What does it really take to build a career in corporate sustainability and sustainable finance in 2025?

In this episode, Maria Maisuradze, Founder of ED4S, sits down with Nawar Alsaadi, Co-Founder of Kanata Q, for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about the realities behind ESG roles—beyond the buzzwords and glossy reports.

Drawing on experiences across startups, NGOs, and institutional environments, Nawar shares how sustainability careers rarely follow a straight line—and why that's often a strength rather than a weakness. Together, Maria and Nawar unpack whether a "typical" sustainability career path even exists, where professionals are entering the field from today, and how motivations shape success. From ESG idealists driven by impact, to ESG capitalists focused on value creation, to the increasingly influential ESG agnostic. each mindset plays a role in shaping the field.

The conversation dives into the day-to-day reality of sustainability roles: building a credible business case, setting meaningful KPIs, managing reporting pressures, driving internal buy-in, and balancing ambition with organizational constraints. Maria and Nawar also explore how the ESG space is evolving in 2025; from a compliance-heavy focus toward strategic value creation and decision-making.

Finally, they offer practical advice for those looking to break into sustainability—or for professionals already in the field seeking clarity, resilience, and long-term impact as sustainability leaders within their organizations.