5 Things You Might Not Know About Sustainability Careers

Sustainability-related careers are experiencing rapid growth, and experts are predicting resilience as the business world gets greener. In fact, according to the International Labour Organization, the green transition is expected to create 25 million net jobs globally by 2030.

For ambitious business school graduates, a career in sustainability therefore offers potential job security, a future-proof skill set, and the opportunity to drive meaningful change.

So what do business school students need to know to get ahead of the curve and build a career in this fast-evolving field?

BusinessBecause spoke with Concepción Galdón, vice-dean of Business with Purpose and lead of the Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation at IE Business School, to uncover five things you might not know—but are definitely worth knowing—about sustainability careers.

5 things you might not know about sustainability careers

1. You must speak the language of business and sustainability

For b-school grads looking to embark on a career in sustainability, a passion for creating positive change is key. However, to truly make an impact and help shape a greener business world, business acumen is just as vital.

With expertise in social innovation and sustainability, Concepción emphasizes this, noting that understanding business principles ultimately provides you with the knowledge required to make informed decisions and identify opportunities to implement sustainable strategies. 

“You must speak the language of business and sustainability in order to succeed in a sustainability-focused career. This is where the fundamental change is at, and where you are going to be able to make a difference on a large scale,” she explains. 

As important as sustainability is, a key goal for any business is still to turn a profit. To lead environmental growth, you need to be able to identify how sustainability aligns with an organization’s financial goals.

“Being technically competent in helping businesses make money because they are sustainable—rather than despite being sustainable—is the main employability driver," Concepción adds. “Resilient career opportunities are tied to how we make money by being sustainable." 

2. Sustainability is the new digital revolution

When the digital revolution began in the 90s, many businesses hesitated, unsure of its longevity and fearful of job disruption. Sustainability faces some similar doubters today.

However, Concepción explains that just like the digital shift, sustainability isn’t a passing trend—it’s transforming how every industry will operate in the future. Many of those who embraced digital—Google and YouTube, for example—gained a major competitive edge; the same is true for sustainability. 

To stay ahead of the curve, you need to lean into it, she says. “Sustainability is creating roles in all these different sectors, from marketing to operations to strategy—a bit like the digital revolution did in the 90s. Therefore, like digital, you need to understand that sustainability is here to stay, and embrace it.”

To succeed in your career, you also need to be prepared for sustainability to constantly evolve; just as the digital landscape continues to evolve today with the advent of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“I tell my students at IE that you need to remain curious, keep researching, stay learning, and be ready for change at any time,” Concepción says.

3. Not all impact roles say ‘sustainability’ on the tin

Now that the business world is increasingly prioritizing environmental sustainability—driven by shifting consumer demands and governments worldwide pushing net‑zero targets—sustainability has permeated different functions and sectors.

This makes it harder to identify roles where you can put your passion for sustainability into action. As such, b‑school grads need to be more thorough than ever when reviewing job opportunities.

“Something that is important to understand is that impact roles are not always within a sustainability office," Concepción says. 

“You’re not necessarily looking for a position with ‘sustainability’ in the title; instead, you need to examine the skills section to see if sustainability applies.” 

For example, with the rise of greenwashing as a social buzzword, Concepción notes that many marketing roles now require knowledge of sustainability, even if it isn’t explicitly identified in the job title. 

“A lot of positions related to marketing now involve sustainability because greenwashing destroys more brand value than it creates. So it’s really important to thoroughly inspect job descriptions.”

4. Future business leaders need to understand sustainability 

With the future of business predicted to grow more green, ambitious b‑school graduates aiming to become tomorrow’s leaders will find their success inextricably tied, to some degree, to their understanding of sustainability.

Even if those not planning to pursue a career in sustainability will likely encounter the subject matter consistently throughout their professional lives.

“It’s becoming critical as we look towards a future world where our companies thrive and are in harmony with nature, for future business leaders to be competent in sustainability,” says Concepción.

She feels a great way to gain this essential skill set is to attend a business school that integrates sustainability into its curriculum, equipping students with the skills needed for a long, fruitful career.

“Business schools have a responsibility to offer students the opportunity to tap into this knowledge and training. At IE, for example, we offer a Master’s in Sustainability and Business Transformation designed to broaden students’ understanding of all aspects of ESG (environmental, social, governance).”

5. You need to move beyond theory and get hands-on 

To really grasp sustainability in business and ensure you’re prepared when you land your dream eco-role, it’s key that you marry theory with real-world application beforehand.

“You need to get pragmatic training—connected with the reality of business—so you can successfully drive change,” says Concepción.

With changing environmental conditions, new research, and constant technological advancements, sustainability in business is an ever-evolving concept. No two days in the field are the same.

As such, through hands-on training, you can expect to be ready for the curveballs a career in sustainability may throw at you, she explains. 

“Sustainability changes all the time, so you don’t just need theoretical training—you need to know how it works when you hit the ground running. You need to understand the real complexities and difficulties you may face.”

Business schools can provide this fundamental framework to achieve success in a sustainability career. For instance, the Master’s in Sustainability and Business Transformation at IE includes various hands-on challenges throughout its 12‑month structure. This ensures students learn theory, translate it into practice, and develop the knowledge and skills to future-proof their careers.