Happy to be making a positive impact every day, the Re_Set Consultant shares what it is about her work that gets her out of bed in the morning
I fell in love with the UK when I first visited from Romania, aged 14. Probably a bit inspired by Harry Potter, I dreamt about studying here – so that’s what I did a few years later at the Cass Business School (now known as Bayes Business School). I went on to start my career at EY, then moved to Capgemini Invent, where I worked in the Innovation and Strategy team. However, my passion for both entrepreneurship and sustainability drove me to Re_Set in June 2021. Now, I’m doing what I’ve always wanted – designing and building sustainable businesses.
I want to continue enjoying my time on a thriving planet. But I know that means I need to help businesses operate differently. My studies and work have led me to realise that change can’t happen unless it comes from the very top. Boards and leaders of the largest organisations need to ‘get it’ and start moving the wheels of the organisation in the right direction. At Re_Set, we work with leaders at the top of the largest organisations to help unpick the types of questions that define the role businesses will play in a sustainable future.
Working for a B Corp means we’re all pushing towards the same goal. I think the impact I can make here is unlike anywhere else. I trust that the leaders of the business understand what we, as employees, want from our workplace for the long term. I also trust that they want to help us get there: both in terms of achieving a happy workplace, and in terms of the impact we have externally in the community, for the planet and with our clients.
At Re_Set, everyone is so passionate about what we do. It feels like we speak the same language
Sophia Ambrono, Consultant, Re_Set
My at-work superpower is commitment. When I get involved in something, I never do it half-heartedly. I always like to feel that I’ve done everything possible in my power to achieve the best outcome. With that in mind, I get frustrated when I see lack of commitment in the people I work with. That’s why Re_Set is such a great place to work for – everyone here is so passionate about what we do. It feels like we speak the same language.
In a meeting, you can count on me to bring the coffee – and the challenges. I think we should always consider all the options and discuss the topics that may not be obvious – to spark new ideas or bring us confidence in our existing ones.
I feel lucky that the job I do has such positive impact. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. (Well, that and my cat asking for food!) I’m proud of Re_Set’s recent work for M&S. We applied creative, next-generation thinking to a problem that’s been plaguing the UK retail sector for ages – plastics. Our brief was to help M&S identify creative ways of engaging customers to reduce their plastic footprint. We came up with two high-impact concepts that would have significant impact, particularly if launched at the industry level. The impact that changes like those we proposed could have on the retail industry overall is immense, as they engage customers effectively to change their behaviour for the long-term – something retailers have tried to crack for decades.
In 2022, I predict some businesses will realise they’re running out of time to think about sustainability. Those that haven’t asked the question about how they can achieve their sustainability targets will find themselves in trouble. In contrast, those that have will see themselves set up for success for the long term and gain a huge leap in front of their competitors.
I love operating at that intersection of turning great strategic ideas into business reality
Sophia Ambrono, Consultant, Re_Set
Clients should come to me if they need help with translating their strategy effectively across their business model. This is particularly important now, as so many sustainability strategies need to move from pledges to plans. Doing that at an organisational level is incredibly disruptive and it requires careful and strategic consideration. I love operating at that intersection of turning great strategic ideas into business reality – creating new business models that can operate in a sustainable future.
Considering a career in consulting? Reach out to people in the industry to understand if it’s the right career for you. It can help you gain insight into real-life projects, and it will help you shape your answer when asked: “Why do you want to join consulting?” There are many types of consulting businesses, so understanding what type of company you want to be in is also important. For example, knowing if you’re passionate about digital or sustainability consulting, innovation and design or pure-play strategy. These are only a handful of examples of what’s out there!
I love to cook. I enjoy the process of preparing food to help me switch off on a weeknight, but it’s even better when I have a big meal to cook for my friends.
Don’t get me started on scuba diving. I fell in love with it a few years back and, since then, every beach holiday had an element of this. The underwater world is such an incredible place that we know so little about – yet is has such an influence on us. There is of course a massive sustainability discussion around the role that oceans play in keeping us at less than 1.5 degrees warming. I believe that if people would learn more about oceans, we would appreciate and respect the blue world and its wonders much more.
Sophia is a Consultant at Re_Set. To speak to her about translating your strategy across your business model, email her. Meet the rest of the team here
