SLI Fellows Form Cross-Boundary Connections
As the 2022-2023 Sustainability Leadership Initiative (SLI) class concluded this spring, those part of the second class are reflecting on what it means to be a SLI Fellow. April Donnelly and Alex Sturgis are part of the exclusive group of sustainability leaders who now share a unique bond in more ways than one.
For starters, Donnelly and Sturgis come from completely different backgrounds. As a part of the South Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Donnelly manages legislative and policy engagement, focusing on both state and federal conservation interests. Sturgis is a business development manager for Siemens Industry, Inc., helping Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries develop and implement strategic plans to achieve their energy and sustainability goals.
“We didn’t have these deep relationships with many of the companies,” said Donnelly. “We knew some through the philanthropic arm, but in this practicing space, the SLI was an opportunity to listen, meet and hear more of the stories that wetted our appetite.”
For Sturgis, joining the SLI class was an opportunity to get plugged into the sustainability conversation in South Carolina and develop a holistic understanding of what’s actually happening at the local level across all industries.
“We’re learning what’s possible and available here in South Carolina in terms of resources,” Sturgis said. “So, when talking about ROI, that’s one of those things that we can say it’s here, we’re close to it, and then we can bring that to our corporate community and present it as an opportunity.”
A professional development program at its core, the SLI is a commitment. Throughout the eight-month long program, SLI members traveled across the state for special on-site visits to various businesses that are part of Sustain SC’s membership network. The trips provide a unique opportunity for SLI Fellows to learn about company best practices, processes and plans, and hear from sustainability professionals firsthand.
It’s not every day you gain access to the BMW manufacturing plant in Spartanburg or Boeing in North Charleston. In January, the SLI class met at the Port of Charleston to learn how a recent dredging project not only played a huge role in the deepening of the Charleston Harbor, but how it also helps maintain healthy bird habitats. These field trips serve a real purpose, highlighting a tangible example of the synergy between commerce and conservation.
From the conservation side, Donnelly said SLI provided the means to cast a wider net amongst leaders who may have had preconceived notions of what her organization does or an overall misunderstanding of their mission.
“As people, we tend to place things in boxes, it’s in our human nature. But [sustainability] is one of the areas where industries are fitting into all the boxes,” she said. “For us, it’s beyond conservation. This is about job creation, economic prosperity and development, supply chain, revenue. We love all this, too!”
Sturgis has also found sustainability to be an inherently cross-boundary connector. While certain buzzwords have become political triggers, Sturgis feels his experience in SLI has shown him there’s a lot of middle ground.
“At the end of the day, conservation is the common thread of every South Carolinian. Ask anyone who lives here, ‘What are you doing this weekend?’ and it’s hunting, fishing, golfing, or going to the beach,” he said. “There’s room to grow but I think we’re a lot more ahead than people think. But aside from that, I don’t know anyone’s political affiliation in Sustain SC or SLI. It was never discussed and I think that’s all really healthy.”
Now certified, official SLI Fellows, both Donnelly and Sturgis look forward to what sparks from their involvement.
“In my corporate position, I am very familiar with what we are doing and what we are committed to at Siemens. But as a part of SLI, I’ve been able to learn from a peer group of professionals and leaders with varied backgrounds. I have no doubt I will continue to rely on my SLI fellows for professional support and collaboration in the future,” Sturgis said.
Donnelly shares the sentiment.
“The SLI–it’s meaty and thought-provoking and absolutely worthy of time and attention,” she said. “It’s fostering leadership that will bring about innovation and good things for South Carolina, and I am humbled to be a part of that effort.”
