ProGRESS

An absolute livewire, Divya Kumar is a community engagement manager for Earthwatch Europe, responsible for overseeing Tiny Forests around the UK. She aims to hit the 300 mark by the end of 2025 and now describes herself as a socio-environmentalist. But when Divya was younger, though she had dreams of becoming a veterinarian or an animator, her parents encouraged her towards a corporate career. Divya describes how and why she stepped off her parents' ideal career path and how life changed again when, supporting her husband's career, Divya moved to the UK. You'll also hear how Divya's parents feel now about her career.Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes here…Also mentioned in the podcastNot The End of the World by Hannah RitchieUniversity of OxfordYou might also enjoy listening to:Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2Helen Walsh, designer, writer and conservation sector communicator S3 E11Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESSOn LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

David Kohnstamm is a thermal engineer and the chief sustainability officer and co–founder of Leafcloud, which offers its clients a truly green alternative to energy-hungry traditional data centres. David is scathing about the misleading use of the word ‘cloud’ to describe most data centres, since they are not the nebulous things that the word conjures up. The reality is much more solid – huge computers located in large buildings in the middle of an open space, requiring vast amounts of energy, air conditioning and water to cool down the resulting heat.Despite calling himself an introvert-extrovert nerd David, who is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, didn’t dream of becoming an IT entrepreneur. For a number of years he worked as a bicycle mechanic...Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page hereYou might also like to listen to:Nick Molden, CEO and founder of Emissions Analytics S1 E4Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Zoologist, microbiologist and science champion Dr Bushra Schuitemaker has carved out a career in research and is determined to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds know that science is for them too.Bushra’s stella science career is all the more remarkable because her local secondary school offered pupils no opportunities at all to take science A level courses. Now the school has full physics, chemistry and biology classes.Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page hereYou might like to listen to:Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer at University of Manchester S1 E11Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology, The Tyndall Centre UEA S1 E7Matthew Halteman, Philosophy professor and animal and food ethicist, S3 E10Lydia Carrington, Sustainability manager Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Dr Mark Sumner was one of ProGRESS's earliest guests, so his 2025 return to the podcast to talk about the latest developments in his career feels like a seal of approval.Mark talks about leaving Leeds University's School of Design at the end of the 2024 academic year in favour of a new role at WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.WRAP is a not-for profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) and for 20 years it has been pushing for global environmental action and circular living.Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page hereListen to Mark's original Season 1 interview hereYou might also like to listen to:Nicki Black, fashion and creative director S2 E3Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur S2 E5Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Business leader Justin Kelly stepped away from his C-suite role at the international engineering and technology company Siemens in 2022 and is now chief executive at Glass Futures, a not-for-profit tech membership organisation.Glass Futures researches more sustainable glass manufacture across the globe, so this role fits well with Justin’s other recent appointment, chair of Sustainable Ventures North, a hub for climate tech business start-ups and entrepreneurs, building on the success of its London beginnings.In this episode, Justin explains how he secured a university place, sponsored by Siemens, and how he rose to the top of the organisation.As a business leader with a valued voice, particularly in England’s North-West region, Justin also discusses using his experience and knowledge to influence, guide and support organisations and programmes in manufacturing, technology, transport, skills and education…Read more and find additional links on the ProGRESS website show notes page hereYou might also like to listen to:Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer, University of Manchester S1 E 11Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Season 3 round-up: The lightbulb moment Featuring all 11 guests, this end-of-season episode highlights guests' explanations of how, when and why they got into their career. For some, it was a natural progression from a childhood interest or obsession, while others had a lightbulb or lightning bolt moment that made them reassess their courses or careers.About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastOriginal content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellEmail: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk