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Graduating from The University of Arizona with a pre-med degree, a field she admittedly had no desire to pursue further in her career, Marisa Mendenhall (CESG ’22) has now successfully carved her way into the sustainability space with her work as Manager of Commercial Real Estate ESG Programs and the President of the DEI Committee at , a sustainability consulting firm with the mission of addressing climate change and transitioning to a low carbon economy. Mendenhall attributes much of her smooth transition into the sustainability field to CESR’s Certificate in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) Strategy, a 16-week executive program that assists professionals in getting a broad understanding of corporate ESG and sustainability practices.

During an interview with Mendenhall, she provided meaningful insights into how the ESG Certificate has helped her enter the sustainability space, the emerging trends related to sustainability, and tips for establishing a quality network within the field.

CESR: To begin with, could you talk a bit about your experience with the Certificate in ESG Strategy with CESR, and what you took away from it?

Marisa Mendenhall: Overall, it was a super positive experience. Every week we received readings that were applicable to the topic of ESG being discussed that week and then we had a guest speaker came in to elaborate on those readings. Following the guest speaker, we participated in group activities, which allowed us to apply the information we learned from the reading and guest speaker. Everyone in the group came from different backgrounds, so we wear also able to learn from our classmates on what they were doing and how they were relating ESG to their careers. I thought the speakers were all very high-quality and were big names in the sustainability space. Everyone was very helpful and the program certainly had a good culmination of resources.

Could you take me through your career a bit before and after the ESG Program?

Marisa Mendenhall: ESG is the fourth chapter of my career story. Careers are often non-linear and can take you in roundabout ways to get to where you want to be. I left college with a pre-med degree knowing that it wasn’t something I wanted to do going forward. I then joined an IT firm to gain business experience and later transitioned into sustainable building material and technology sales in the commercial real estate industry. After that, I began consulting for startups in the building technologies space. I completed the ESG Program prior to joining Re Tech, which ultimately helped me receive my current position consulting for CRE companies on their ESG strategies with Re Tech Advisors. I can say that I am very passionate about real estate and sustainability.

"In the future, ESG will not be siloed anymore, but rather the way businesses operate moving into the future."

-says Marisa Mendenhall

What advice can you give anyone wanting to enter into the sustainability space?

Marisa Mendenhall: I would say just reach out and talk to as many people as you can. People in the sustainability space are generally really nice and are typically open to informational interviews. Also, build your network and build your credibility, with opportunities like the Certificate in ESG Strategy with CESR. Also, see if there are any projects you could do in your current role to gain experience with sustainability. This could help build your resume and begin the transition with what you are currently doing.

Do you see any prominent trends forming in the sustainability space?

Marisa Mendenhall: I think that simply being a responsible business and managing energy responsibly will become normal. In the future, ESG will not be siloed anymore, but rather the way businesses operate moving into the future.

"I think the way the world is going and what people care about demonstrates that people want to invest in businesses that are acting responsibly both for the environment and people."

-says Marisa Mendenhall

ESG has recently been receiving quite a bit of backlash from some politicians and media outlets. What are your thoughts on this controversy?

Marisa Mendenhall: I think it's silly that ESG has become politicized. Initially, ESG was really meant as a way to measure financial performance, but later the term took off more towards the sustainability and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) field. I think the way the world is going and what people care about demonstrates that people want to invest in businesses that are acting responsibly both for the environment and people. I do not see ESG work going away, we will just change the words we use.

For the many individuals who would like to pivot into sustainability roles, such as Mendenhall, CESR’s Certificate in ESG Strategy provides a broad overview of corporate sustainability and social responsibility, as well as, connections to an active alumni network in the field. Her work with Re Tech Advisors demonstrates that professionals from diverse backgrounds can find sustainability roles where they can make an impact.

Explore the Certificate in ESG Strategy and other CESR Business Resources here.