Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.
Image courtesy of Tamara Giltsoff
Tamara Giltsoff is a highly respected sustainability strategist who has worked for brilliantly innovative companies such as live|work in London and OzoLabs in New York. Now Tamara has teamed up with two other pioneering sustainability thinkers John Grant and Jules Peck to form Abundancy Partners, a consultancy that aims to "radically innovate and evolve our communities, businesses and other institutions... to deliver a more prosperous and sustainable way of life for all." Tamara Giltsoff will be a familiar name to many readers of Planet Green's sister site TreeHugger, as she has, in the past, been a regular contributor to the site. Tamara's writing focuses on the importance of product service systems and design systems thinking to address the critical environmental issues we all face. Tamara also contributes to PSFK. Let's find out how Tamara became a Change Maker.
How did you get into this line of work?
Undertaking a management Masters Degree in Sustainability, Responsibility and Business Practice and working at live|work , a service innovation consulting firm. There we used strategy thinking to challenge the current (product-focused) paradigm of business, and influenced early sustainable innovation pioneers such as Streetcar and UK's Dept for Transport. Sputnik was also responsible for exporting me to the US and incubating and elevating my work in this area.
When did the green bug strike?
In 2001 I was in a house fire. I was rescued from the roof by firemen, inches from death and I lost all my belongings. It was both frightening and liberating; it brought me much closer to life on earth because I nearly left it (it's a shame it takes that). It made me realize how much 'stuff' we have in our lives when actually, it's not stuff keeping us feeling alive and in love with life. I was working as a brand strategist at the time; it changed my lens on marketing and consumption. So amongst other things, I took the step to undertake the ground-breaking Masters in Sustainability program, now at Ashridge Business School.
Who is your green hero?
Can there possibly be one? Sec. of Interior, Ken Salazar, is a recent. He spoke eloquently, with a whole systems view on climate change, environment and economics at the We Can Lead event in DC. It was probably the first Senator I've heard connect the dots. The CEO's of all the companies currently leaving the Chamber of Commerce right now. Other heroes include: Rob Hopkins of Transition Towns and Transition Network for enabling a citizen role in the agenda, and driving transformation. Alex Steffen for his whole systems views on issues and radical ways of shaping the world. Callum Grieve of The Climate Group for making Climate Week NYC happen. Jordan Harris, of OZOcar and Global Green, for his continued support of my work. And John Grant and Jules Peck, my partners in Abundancy Partners.
What is your ultimate green goal?
Economics decoupled from material growth. A small one!
What is your motivation?
A deep connection to my/our planet; I can't help it. I mean don't you love the feeling of wind in your hair, sun on your back, soft river water on your naked body, and extraordinary sounds in the air? A desire to catalyze human-brilliance and radical transformation, so our generation can look back not in anger over decisions we've made in early 21st century, but with pride. I have a gut feeling I'm the girl to drive some of this in a big way. Um, there's no Plan B
What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
That's the point, there's no single-issue approach to this. The environment is an entire connected system; a whole ecosystem that the economy and society is dependent on, but no one part of it. It so happens climate change has star status at this point. Climate change impacts and 'Adaptation' is likely to force my point. In other words, collapsing systems (such as the bees) or changing natural resource supply (such as depleting water).
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Working within the current model of economic growth, when the reality is, in Gaylord Nelson's words, "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around." We are a world headed towards nine billion people. What is needed is nothing short of an industrial revolution and change of worldview to rethink the perversity of limitless growth, on finite planet. After all, "What's the business case for ending life on earth?," as Ray Anderson has said.
What is the most rewarding?
The very challenge I describe above. It's the most interesting global, philosophical and economic discussion in my history. It's being part of the discussion, learning and leading that is the rewarding part, for me.
Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
Anyone who can think and make or affect decisions with a connected, whole-systems approach to challenges; people prepared to rethink the system not just tinker with a part of it. Dan Barber of the Blue Hill Restaurant at Stone Barns, and many other food leaders such as Michael Pollan, have impressed me. They work with a systems view. Lately, anyone prepared to be radical, to speak the environmental and economic truth, and to move policy and the market. Though I haven't yet, I'd like to work with Pollan for exactly this reason. There is so much value to create in the transformation of sectors.
What green thing do you do everyday?
Notice, things going on in the world and around me. I cycle everywhere; it forces you to notice. It was Gill Coleman who advised me to, "Just notice, the small things going on in the world. And things will change."
What is your biggest eco-sin?
"Eco" is dead. The word put next to anything with a hyphen undermines the intent and challenge of the industrial revolution required, as I described above, because it typically indulges business as usual. It is a sin, looking back, that yes I have used that word (quite a lot actually) to describe any kind of solution to climate change, peak resources and a failing economic system. You can't eco your way out of market drivers that require revolution, not reform.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
GDP. Can you imagine; we measure ill health and environmental damage as measures of positive economic activity. President Sarkozy is on to something.
What is your best green advice?
Join the revolution. And notice.
