My ethical career: Business development co-ordinator
29 Education A degree in anthropology and Swahili from the School of Oriental and African Studies. So, what do you actually do? I plan and manage Triodos Bank’s events calendar - we have more than 50 a year. I also manage the bank’s relationships with partners, and am always on the look out for opportunities to raise our profile and attract new customers. What makes your job so ethical? Triodos is an ethical savings and investment bank that only lends to businesses and charities that benefit people and the environment. The activities of the bank, and the organisations it supports, do not damage the environment or bring harm to people. Additionally, the bank keeps a log of all of its CO2 emissions, and then plants trees to cancel its environmental impact. How did you get into the job? After graduating, I volunteered with Friends of the Earth and later worked in their headquarters on genetically modified foods. Then I spent six months in Spain teaching English, and volunteering on organic smallholdings. I decided I wanted to learn about money, as it seemed to be the root cause of a lot of problems in the world. At Triodos Bank I started in admin, as I had no knowledge of banking. There I learnt how money lending works, and how Triodos does things differently. After 15 months I moved into the business development department as events co-ordinator. What skills and experience are needed in a job like yours? You need to understand a little about ethical banking and its impacts, and about social enterprise and the social economy. Another vital skill, and part of the fun of ethical banking, is the ability to communicate with a variety of people, from a representative of the Bank of England to an environmental activist running a wind energy project. What’s the worst thing about your job? Sitting in front of a computer. Email is often the most reliable form of communication with busy people, but it means a lot of my day is spent responding to messages. Any top tips for someone wanting to get into this sector? Volunteering is the best way to get experience and decide whether an ethical career is for you. If you don’t have specific skills, you may have to work in a position that you are not fully happy with, to gain the skills you need. Triodos Bank www.triodos.co.uk
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