While the pace of change toward, and beyond, sustainability can feel glacial at large, the knowledge that will get us there emerges rapidly. Keeping up with developments to effect change takes the energy of a keenly felt sense of purpose.

That’s something this episode’s guests have in spades. Throughout the conversation, the trio reflects on their professional journeys with generously shared insights.

Marianne, for example, found herself disillusioned by mainstream architectural practice — specifically, by a lack of effort to meaningfully target sustainable outcomes. So, after considerable research and planning, she detoured and set up The Regenesis Project in 2021.

Her vision for ecosystem restoration on the island of Bohol in the Philippines has already prompted the provincial government to integrate her approach into a 10-year development plan.

Marianne Therese Amores Dutta visiting Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia in 2015.
Courtesy of Marianne Therese Amores Dutta

Giovanni’s engineering studies in Milan were followed by work in China and Singapore that led him ultimately to a fascination with decarbonisation and resilience. He intentionally planned his career, he says, and highlights the value of early-career experience in sustainability-focused roles for developing high-level communication skills.

Giovanni Cossu (left) on the rooftop of net-zero energy building SDE4 at the National University of Singapore, where he previously worked in sustainability services.
Courtesy of Giovanni Cossu

Cristina originally studied anthropology as a means of trying to understand why Colombia’s biodiversity was undervalued. After two years embedded in rural and Indigenous communities, she saw a need to adopt a more systemic approach to tackling complexity.

This pushed her to further her studies in conservation and rural development, and eventually led her to science diplomacy and strategic partnerships for net-zero and nature-positive cities.

Cristina Gómez Garcia-Reyes speaking about urban biodiversity at the UrbanShift ‘City Academy’ event in Marrakech, Morocco in 2024.
Courtesy of Cristina Gómez Garcia-Reyes

The trio describes the critical steps they took along the way, from unlearning what they knew (Marianne), to applying selective judgement about career priorities (Giovanni), to harnessing courage in the face of system change (Cristina).

When sustainability is lived as a purpose, rather than simply seen as a career focus, the risk of a work-life imbalance is all too real. Cristina acknowledges how the massive quantity of information constantly emerging about sustainability can be exhausting, on top of other professional challenges. Embracing imperfection is the key to her personal resilience.

Cristina working with Arhuaco Indigenous leaders in Colombia.
Courtesy of Cristina Gómez Garcia-Reyes

Marianna takes the approach of being an essentialist — to be streamlined and intentional with both work and rest. Giovanni finds benefit in taking a big-picture view. He says it allows positive sentiments around opportunities for change to trump the challenges of complexity.

The Regenesis Project campsite on Bohol island, Philippines, in 2021.
Courtesy of Marianne Therese Amores Dutta

Staying the course in their professional journeys takes grit and flexibility, the trio reveals. Often, flexibility is most needed in the area of communication with stakeholders. When knowledge isn’t enough to sway perspectives, psychology plays a role.

Marianne finds that decoding stakeholders’ aspirations before a conversation begins is critical to good outcomes. Giovanni has learned that communicating from a personal perspective, rather than with data alone, is a better way to make his message stick.

Giovanni worked on an adaptive reuse project for the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore (designed by CPG Consultants and NUS Department of Architecture Special Projects).
Courtesy of Giovanni Cossu

Marianna, Giovanni, and Cristina rely on reflection and lived experiences to keep their hope burning. For them, global exchange, self-determination, acknowledgement of the human condition, and the joy of reconnecting with nature keep their passion for sustainability strong.

We look forward to watching their careers develop in the years ahead.