When Blair Crichton started out, a career in sustainability was hardly possible. Now he is the co-founder and chief commercial officer of a company at the frontlines of fighting climate change by providing smart food choices
Transitioning from the world of finance to a career in sustainability was a significant turning point in my life. Since I was a kid, I had always been passionate about environmental causes. Captivated by the beauty of our planet—and scared by stories of extinction—my best friend and I created a secret club where our goal was to save all species. I became a vegetarian at age four when I found out where meat came from. Little did I know that these childhood concerns would eventually shape my career path in the years to come.
When I graduated from university, working in sustainability wasn’t even a clear career path. The concept was still in its infancy and few people recognised its potential for significant impact. So, I embarked on a career in finance, driven by the promise of financial success and stability. While I found success in the banking industry, there was always a lingering feeling that something was missing. My dad had always guided me to do what you love, and if you didn’t love your job find something else. It took a while, but I eventually took that advice to heart and quit banking to pursue my MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth—partly to figure out what it was I really wanted to do.
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It was during my time at Tuck that I started truly reflecting on what I wanted to do with my life. It was a pivotal moment, coinciding with the emergence of clean tech as a transformative force. Whilst I was applying to Tuck in 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed, Tesla launched its Model 3 and headlines were ablaze with news of record investment into renewable energy and other sustainability innovations, all signalling a shift towards a greener future.
I couldn’t help but be drawn to this wave of change. As I delved deeper into the topic, the urgency of addressing climate change became increasingly clear to me, along with the belief that I could build a successful career whilst doing it.
Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges our planet faces. Its far-reaching consequences—from extreme weather events to rising sea levels—threaten the very fabric of our existence. We have a moral obligation to safeguard our planet for future generations, and addressing climate change is paramount in achieving that. This realisation was the catalyst that led me to seek a career that would actively contribute to mitigating climate change and building a sustainable future.
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