Chapter Meeting – Sustainability in Business and Why Project Managers Matter Most

Topic: Sustainability in Business and Why Project Managers Matter Most

The learning objectives for Sustainability in Business typically include understanding the importance of environmental, social, and economic sustainability in business operations, identifying key sustainability challenges and opportunities, exploring strategies for integrating sustainability into business practices, and evaluating the impact of sustainable practices on business performance and stakeholder relationships.

Project managers play a crucial role in driving sustainability initiatives within organizations. They are responsible for planning, executing, and monitoring projects that aim to improve sustainability practices, reduce environmental impact, and enhance social responsibility. Project managers ensure that sustainability goals are integrated into project plans, budgets, and timelines, and they coordinate efforts across different departments to achieve these objectives. By effectively managing sustainability projects, project managers can help organizations achieve their sustainability targets, enhance their reputation, and create long-term value for stakeholders.

Julia Stenson leads the Client Success team for the Ellipse Decarbonization Platform at ENGIE Impact. ENGIE Impact delivers sustainability solutions and services to corporations, cities and governments across the globe.Prior to ENGIE Impact, Julia worked at Google in Product Operations, Program Management and Technical Solutions to support Fortune 500 companies optimize their return on advertising spend. With a background in Sociology and Business, Julia is passionate about collectively seeking solutions to establish impactful change for humanity.In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog (Dewey), running, practicing yoga and meditation.

Morgan Garritson has been a certified PMP since 2013, and has over 20 years working in software development in project and program management. In 2020, she joined Persefoni, a leading climate management and accounting platform, as Director, Project Management. While there she led product development, IT teams, and technical integrations. Prior to this transition to climatetech in 2020, Morgan built up an extensive career in technical program management, working with brands such as The New York Times, Twitter (RIP), Kawasaki, and This American Life.  Morgan graduated from UC Berkeley with bachelor’s degrees in political science and mass communications, and is working towards an MBA from the University of Oregon. She runs ImpactPDX, a collective of sustainability and ESG pros. She lives in Portland with her husband and two young boys.