What keeps experienced sustainability leaders hopeful when the world around them keeps changing?

In this episode of Rooted: The Human Side of Sustainability Leadership, I'm joined by Katherine Rolfe, Director of Corporate Sustainability at Wickes. With more than 25 years' experience spanning consultancy, Heathrow Airport and retail, Katherine has seen political priorities shift, new legislation emerge, ESG rise to prominence and public attention move from one issue to the next.

But rather than seeing these as endless cycles, Katherine offers a different perspective. She sees them as evolution.

Throughout our conversation, we explore how sustainability leadership has changed over the last two decades, why maintaining perspective matters, and how focusing on the influence we have today can create ripple effects we may never even see.

One of the things that struck me most was Katherine's curiosity. As a child, she remembers watching Newsround stories about acid rain, the ozone layer and rainforest destruction. While others might have become campaigners or activists, Katherine simply wanted to understand. That curiosity eventually led her into environmental management and corporate sustainability, helping businesses become part of the solution from within.

We also talk about something I think many sustainability professionals will recognise: balancing passion with commercial credibility. Early in her career, Katherine felt she needed to dial down the environmentalist in herself in order to be taken seriously in business. Today, she sees things differently. She believes sustainability leaders have an important responsibility to speak with conviction, because if they aren't prepared to champion these issues, who will?

Another highlight of our conversation is Katherine's story about the unexpected power of influence. One presentation sparked an idea that eventually became a project tackling wildlife trafficking using artificial intelligence. It reinforced her belief that meaningful change often begins with a single conversation, and that some of our greatest impact comes from connecting with people outside the sustainability profession who bring completely different skills, experiences and ways of thinking.

We also explore why sustainability communities are so valuable. They're places to learn, recharge and connect with others who understand the challenges of the role. But Katherine believes we shouldn't stay in that echo chamber for too long. The real work happens when we take those ideas back into our organisations, building relationships and influencing colleagues who may see the world very differently.

Whether you're working in corporate sustainability, ESG, environmental management, or you're simply interested in leading positive change within organisations, this conversation is a reminder that progress doesn't always happen in straight lines. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is keep showing up, stay curious, maintain perspective and trust that our influence extends further than we realise.

In this episode we discuss:
• Why Katherine sees sustainability as an evolution rather than a series of endless cycles
• Staying hopeful and maintaining perspective during changing political and commercial priorities
• How childhood curiosity about climate change and environmental issues shaped her career
• Building a career in corporate sustainability and environmental management
• The influence of teachers and careers advisers in shaping career choices
• Why one conversation can create unexpected ripple effects
• Working within businesses to create meaningful change
• Connecting with people outside the sustainability community to achieve greater impact
• Balancing commercial credibility with authentic passion for sustainability
• Why sustainability leaders shouldn't feel they have to hide their enthusiasm
• Leading change through influence, relationships and practical action
• What keeps Katherine optimistic after more than 25 years in sustainability

About Katherine Rolfe
Katherine Rolfe is Director of Corporate Sustainability at Wickes. She has more than 25 years' experience in sustainability and environmental management across consultancy, aviation and retail, helping organisations integrate sustainability into strategy, operations and decision making.

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