Career Path of an Equitable Decarbonization Advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council
Olivia's career path began with a geology and geophysics degree, focusing on energy and environmental geoscience, and research-oriented internships. A pivotal "environmental policy" class shifted their focus to advocacy, leading to an entry-level NRDC role, where "hustling" and a "personal policy of just never saying no" secured promotions to Research Associate and then Senior Advocate, even amidst a pandemic-induced hiring freeze and team downsizing.
Environmental Advocacy, Energy and Environmental Policy, Nonprofit Sector, Career Advancement, Science Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Olivia Walker
Equitable Decarbonization Advocate
Natural Resources Defense Council
Yale University, 2016
UCLA FEMBA
Environmental & Related Sciences
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Climate, Environment and Sustainability
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Olivia's career path highlights a combination of research and advocacy, showcasing the value of interdisciplinary skills. Her background in geology and geophysics provided a scientific foundation, while her pivot to environmental policy demonstrates the adaptability needed in this field.
2. Olivia's experience shows that initiative and a willingness to take on diverse responsibilities can lead to career advancement. Her 'never say no' approach and proactive engagement helped her secure a promotion without needing further formal education.
3. Olivia's journey from entry-level program assistant to senior advocate demonstrates that career progression in the environmental sector is possible with dedication and a proactive approach. Her example emphasizes the importance of finding a company and role where one can grow and develop skills over time.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experience in college? Do you have any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
In college, I majored in geology and geophysics with a focus on energy and environmental geoscience. This put me on the track of entering the energy and environmental space. For internships, I mostly focused on research, imagining I would go into academia.
I spent my summers working in labs or doing field research, then processing my samples back in the lab. However, I took a class called environmental policy. This pivoted me toward advocacy and policy writing, rather than academia.
I really fell in love with the idea of connecting science power to people power, so I started looking for jobs in the nonprofit sector. My first job out of college in 2016 was at NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is my current employer.
I worked on a project called City Energy Project, focusing on energy efficiency in large buildings. My first role at NRDC was very entry-level, as I only had a bachelor's degree. It was program assistant, a role that NRDC is phasing out as it's a bit antiquated.
The role was heavily administrative and operational. They were recruiting recent graduates interested in environmental policy, leading to a mismatch between what people wanted and what the role entailed. At that time, it was rare for program assistants to be promoted.
I worked there for three years. The expectation was that program assistants would get a graduate degree and then perhaps return in another role or work elsewhere before coming back in a higher position. I was promoted to Research Associate, the entry-level role for those with master's degrees, without going to graduate school.
I hustled quite a bit. My manager called me "Scrappy" because I took on any work related to environmental advocacy, not just administrative tasks. My personal policy was to never say no to any request.
This approach, for better or worse, helped me get the job I wanted without returning to school. The irony is that I'm currently back in school. That promotion happened in March 2020.
Then, COVID-19 started, causing a hiring and promotions freeze. My team of nine shrunk to four, and they needed me to step into a senior advocate role non-traditionally and quickly. After only five months as a junior advocate, I became a senior advocate, which is essentially my current role with a specific title.
All the while, I started in building energy efficiency and am now in building decarbonization, which includes energy efficiency and electrification policy. I've stayed in the same sector the whole time. That's how I got to where I am now.