Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Dobratz.
Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I knew I wanted to work in the environmental field at a young age – to this day, I absolutely love being outside. My favorite place is floating on my back in a lake. I knew I wanted a career that would help protect this incredible planet. But -I had no idea what that career would look like. I earned a BA in Environmental Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College twenty years ago, and thought that might lead me to teaching Biology or pursuing a career as a ranger for the National Park system. It’s been exciting to see how the field has evolved, and what it means to be working in sustainability today.
My career started in the non-profit field, then I moved to a small start-up, and then the an un-planned move to working for myself.
The work we do takes a creative approach to advancing sustainability. We work with a variety of clients at different levels of engagement – from setting broad climate action goals, to finding unique solutions for managing their waste streams. We identify main areas of environmental impact, understand the motivation to make change, recognize areas for improvement, pull in the right team members to advance the work, and develop programs and projects that result in measurable change. If clients need deep expertise on a subject matter, we connect with our vast network of industry professionals to accomplish that portion of the project. Collaboration, creativity and flexibility have been the drivers of success for the business.
The field itself is constantly changing, so my path hasn’t always been straight, but it certainly has been fulfilling and a great adventure!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course not! So much of sustainability is about change – from small tweaks to full system overhauls. That means times of discomfort as we help clients understand the need for change, and also the opportunities and efficiencies that can be realized. Convincing businesses to invest in switching the way they’ve worked and asking their employees to do things differently isn’t always easy!
In addition, working for yourself requires a certain level of comfort with risk and uncertainty. It’s a roller coaster of ups and downs. You need to trust that you can do it, even when there are times that it feels like it’s just too much to keep going. Add on the general fear of “running out of time” with the real threats of climate change – that certainly adds a level of anxiety to the work! Thankfully, I still think roller coasters are fun.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I built native sustainability from the ground up – leveraging years of relationships and contacts, and a real desire to be a part of lasting change. I help clients discover opportunities, develop programs and projects, and tell their sustainability stories. This all happens in creative and inspired ways, meeting businesses wherever they are, without judgment. The work wouldn’t be possible without collaboration.
There is not a formula that works for all businesses, so we take the time to get to know our clients – what is motivating, where the pain points are, and what might be possible. It’s great to help clients realize that improvements can often save money! In general, I’m proud of the authentic relationships we have built over the years. These connections allow me to say “you know who you should talk to…”, turn around and make a connection, and watch positive change happen.
I am proud of the success we have helped achieve on behalf of our clients, including diverting thousands of tons of materials from landfills, reducing energy and water use, implementing green building features that reduce impacts, creating new sustainability roles within companies to ensure long-term success and much, much more. We literally get our hands dirty for our clients when needed (we’ve done a lot of waste audits!)
In the past few years, we’ve grown our impact with our Instagram feed (@NativeSustainability) and speaking engagements. These outlets have helped us educate and inform people industry trends, new products and businesses advancing sustainability and tips and tricks individuals can do to lessen their footprint. It’s been a great way to connect to personal impact opportunities. In short – we want to do whatever we can to help people protect this amazing planet.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Timing is everything, right? I am lucky to have found a program offering an environmental degree more than twenty years ago. Without the firm foundation, I’m not sure how I would have found my way into this field.
I am incredibly intrigued by people and jobs – there are so many careers I was never exposed to as a kid! I follow the Golden Rule and it’s allowed me to call in favors to my strong network when I need it. But more so, I have formed a team behind me that I know will help me and my clients achieve great things. l am absolutely lucky to have been exposed and introduced to such interesting and smart people, but I also believe it is my personal responsibility to care for those relationships.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.NativeSustainability.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nativesustainability
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nativesustain
