate well is critical in basically all jobs.
In this role and field, you do a lot of internal communication to your team. You also need to communicate with parties external to your team, whether that's in writing, public speaking, or in different forums. Therefore, ensuring you are well-practiced in those communication styles is really important.