Misha Franklin - SEA Case Story

What brought you to this moment in your career where the Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) made sense for you?

Over my lifetime I’ve seen the impacts of the climate crises in the news, but also nearby through fatally hot summers, weeks of wildfire smoke in the sky, and living in a ‘be-ready’ evacuation zone near the Camp Creek wildfire two years ago. My work history includes a mix of people and technical skills: help desk, software, system, and business analyst, project management, and I’ve spent the last 5 years as a sales engineer for a small B2G software company. But earlier this year, with growing concern for the climate, I began to map out a transition into the sustainability field.

I hold a sustainability focused MBA from 2010 and wanted to refresh my background knowledge. The SEA credential seemed like a great way to get that background and convey my understanding of the field. Now I feel ready to transition my hard and soft skills to an organization committed to sustainable business practices, and creating positive change for its employees, community, and the environment.

How are you putting the knowledge, skills, and ability demonstrated in the SEA to work in your career (or work) today?

As I continue my job search, I’ve started volunteering with the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. I will continue networking with others in the sustainability field in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, looking for ways to positively impact my community. The SEA certification educated me on the array of problems humans have caused the planet, as well as the best tools and frameworks available to combat these issues. I know that I have plenty of experience to gain in the field, but I am also confident that I have a good foundation to base additional learning upon.

For those starting out in the sustainability field, what advice do you have for them?

I can’t claim any great knowledge here, as I am also new to the field, but I can pass on some advice I found helpful: volunteer in an organization that you are passionate about. You can make an impact, network with like-minded people, learn about new opportunities, and establish yourself as a contributor, because you’ll be contributing! By putting this advice into practice, I got connected with a local climate group and learned about a Sustainability Conference in Portland. I attended the 1-day event, heard many inspiring speakers, and learned about companies in the northwest working on real solutions. I hope to have an exciting update in the next half year, that I’ve found a great position where I am supporting an organization or company to achieve their sustainability goals. Until then, I’ll get additional volunteer training so I can better contribute to organizations that are aligned with my values and passions.

Interested in earning your SEA credential? Download our free sample of the SEA Study Guide or sign up for the next SEA Study Cohort.

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Read perspectives from the ISSP blog

Turning Member Feedback into Action: ISSP’s 2026 Strategic Plan

By By Elizabeth Dinschel & Bangaly Kourouma • January 16, 2026

January 16, 2026 At the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), strategy is not theoretical. It is practical, action-oriented, and grounded in the real needs of sustainability professionals working in complex and rapidly evolving environments. The ISSP 2026 Strategic Plan is a one-year, execution-focused roadmap designed to strengthen ISSP’s role as a global professional association for sustainability practitioners. Built directly from member feedback gathered through Town Halls, surveys, and ongoing conversations, the plan focuses on three strategic priorities: financial stability, relevant professional knowledge, and meaningful member engagement. This article explains what the 2026 Strategic Plan is, why these priorities matter, and how member input directly shaped ISSP’s direction. What the ISSP 2026 Strategic Plan Is—and Is Not The 2026 Strategic Plan is not a long-term vision statement or a five-year forecast. It is a focused, one-year plan designed to deliver measurable progress. The plan is intended to: Strengthen ISSP’s financial sustainability Modernize sustainability education and credential resources Improve the member experience across career stages Each priority includes defined actions, timelines, and success metrics, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Paper cut-out figures holding hands in a chain against a dark blue background.

Listening, Learning, and Rebuilding Connection: Reflections from Our First ISSP Town Hall

By Elizabeth Dinschel, December 18, 2025 • December 18, 2025

Elizabeth Dinschel, MA, MBA, is the Executive Director of ISSP Earlier this month, we hosted our first global ISSP Town Hall since I stepped into the role of Executive Director. I logged off that call energized, humbled, and deeply grateful for the honesty, generosity, and care that our members brought into the space. This Town Hall was never meant to be a one-way update. It was designed as a listening session — a chance for ISSP leadership and staff to hear directly from sustainability professionals across regions, sectors, and career stages. And you delivered. What follows are a few reflections on what I heard, what we learned, and where we’re headed next together. Why We Called This Town Hall ISSP has gone through a period of transition — new leadership, new staff, and a renewed focus on modernizing how we serve a truly global membership. Change can be energizing, but it can also create moments of uncertainty and disconnection. We knew we needed to pause, gather our community, and listen with intention. The Town Hall brought together members from multiple continents, industries, and disciplines. Sustainability practitioners, consultants, engineers, communicators, policy professionals, and career-transitioners all showed up with thoughtful questions and candid feedback. One thing was immediately clear: this community cares deeply about its work, about each other, and about ISSP’s role in supporting sustainability professionals at a challenging moment for the field.

Can sustainability be saved by tackling loneliness, not just CO₂ emissions?

By Raz Godelnik, Associate Professor • November 20, 2025

Raz Godelnik is an Associate Professor of Strategic Design and Management at Parsons School of Design — The New School. He is the author of Rethinking Corporate Sustainability in the Era of Climate Crisis . You can follow him on LinkedIn . Can sustainability be saved by tackling loneliness, not just CO₂ emissions? Earlier this month, I stopped at Sunshine Coffee in Laramie, Wyoming, on our way to Yellowstone Park. What brought me there was the fact that it’s a zero-waste coffee shop, with no single-use consumer items. In other words, there are no disposable cups — not for customers dining in, and not even for those who want their coffee to go, like I did. Instead, you can either bring your own reusable cup or get your drink in a glass jar for $1, which is refunded on your next order when you return it (or you can simply keep it, as I did). At first, I was excited about the zero-waste coffee shop concept, wondering what it would take for Starbucks and other coffee chains to adopt it and eliminate the waste that has become an integral part of our coffee (and other drinks) consumption. But as I waited for my coffee, I began to notice something else — something that had little to do with waste and everything to do with people. As I looked around, I noticed their stickers. Beneath the logo, it read: Zero waste. Community space . Suddenly it clicked — this coffee shop isn’t just about eliminating waste; it’s about creating a place where people feel connected. As owner and founder of Sunshine Coffee, Megan Johnson, explained in an interview with This is Laramie : “I wanted to bring sustainable values to Wyoming as well as build a business that serves the community.” That got me thinking about how the second part — serving the community — is integral to the first. After all, in a world where loneliness — a key barrier to people’s well-being — is on the rise, shouldn’t creating spaces for connection be just as central to sustainability as going zero waste?