Sustainability as Natural Fit for Company
An Interview with Dr. Kathy Miller by Sue Morgan, OnTrack Consulting, LLC
The perfect person to talk with about sustainability is Dr. Kathy Miller, President of Miller Consultants, who has collaborated with clients for 30 years.First, let’s set the stage. Encarta Dictionary defines ‘Sustainability’ as:
1) Able to be maintained (viable, defensible, supportable); and
2) Maintaining ecological balance, exploiting natural resources without destroying the ecological
balance of an area, (environmental, green, and balanced).
Q: Did you see Sustainability as a natural fit for your company?
Kathy says it’s simple. “We have always focused on the long-term relationship with our customers rather than pushing products or services and engaging in short-term transactions. Kathy became particularly interested in the issues pertaining to the energy and environmental aspects of sustainability while working with one of Miller Consultants’ partner companies, MWH Engineering. MWH Engineering was building a new business in the area of strategic resource management. This business involved helping companies improve their energy and water efficiencies. This work uncovered some ‘softer’ needs such as how to get employees engaged in finding ways to increase energy and water efficiency. Frequently the work required getting employees to collaborate across unfamiliar boundaries within the company. The groups had differing perspectives and definitions of what needed to be addressed. Kathy says that she realized companies needed help in enabling the collaboration and engagement necessary to move these initiatives forward.
Q: Did you see Sustainability as a natural fit for your company?
Kathy says it’s simple. “We have always focused on the long-term relationship with our customers rather than pushing products or services and engaging in short-term transactions. Kathy became particularly interested in the issues pertaining to the energy and environmental aspects of sustainability while working with one of Miller Consultants’ partner companies, MWH Engineering. MWH Engineering was building a new business in the area of strategic resource management. This business involved helping companies improve their energy and water efficiencies. This work uncovered some ‘softer’ needs such as how to get employees engaged in finding ways to increase energy and water efficiency. Frequently the work required getting employees to collaborate across unfamiliar boundaries within the company. The groups had differing perspectives and definitions of what needed to be addressed. Kathy says that she realized companies needed help in enabling the collaboration and engagement necessary to move these initiatives forward.
Q: Did you see Sustainability as a natural fit for your company?
Kathy says it’s simple. “We have always focused on the long-term relationship with our customers rather than pushing products or services and engaging in short-term transactions. Kathy became particularly interested in the issues pertaining to the energy and environmental aspects of sustainability while working with one of Miller Consultants’ partner companies, MWH Engineering. MWH Engineering was building a new business in the area of strategic resource management. This business involved helping companies improve their energy and water efficiencies. This work uncovered some ‘softer’ needs such as how to get employees engaged in finding ways to increase energy and water efficiency. Frequently the work required getting employees to collaborate across unfamiliar boundaries within the company. The groups had differing perspectives and definitions of what needed to be addressed. Kathy says that she realized companies needed help in enabling the collaboration and engagement necessary to move these initiatives forward.
Categories: Sustainability, Communications, Culture, Leadership
Tags: Sustainability change green leadership communication
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