Audrey Woychick,
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Systems Management, 2021
Why did you choose this program while attending the University of Minnesota?
I wanted to find a program that merged my interests in business, marketing, policy, and sustainability.
Where do you work and what is your job title?
I currently work at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce on the Waste Wise team as a Sustainability Specialist.
Describe your current role at your company - what is the big picture of what you do?
I work on business and recycling grants in Hennepin County to help businesses and non-profits shift away from single use materials and reduce their waste in their operations. I also work on our MNimize program to help food service businesses, bars, and coffee shops shift away from single use plastic to compostables and reusables.
What does your typical day look like in your role?
My day varies every day. Some days I am out doing visits to large scale manufacturers, some days I am visiting small non-profits, and other days I am visiting a brewery. Some days I am also doing recycling trainings for businesses to help staff understand how to dispose of their waste. When I am not out on site visits or doing trainings I am normally working from home or our office on recommendations for participants, doing research for tough to manage waste streams, or helping folks apply for grants.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy how every day is different and I am constantly learning. I get to work with all types of businesses in Hennepin County and no two days are the same. I also get to easily see the impact of my job through diversion calculations we do at the end of grant terms. It is easy to feel good about the work you do when you can calculate in pounds how much waste you diverted from a landfill!
How has your education from the U impacted or influenced your life and career?
I think having such a specialized degree that also covered a wide range of topics set me up for success in any career. I didn't initially work in sustainability upon graduating, but this degree still set me up for success in my previous role. Large themes throughout the degree such as systems thinking, broad sustainability, management & marketing skills, truly apply anywhere. In my current role I use skills we learned in the classroom daily. Having a knowledge about the sustainability world and some of the connections I made in undergrad, I still use daily in my work.
What are one or two of your proudest professional or personal accomplishments that occurred after graduating from your program in which your education played a role?
In my previous role, I worked in marketing/events/sales for a running shoe company. Last year REI, one of the places the products were sold, announced they would stop selling products with PFAS in them by fall of 2024. This didn't account for many products, but my team had to go and educate the sales people at REI about how we were changing our products to meet this standard. One of the required courses for the Corporate Sustainability Systems track in environmental engineering. A section we spent a good chunk of time on was PFAS and the impacts of it in our waste water, and potential solutions.
When there was news about this standard my team was meeting to discuss how we were changing materials in our products, and how we would spread the message we were making safe products. This served as a time for me to be a spokesperson for my team on what PFAS is, the impacts it has, why we were making the change away from it, and how to educate customers and staff members on the change. Even though I wasn't working in sustainability at the time, it was super cool to be able to use my degree and educate my coworkers on the importance of sustainability and how it impacted our work at the time.
What advice do you have for current or future students interested in pursuing a similar career in your field?
Use all the resources the university has while you are in undergrad. Network with folks, join clubs, find your passion. SSM & BBE are such specialized degrees that are super valuable to employers. I wouldn't be where I am right now without using the resources through the university and making connections while in school!