Hello there friends! Happy to be back in your inbox after our family summer mini-sabbatical.
I’m now back in Amsterdam, writing to you from my perch above the canals. I’ve noticed that there's something about stepping away for a while that really clears the fog. You come back and things are suddenly obvious: what matters, what doesn't and what's been quietly taking up space for no good reason.
Another version of this happened at Reconsidered earlier this year. We rebranded, closed a few programs that had run their course and have put our full weight and focus on the strategic communications consulting work that's always been at our core.
Nothing got a pass, including this newsletter. Every project had to earn its spot on the new, leaner slate by having a purpose that was obvious, to us and to you.
So here I am, back from a summer break, ready to tell you exactly what you're signing up for when you stay on our list:
- A bi-weekly briefing on sustainable business, written with impact strategy and communications leaders top of mind. Each issue features five thought-provoking links, hand-picked from traditional media alongside Substack, LinkedIn and the occasional wild card. I also love pulling in context and commentary from other people far smarter than me.
- I am sooooo over AI slop. Everything in this newsletter is curated and written by me, with the kind of insights only possible when you’ve been working in this space for nearly two decades.
- This space can be heavy, man!! My hope is that each issue also delivers a smile, bright idea or jolt of delight (if only from our aggressively bright color combinations, which yes, are chosen with color therapy in mind 🌈).
- We also curate a few dozen Impact Jobs each issue and we do it with care: sourced from our network, posted within the last two weeks and sorted by seniority and geography.
- And we keep highlighting our community through Impact Interviews, now with a sharper focus on how sustainability strategy and communications leaders are navigating our changing space.
- PLUS, you always get first access (and often special discounts) to valuable resources, programs and events developed by us and our partners. 👯♀️
One more thing while I’m being direct: this newsletter is free, and I’ve got no plans to stick it behind a paywall anytime soon. But it does take a significant amount of work to pull together, so I’m actively seeking sponsorship partners who’d like to help keep it going. We offer sponsored job listings; short and medium-length posts for new programs, events, etc.; and custom options for partners who want to get creative. Our audience of 16,500+ is incredible and our engagement metrics back that up (if I can say so myself). You can book a post directly, or email team@reconsidered.co if you have something bigger in mind.
kay, that’s it from me! Let's get into this week’s issue…
✌️
Jessica Marati Radparvar
Founder, Reconsidered
What's On In Our World
- I’m counting down to Climate Week NYC and filling my agenda with a mix of practical learning/knowledge exchange sessions, inspiring speakers, family reunion-style hug-a-thons (I mean… networking events) and bagel breaks. Lots of bagel breaks. Shout-out to Susan McPherson’s curation, which is always a helpful resource. What other curated event guides do you have on your radar?
- Hard at work on some new research on sustainability comms and looking to speak with in-house practitioners off-the-record. All participants get access to a deeper set of insights than what we’ll make available publicly. Hit reply if you’re open to having a chat!
This Week's 5 Links
So much has been said about Dolly Parton since her death was announced earlier this week. That extends into the world of social impact, and I enjoyed digging into this profile of her simple yet effective approach to philanthropy, which experts observed was “so much more significant and serious than what you see from other celebrities”. A legacy worth celebrating, one that will hopefully inspire other public figures. (4 mins, 🎁 link, with 🙏 to my mother-in-law Roohi for sparking the research!)
With help from a prolonged gourd metaphor (stick with it), film director and climate activist Adam McKay interrogates the insidious lie he blames for stalling urgent climate action. This “preferred lie of the ruling class, mainstream news media, and corporations" is one we'll all find familiar… and one we may even find ourselves complicit in once we consider its many forms. A hard but important read. (12 mins)
The AI boom is touching every part of sustainability reporting, from data collection to how reports get drafted and published. This piece zeroes in on a less-discussed piece of that shift: stakeholders using AI to assess companies based on their reports, and what companies can do with formatting and publishing to make sure those assessments are accurate. (3 mins)
The latest episode of Joel Makower and Solitaire Townsend's podcast dropped at just the right time ahead of Climate Week NYC. Their conversation is a welcome reminder of the power of 1:1 connection for trust-building, the need to be thoughtful with commitments to avoid overstretching and the necessity of wearing flats and packing snacks (thanks Soli 🙏). (42 mins)
I lost a happy half hour in this shortlist of photographic entries to Textile Exchange’s annual photography competition run in partnership with Atmos. The images themselves are jaw-droppingly beautiful, though I noticed a real heaviness running through many of the entries. I found myself drawn to the lighter captures — a farmer's cheeky grin, a kid mid-jump on a trampoline, two sisters smiling as they work side by side — the types of images that make you feel the humanity and hopefulness of the solutions we’re all working towards. Take a scroll and let me know your favorites!
Impact Interview
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Aman Singh, Director of Global Sustainability Communications, Kenvue
On the importance of dot-connecting, tips for unsure career seekers and Aman’s vision for the future of sustainability communications.
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Impact Jobs
📣 Join Reconsidered’s Collaborator Network
We frequently partner with a close-knit collective of freelance strategists and creatives, and we are always looking to expand our network. These days, we're especially interested in folks with relevant project coordination/account management experience and impact report framework expertise.
💼 WRAP — Communications Specialist, EU (Amsterdam) *
Join WRAP as a Communications Specialist and shape its presence across the EU. You’ll develop and execute strategic communications, engage influential stakeholders, secure high-profile opportunities and build their reputation in circular food, textiles and packaging.
A few highlights from this week’s curation:
- Harvard University — Senior Communications Officer, Office for Sustainability (Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.)
- LEGO — Global Director, Sustainable Logistics and Distribution (London)
- Lush — Ethical Campaigns Coordinator, U.S. (Remote, U.S.)
- Pepsi — Sustainability Intern (Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.)
- The Nature Conservancy — Global Markets Development Coordinator (Various Locations, U.S.)
Quick Hits
📋 Most clicked from the last issue… How to Write an Impact Report — Vogue Business. Y'all appreciated this helpful overview of the current state of reporting in the fashion sector.
💻 Pathfinder offers small-cohort mentoring for leaders — leading change, new worlds, storytelling, emotional intelligence. September and October spots are open now. Book a call or find out more here. *
📆 Feel like sustainability is stuck reporting on past data? This one-day training on anticipatory leadership and futures thinking is for professionals who want to look ahead. Amsterdam, September 23rd. *
👯 In the Reconsidered LinkedIn Group, members are sharing ESG data webinars, environmental leadership awards and free masterclasses on nature-based solutions. Join 23k+ of us here.
*All posts marked with an asterisk and 📣 this emoji 📣 were sponsored by our partners — thank you for supporting our work! If you're interested in amplifying your job or initiative to our community, you can explore our sponsorship offerings here.