If 90% of sustainability professionals believe their department won't exist in five years, where does that leave your career?

In this episode of the State of Sustainability, host Saif Hameed tackles the "sustainability bear market". With roles increasingly absorbed into procurement and finance, professionals must go beyond resilience to become "anti-fragile" - a concept from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, describing systems that improve under pressure. To thrive in 2026, sustainability professionals should be attaining hard, transferable skills in data insights and crisis management.

This episode includes strategic breakdown of where sustainability professionals can open up opportunities and make a difference:
• Corporates: Prioritise high-margin sectors like pharmaceuticals and personal care, where brand equity and free cash flow drive long-term commitment.
• Vendors: Exercise caution with consultancies and software firms, as the sector faces consolidation and AI-driven self-service is reducing demand for traditional advisory gigs.
• Non-profits: Despite recent criticism, these unsung heroes are stabilising and offer vital roles for honest brokers, capable of bridging government and corporate gaps.

The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq.

Ready to transform your sustainability reporting? Start your journey at Altruistiq.com

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.