Welcome Amanda, tell us a little about yourself

I’m a native Houstonian and a UT Longhorn. I love good coffee and a good day hike.  I’m an optimist who believes that humans can invent and implement the solutions required to mitigate the effects of and reverse climate change.

I advise companies on how to assess and improve their social and environmental impact. I love how my job pulls from my business background, combines it with my passion for sustainability, and requires me to constantly grow and develop. Recently, I’ve been diving into the world of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and climate change risk analysis.

Describe the first time you felt a strong affinity for nature?

I’ve felt a strong affinity for nature as for long as I can remember, and I attribute that to my parents. They enjoyed spending time outdoors and appreciated the natural world. Most of our summer vacations as kids were a combination of visiting relatives and visiting national or state parks. We went camping over almost every Easter and Labor Day school holiday with a group of 6-8 other families, depending on who was available. I have so many wonderful memories of these vacations. Three vivid memories that immediately come to mind are visiting the vibrant pools and the smelling the strong odor of sulfur at Yellowstone, hiking among the giant trees and enjoying the woodsy, musty smell of pine needles at Sequoia, and enjoying the big night sky filled with stars at almost every camping trip.

Describe a time you participated at a Sierra Club event?  What did you do and what motivated you to participate?

I appreciate the high caliber speakers at the monthly meetings and the opportunity to learn about local issues and impact. I also participated in the Climate Change Reading Group. It was a refreshing and energizing experience, and I enjoyed the productive discussion on climate change.

What environmental message do you have for young people?

Set big goals and start chipping away. Every step forward, whether it’s a big leap or baby step, is a step in the right direction. Be flexible in your approach, so you can adapt and improve along the way. You may need to adapt your approach depending on the audience but that doesn’t mean you lower your goal.