For purpose-driven organizations, effective communication is pivotal in driving change, creating awareness, and fostering understanding across diverse communities and nations. Addressing complex global challenges such as climate change requires communications specialists with not only the skills to do the job well but who are also driven by the cause.
“As with any career path, it is important to follow your passion. You have to find a job that you wake up inspired to go to every day because this is somewhere that you are going to be spending most of your waking life,” said Laura Fuller, the head of communications for North America at the U.N. Environment Programme. Fuller began her career in the private sector before securing a position with the United Nations over 12 years ago.
For Sarah Marchildon, a communications officer at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, her journey from working as a newspaper journalist to the U.N. has been driven by a passion for environmental advocacy and a deep understanding of the power of communication. Marchildon believes this field is about being humble and knowing “that it’s okay not to have all the answers and to always be growing and learning,” she said.