How do you see the role of women evolving in the field of sustainability over the next decade ?
Jennifer Motles There are a lot of women in sustainability , but they ’ re still so many barriers for women to actually be able to compete and thrive in equal ways because there ’ s so much of the system that does not make it easy .
It ’ s important to have awareness of the privilege that we have in the positions that we hold , just by the fact that we are representing our companies in a leadership role . It means that you are bringing representation and paving a road that is wide enough that others can work with you .
It ’ s very important to not forget that alongside the privilege of holding this role , driving change , being passionate about sustainability and trying to do my job well , I ’ m also a woman holding that space so that others can actually grow under me or with me .
The way to address systemic issues like climate change or poverty or inequality is to acknowledge them and have a platform to discuss them .
SUSTAINABILITY AT PMI
Jennifer Motles , CSO at PMI – “ PMI is traditionally known as a tobacco company – for many , many years our main product was cigarettes . The reason why a company like ours has a Chief Sustainability Officer is to drive the transformation of our business so that its success is no longer based on making or selling cigarettes .
“ This is part of that systemic change of how a company , any company , understands its role in society in terms of serving a purpose and adding value .
“ In our case , it ’ s about understanding that we need to change our product fundamentally . This is what sustainability mean at PMI .”
THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN IN SUSTAINABILITY , BUT THEY ’ RE STILL SO MANY BARRIERS FOR WOMEN TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO COMPETE AND THRIVE IN EQUAL WAYS
106 January 2025