Suggestions
Mike Hower
Fractional Sustainability Communications Leader - Coach - Connector - Writer - Adventurer - Board Member - Global Citizen
Mike Hower is a sustainability communication professional based in Oakland, California. Here's a comprehensive overview of his professional profile:
Professional Identity
Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact, a consultancy focused on sustainability communication. He describes himself as a "Fractional Sustainability Communicator, Coach and Connector" who helps companies improve their sustainability storytelling.1
Professional Focus
Core Expertise
- Sustainability communication strategy
- Sustainability reporting
- Social and environmental strategy communication
- Supporting purpose-driven companies and professionals
Career Background
Professional Experience
- Founder of Hower Impact in Oakland, California
- Worked in various roles including:
- Journalist
- In-house communications lead
- Sustainability communication consultant
Professional Mission
Hower is passionate about:
- Driving sustainable business forward through storytelling
- Addressing the "sustainability careers and connection crisis"
- Helping professionals break into and stay engaged in sustainability fields1
Credentials and Certifications
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards Certification
- CDP Standards Certification
- Sustainable Business Strategy Certificate from Harvard Business School Online
- Open Water Scuba Diver certification1
Educational Background
- University of California, Davis (Cum Laude)
- George Washington University (Summa Cum Laude)1
Languages
- English: Native or bilingual proficiency
- Spanish: Limited working proficiency1
Highlights
While there's plenty of sustainability job lists out there, I haven't seen any yet dedicated to communication / marketing roles.
That's why Hower Impact is starting a monthly Sustainability Communication Job list to serve as a one-stop-shop for communication and marketing jobs in corporate sustainability, ESG, social impact and climate tech.
The first list will be published on August 1. If you have a job you'd like to submit, you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/gB5yEhzB
The list will be published here and in our ENGAGE newsletter, so be sure to subscribe to that to be notified when the list drops.
“If you stand for nothing... what'll you fall for?”
This is my favorite line from Hamilton (which is my favorite musical).
Applying this idea to corporate sustainability, I think too many companies fail to clearly articulate what they stand for - and so they do stupid things that end up helping no one and ultimately hurt their own reputation.
Think of all the companies who really had no businesses speaking up about BLM due to having no real DE&I strategy - but spoke up just because everyone else was - today many of these companies are backtracking. Likewise, too many companies claim to stand for climate action but then continue to support political candidates who undermine climate policy.
Your purpose matters, but make sure that it's not being creating in a vacuum by your sustainability and marketing teams. If it isn't co-developed with your senior leaders and truly signed off by them - it's just a PR play likely to fall apart the moment a "purposeful" action becomes inconvenient.
