This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the remarkable individuals who contribute to our organization. Meet Sarah Mitchell, Business Development Manager.
What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Start birdwatching as early as possible! It is important to find awe in the small, or seemingly simple, wonders around you – it is grounding and will remind you that there is still beauty and joy when so much can seem bleak and insurmountable.
What’s a moment in your career that made you feel truly proud?
When I realized I could spend my days working on something meaningful and making a change in an environmental field – I guess when I started to work at Efficiency Nova Scotia!
Who has inspired you and why?
So many women who have fought and continue to fight for environmental protection and to make the voices of their communities heard. I often feel helpless in the face of the ongoing destruction of biodiversity and then I am reminded of the people who always found the hope and energy to drive change and it motivates me.
What’s one challenge you’ve faced, and how did it shape you?
Like many, I have faced challenges with stress and work/life/family balance, and in working through these challenges, I have gained greater understanding of myself, and those who may also be faced with similar demands – I suppose it has helped me consider what others are experiencing and to take this into account in my daily interactions with my peers, or strangers.
What advice would you give to the next generation of people in your industry?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what is possible. In my work with industrials as a non-engineer in a very technical field, I realized that I could question “how things have always been done” and that in doing so, changes can come about.