Rooted: The Human Side Of Sustainability Leadership cover art

Rooted: The Human Side Of Sustainability Leadership

Rooted: The Human Side Of Sustainability Leadership

By: Liv Cropper
Listen for free

About this listen

 Is this the hardest job on the planet? Honest, human conversations with sustainability leaders about impact, balance and finding your way, hosted by transformational coach Liv Cropper. Olivia Cropper Economics
Episodes
  • 6: #6: Tara Schmidt - Executive Director at Transition Finance Scotland

    6: #6: Tara Schmidt - Executive Director at Transition Finance Scotland
    Feb 16 2026
    In this episode of Rooted, I am joined on my yellow bench by Tara Schmidt, Executive Director of Transition Finance Scotland, part of the Green Finance Institute’s mission for Scotland.
    Tara shares the roots of her sustainability career, from growing up on the Texas coast and witnessing environmental damage first-hand, to a global career spanning engineering, strategy, finance and policy. That combination gives her a unique combination of big picture thinking and on-the-ground pragmatism.
    In this conversation we explore why small actions really do matter, reflecting on Jane Goodall’s final words and her reminder that seemingly tiny steps can snowball into meaningful impact (watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLKHY52ERc).
    We also talk about reconnecting with what brought you into sustainability in the first place, whether that’s time in nature, forest bathing, or simply remembering your ‘why’, and the importance of understanding your own USP in a complex, evolving field.
    This one was thoughtful, grounding, and genuinely good fun.
    You can connect with Tara on LinkedIn and find out more about the work of Transition Finance Scotland on the Green Finance Institute’s website.
    If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe, post a review, and share this episode with your friends. I'd also love you to join my Rooted email community, where I share regular insights about the human side of sustainability leadership - click here to join.
    Have any questions? You can find me on LinkedIn or Instagram.
    Interested in one-to-one coaching with me? Check out my website to book a free discovery call.
    Thanks for listening!
    From Liv 💛
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 5: #5: Nick Valenzia, Co-founder, Leafr

    5: #5: Nick Valenzia, Co-founder, Leafr
    Jan 26 2026

    Nick Valenzia, co-founder of Leafr, joins me on my yellow bench. Nick shares what led him to start Leafr, and the mission that now includes over 1,000 sustainability consultants. We explore the motivation behind building a business that not only connects organisations with expertise, but actively helps people move into consultancy and thrive once they are there.

    What really stood out for me from this conversation was the pride Nick takes in seeing the professional and personal impact this work has had on the consultants in the Leafr community.

    Nick shares what he is seeing on the ground in terms of continued demand for sustainability knowledge and skills, even amid wider uncertainty and I came away feeling genuinely optimistic.

    We also talk openly about the emotional reality of starting up a new business, including rejection, self doubt, and the discipline required to separate feedback on an idea from your sense of self. Nick reflects on how he maintained momentum by reframing rejection as information, not failure, and by staying connected to the bigger mission.

    Throughout the conversation, we return to familiar themes from this podcast: celebrating progress, cultivating gratitude, and drawing strength from community.

    For anyone considering a move from in-house work into independent consultancy, Nick shares practical insights and resources as well as thoughts on a helpful mindset to adopt. You can follow Nick on LinkedIn, check out Leafr’s work at www.leafr.com and the sustainability leaders community Leafr have created here.

    If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe, post a review, and share this episode with your friends. I'd also love you to join my Rooted email community, where I share regular insights about the human side of sustainability leadership - click here to join.

    Have any questions? You can find me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    Interested in one-to-one coaching with me? Check out my website to book a free discovery call.

    Thanks for listening! From Liv 💛
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • 4: #4: Maria Nazarova Doyle, Global Head of Sustainable Investment, IFM Investors

    4: #4: Maria Nazarova Doyle, Global Head of Sustainable Investment, IFM Investors
    Jan 5 2026
    With nearly two decades in finance, Maria Nazarova-Doyle has built an impressive career at the intersection of money and purpose. After leading responsible investment at Scottish Widows, she now shapes global sustainability strategy at IFM Investors, which manages over £115 billion in assets.

    In this episode of Rooted: the human side of sustainability leadership, Maria describes her role in sustainable investing as “a dream job”- work that never quite feels like a job because of the long-term impact and intellectual challenge it brings.

    We explore the threads that run through her life, from early policy advocacy at school to her leadership in investment today, and reflect on how often we return to our earliest values. Maria encourages sustainability leaders to lean into developing their leadership capability alongside technical expertise. Despite her many achievements, she’s most proud of building strong, diverse teams that challenge thinking and bring different perspectives to complex problems.

    Optimism and purpose run throughout the conversation. Maria shares her team’s motto, “Keep Calm and Invest Sustainably”, and reflects on the importance of holding a long-term view even as political and external pressures shift. We discuss how purpose carried her team through the pandemic, and how difficult it can feel when that sense of purpose is lost.

    Finally, Maria shares the moment of luck that pulled her back from the brink of burnout, and the lasting changes she made to protect her wellbeing. We talk about why those working in this field may be particularly vulnerable due to the emotional investment the work demands.

    You can follow Maria on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-nazarova-doyle-cfa/

    If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe, post a review, and share this episode with your friends. I'd also love you to join my Rooted email community, where I share regular insights about the human side of sustainability leadership - click here to join.

    Have any questions? You can find me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    Interested in one-to-one coaching with me? Check out my website to book a free discovery call.

    Thanks for listening!

    From Liv 💛
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.