A Conversation with Climate Activist Anne-Fleur Goll
From corporate boardrooms to grassroots activism, Anne-Fleur shares her journey and offers tips for driving sustainable impact.
In this week’s newsletter, we are thrilled to feature Anne-Fleur Goll, a passionate activist and Climate and Finance Consultant at Deloitte. Anne-Fleur has made a name for herself through her unwavering commitment to climate action, notably with a powerful commencement speech at HEC Paris. Since then, she has continued her advocacy for sustainability, and today, she helps businesses transition to more sustainable practices. In this week’s newsletter, Anne-Fleur reflects on her journey, shares her tips for aspiring activists, and discusses the role of businesses in fostering a more sustainable future.
What Prompted Anne-Fleur to Get Involved with Climate Activism?
Like many of us, Anne-Fleur wasn’t sure exactly what career path she wanted to pursue during her time at school. However, the urgent need for action on climate change ultimately guided her decisions.
“I actually chose to have a career in sustainability before being an activist, and I think the activism part began afterwards. I chose to have a career in this to think about this every day and try to make this move forward.”- Anne-Fleur Goll
The issue of climate change resonates deeply with her generation, driving Anne-Fleur to consider sustainability as a career path and dedicate herself to making a real difference. Her impactful commencement speech at HEC Paris further solidified her role within the sustainability community.
Driving Change from Within the System
As someone who works within the corporate world, Anne-Fleur knows firsthand how difficult it can be to shift the momentum of large organizations. Yet, she emphasizes that change is possible from within, no matter how small the initial steps may seem.
“It's actually about everybody being responsible, including in what they do in their job, and then to have the courage to bring that up. Because, I mean, my feeling about working in companies is often that people feel like they don’t have the power to make the companies move because it's a huge boat and it's not one person that's going to move it. But it's just asking questions to your management, asking questions to your employees, and actually pushing things forward on your own perimeter, and asking questions to other people. It's just what it takes to kind of create a dynamic in a company.”- Anne-Fleur Goll
Anne-Fleur’s perspective is clear: by asking the right questions and advocating for change, we can begin to shift the culture within organizations toward more sustainable practices, no matter how challenging the task might seem at first.
Tips for Activists
For those inspired to take action on climate issues, Anne-Fleur encourages activists to find a path that resonates with their unique strengths and interests. She stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to activism, and it’s important to tailor your efforts in a way that feels fulfilling and sustainable.
“Find a way in which you feel like you have knowledge or that you're strong. It can be about going down in the streets, it can be about thinking up, it can be about writing things, drawing things, just talking about it within your work, outside your work.” -Anne-Fleur Goll
She also suggests that activists reach out to local organizations to see how they can contribute, whether it’s through time, resources, or expertise. It's all about finding a balance between what you can offer and what is needed by those already on the ground.
Conclusion
Anne-Fleur Goll’s journey from student to climate advocate is both inspiring and empowering. Her message is clear: everyone has a role to play in driving the change we need. Whether through corporate responsibility or grassroots activism, making a difference is about taking initiative, asking the right questions, and finding ways to get involved that align with your own values and strengths.
Thank you, Anne-Fleur, for sharing your insights with us. We hope your words inspire many to take action and contribute to building a more sustainable world.
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