Having spent 14 years pioneering sustainability at $16 billion meals and services firm Aramark, Kathy Cacciola stepped into her subsequent main problem in December 2021.
Now working as international sustainability lead of the meals program at Google, Cacciola oversees a fancy community of worldwide stakeholders, shaping sustainability methods throughout a worldwide portfolio of foodservice operators.
On this interview, she discusses the significance of acclimating to a brand new position, the 2 abilities which might be essential for carving out a profitable profession in ESG, and the massive points shaping sustainability in international meals.
Shannon Houde: Are you able to inform us a bit of bit about your thrilling job at Google?
Kathy Cacciola: Certain. I joined Google in December 2021 as the worldwide sustainability lead on the meals staff. In order that implies that I work on the intersection of the Google meals staff and our vendor companions, these companions being foodservice corporations which might be managing the everyday operations throughout our areas. Coming from my position at Aramark, I am primarily on what we might name the consumer aspect. And fortunately, having that deep experience and information of what’s and isn’t attainable — and the place these challenges are — means we are able to have a mutual understanding as the inspiration for an incredible partnership.
My present work sits underneath two essential areas of focus: meals loss and waste; and single-use plastics. So, whereas my remit is international sustainability and I am concerned in a number of completely different initiatives similar to balanced plant-forward (utilizing complete grains, beans/legumes, fruits, greens, nuts, seeds and wholesome oils within the majority of meals), in 2023 we’ll put that broader technique over our method.
There’s a very fascinating complexity to our group given the dimensions at which we work, and the truth that every thing at Google isn’t just about what we do inside our operations however about altering practices amongst our companions, after which scaling extra globally world wide as effectively.
Houde: Do you might have any recommendation on leaping into a brand new group and new position?
Cacciola:It takes time to get acclimated and to grasp all of the completely different stakeholders. For me having been at Aramark for 14 years, after which coming to Google, I misplaced my complete ecosystem of colleagues, lots of whom are additionally pricey buddies. Fortunately, at Google, in the course of the first few months of my position, a minimum of within the meals staff, our management staff gave a number of house to simply study, hear, take in and ask questions however not make any selections. There are such a lot of fundamental administrative items to rise up to hurry on in a brand new position, not to mention the subject material after which the stakeholders. So, give your self — and hopefully your management staff can provide you — the endurance and charm to construct a powerful basis in order that if you find yourself advised to run, you are truly capable of run.
Houde: Do you might have any suggestions for folk transitioning from careers in NGOs, authorities or suppose tanks to the personal sector too?
Cacciola: I’d simply take into consideration what abilities and experience you might have that may be utilized inside a special sector. Quite a lot of the time, individuals will get caught up in what sector they’ve been working in, but when you consider stakeholder engagement or mission administration, these are common skillsets. So, get actually clear on what your abilities and talents are and the way they apply in a brand new setting. And get actually clear explaining that.
Be able to pivot, and perceive what they are going to name you out on that’s lacking and have your reply as to how you are going to achieve success.
For instance, I used to be interviewing for a job on the World Cocoa Basis a few years in the past. I did not have any cocoa subject material experience, and I used to be within the remaining interview course of with the president of the group. He checked out me and he stated, “Oh, you have no cocoa subject material experience.” And I stated, “You have got 40 individuals on employees who’ve cocoa subject material experience. The very last thing you want is yet one more individual with cocoa subject material experience. You want any individual who is aware of ask these individuals the fitting questions, after which apply the solutions.” (P.S. I did get the job provide.) Be able to pivot, and perceive what they are going to name you out on that’s lacking and have your reply as to how you are going to achieve success.
Houde: Meals techniques are some of the expansive areas inside sustainability as a result of they’re so advanced. What do you see as probably the most urgent ESG points associated to your work?
Cacciola: Along with meals loss and waste, and single-use plastics, the opposite space that I am engaged on with our procurement staff is updating our procurement tips.
We’re engaged on updating our total requirements and people requirements are undoubtedly not restricted to plastics and meals waste alone however embody an entire number of matters and points — whether or not it is sustainable seafood, animal welfare or deforestation. One other broader overarching subject that each meals firm is considering today is round carbon emissions total or particularly related together with your bought items and companies — oftentimes the majority of a meals firm’s emissions. As soon as we’ve a way of what we’re buying, it’s then understanding what emissions are related to these purchases in order that we are able to proceed to cut back emissions over time as we drive in direction of our internet zero objective.
Houde: And what do you like about your job in the intervening time?
Cacciola:Nicely, I’d be remiss if I did not level out my love for the meals right here at Google (free wholesome snacks are in all places!) and our meals program total. However what I actually love is that I am working for a corporation that is actually dedicated to driving change. As I alluded to earlier, it’s not solely inside our enterprise and ecosystem, however throughout our companions and the broader market total. The extent of ambition is sort of vital. Even the meals waste targets that we introduced earlier this yr to chop meals waste in half for every Googler and ship zero meals waste to the landfill by 2025. As lots of you may be accustomed to, U.N. Sustainable Growth Objective 12.3 units a objective to halve meals waste by 2030. Ours is by 2025. So it’s a go massive or go dwelling angle, and that stage of dedication and ambition is constant throughout every thing that we do.
Houde: Inform us in regards to the challenges that you just face regularly.
Cacciola: I’d say the largest problem is round navigating our ecosystem of stakeholders. The extent of complexity at Google is critical. I accomplice with our personal meals staff, and we accomplice with all of our distributors, of which we’ve greater than 40 world wide. After which we’re additionally participating exterior stakeholders, whether or not it is consultants or NGOs. So, there are a number of pursuits, there’s a number of factors of view. There are additionally a number of sustainability groups throughout the group. Participating the fitting individuals on the proper time is basically, actually key to being profitable and is commonly some of the difficult facets of the position.
Houde: And on condition that, what two abilities do you suppose are probably the most essential so that you can be efficient in your position?
Cacciola: I feel endurance and the flexibility to hear and study to grasp context and completely different factors of view is crucial. The opposite talent is digesting massive quantities of knowledge and synthesizing it into clear and easy suggestions. These two abilities are actually necessary for sustainability professionals. Subject material experience as the inspiration for all of it, however you might have to have the ability to do these two issues in an effort to put your sustainability subject material experience into apply.
Houde: Are there any particular credentials or levels or certifications you may consider that somebody ought to have a look at to attempt to be in a task like yours?
Cacciola: I all the time advocate educational expertise but in addition sensible or hands-on expertise. Whether or not it is by an internship with an organization or a fellowship, you actually need to use the information that you have discovered in an instructional setting. I went to undergrad in [Washington, D.C.] so I did internships all by faculty with completely different organizations within the D.C. space. And that was undoubtedly useful for me to get that publicity. After which I interned with the Pupil Conservation Affiliation on a wildlife refuge in Alaska for a summer season. I do know a number of professionals take part within the EDF Local weather Corps program, which is a superb program, too. So, there are packages on the market you can look to past company-specific internship packages to get that broader expertise.
Shannon Houde is an ICF licensed profession and management coach who based Stroll of Life Teaching in 2009. Her life’s objective is to allow change leaders to show their ardour into motion and to dwell into their potential — creating scalable social and environmental affect globally. To comply with extra tales like these, be a part of Shannon for Espresso & Join the place she interviews sustainability practitioners each month to study extra about what their “day within the life” includes.
