Headline:
From Spreadsheets to Sustainability: What It Really Takes to Make the Transition

Subheadline:
How Arpit Sharma’s post reframed the conversation around ESG careers—and why skills can launch your ESG career more effectively than you might think.

1. Introduction

“Can I switch to sustainability from a different field?” That’s the question Arpit Sharma hears again and again—and one he answered powerfully in a recent LinkedIn post that’s gaining traction across ESG and career transition circles.

Sharma, a mentor and expert in ESG reporting and sustainability careers, didn’t just offer encouragement. He mapped a clear path—one that’s inclusive, skills-focused, and deeply relevant to today’s workforce. His post offered a rare combination of empathy and practical advice. And the community responded.

The key takeaway? Skills can launch your ESG career—even if you don’t come from an environmental background.

2. Background & Context

Arpit Sharma helps people break into ESG and sustainability roles, often coaching mid-career professionals looking for meaning-driven work. With the rise of regulatory reporting (CSRD, TCFD), stakeholder expectations, and decarbonization goals, sustainability has shifted from a niche focus to a business imperative.

Sharma’s post couldn’t have landed at a better time. As companies gear up for ESG disclosures and more governments mandate transparent climate action, there’s a growing need for people who understand systems, data, and transformation. Not just scientists. Not just consultants. People from marketing, IT, project management, and HR are now crucial to this movement.

The message is clear: your skills can launch your ESG career even if your background isn’t traditionally “green.”

3. Main Takeaways

Transferable Skills Are the Gateway

You don’t need a degree in environmental science to break into sustainability. Sharma identifies six key skill sets that translate beautifully into the ESG space:

• Analytical Thinking & Data Skills
• Project & Program Management
• Communication & Storytelling
• Regulatory Awareness & Risk Management
• Change Management & Leadership
• Tech and Digital Tools Proficiency

These aren’t niche capabilities—they’re broadly available across sectors, from IT to finance to HR. Whether you’re coming from project management or finance, skills can launch your ESG career by providing the foundation for success.

It’s About Mindset, Not Just Experience

What stood out most was Sharma’s emphasis on mindset: you need the willingness to learn, adapt, and apply your experience in a new context. “Your domain (current role, sector) knowledge is not a limitation. It’s your sustainability superpower,” he wrote. In other words, skills can launch your ESG career if you’re ready to pivot your perspective.

ESG Isn’t Just for ESG People

The message was clear: the sustainability field isn’t reserved for environmental experts. It’s cross-functional by nature, needing voices from every corner of business. That’s especially vital for companies trying to embed ESG across their operations. The fact is, skills can launch your ESG career—whether you’re a marketing expert, HR professional, or project manager.

4. Community Reaction

Sharma’s post drew engagement from professionals across industries. David Morales Weaver, a project management specialist, commented:

“I’ve seen how project management in IT overlaps with sustainability work… the coordination, deadlines, and cross-team effort all translate so well.”

Others echoed similar sentiments—gratitude for demystifying the transition and encouragement to explore the sustainability space even without a ‘green’ background.

The community’s reaction reinforced the idea that skills can launch your ESG career, even if you don’t have a traditional environmental science background.

5. Our Perspective / Analysis

From a legal and consulting standpoint, Arpit Sharma’s message has implications far beyond HR and hiring.

ESG compliance is becoming embedded in contracts, shareholder agreements, and financing.

Cross-functional leaders who understand both business operations and ESG priorities are critical for executing sustainability-linked obligations. Skills can launch your ESG career by ensuring you’re equipped to navigate the legal and regulatory challenges that come with these growing requirements.

The rise in ESG litigation and reputational risk means storytelling, documentation, and regulatory fluency are not just “nice-to-haves”—they’re legal shields.

In our own legal practice, we’ve seen clients struggle not with ambition, but with execution—because they lack professionals who can bridge strategy, reporting, and people management. Sharma’s approach speaks directly to that talent gap, showing how skills can launch your ESG career and fill the void in critical business operations.

6. Call to Reflection or Action 

So here’s the question:
If ESG needs more than scientists—if it needs storytellers, risk managers, and team leaders—then what’s stopping you?

As Sharma rightly points out, “The sustainability field doesn’t just need environmental scientists—it needs changemakers from all walks of work.”

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to pivot your career toward purpose-driven work, this might be it. Skills can launch your ESG career, and now is the perfect time to make that shift.