Sophia S. Mwema - SEA Case Story

About Sophia: She is a passionate sustainability communications professional with specialized expertise in renewable energy and carbon markets. With international experience spanning Canada, Tanzania, Poland, and Germany, she enjoys partnering with diverse teams and cultures, collaborating across silos to translate sustainability goals into actionable, tangible results. Her experience in operational improvement projects and results-driven sustainability programs (e.g., B-Corp) demonstrates her ability to deliver measurable outcomes and impact. She offers insights on how organizations can enhance sustainability performance and stakeholder engagement.


Sophia holds an MSc in Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship & Sustainability from the Technical University of Berlin and an MA in International Business Consulting from HWR Berlin. She is equipped to integrate sustainability into business model design for long-term value creation. 

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


I felt it was a great way to prepare myself as a sustainability advisor. I am extremely invested in the broad integration of sustainability thinking in business management, in driving innovation strategies, and in inspiring new ventures and solutions for social and environmental challenges. 


I understand that my experience in renewable energy and carbon markets is only a tiny part of the transition to a sustainable economy. Therefore, I took the opportunity to broaden my scope beyond energy to learn about water management, food security, biodiversity topics, and any intersections with natural capital.


More immediately, I am accountable for responsibly crafting messaging in my role of sustainability communications. To that end, I work diligently to investigate and correctly learn the foundational sustainability concepts so that my information and analysis are founded on a deeper reflection of facts.


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


I use sustainability knowledge in many ways in my career. The most impactful has been understanding and explaining the nuances of sustainability concepts. The advice I integrate into content considers the tradeoffs involved in decision-making and holistic approaches that appreciate the social as much as the environmental aspects. I am also working to embed a strong sustainability perspective in the business implementation of sustainable practices. 


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


Read broadly and deeply, especially at the beginning, to see the interconnectedness of elements. I found my preparation for the SEA sufficiently explorative in introducing concepts, frameworks, methodologies, and tools. I would emphasize understanding the fundamentals, to which you can apply the learnings to different contexts. But learn the science. 


There are innumerable free resources to start. Find a way of continuous learning that works for you—podcasts, books, wikis, open courses, thought leaders, mentors, the list goes on. I've also found it helpful to join communities of practitioners for both networking opportunities and knowledge exchange.


The sustainability community is an empathetic and generous bunch; reach out! 

#OpenDoorClimate is one such example. 


Lastly, the sustainability field is a dynamic space that requires conscious effort to keep up with new knowledge, technologies, standards, and regulations. It is both challenging and rewarding, but it is important to pace yourself. Do not be overwhelmed by the learning; it's a process.

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

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?

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?
More blog posts