Sustalent Hub's first networking event

Why did we want to host this Networking Event?

After Sustalent Hub was founded, we were often asked: “What exactly are you trying to do?”

In the beginning, we were still figuring things out ourselves. But one thing was clear: we wanted to create a space where people working in sustainability could meet each other in a more relaxed way.

In our day-to-day work, everyone is in a different position. Some people work on disclosure, GHG inventories, sustainability reports, or supply chain management within companies. Some work in consulting, policy, non-profit organizations, or solution providers, dealing with all kinds of sustainability-related challenges. Others have just entered the field and are still figuring out where they want to go next while working.

But a lot of these experiences do not always have a place to be properly shared.

Some work is hard to explain to friends outside the field. Some challenges cannot be solved just by searching for information online. Sometimes, you simply want to ask how others are doing things, hear what is happening in different companies, or realize that you are not the only one facing these questions.

So the idea behind this Networking Event was very simple: no class, no lecture. Just a Saturday evening where everyone could come out, have some food and drinks, and chat about work, career changes, industry observations, and where they each are on their sustainability journey.

How did the event work?

This was Sustalent Hub’s first relatively large in-person networking event.

On the evening of November 2, nearly 70 people joined us at a Taiwanese fried chicken bar in Zhongshan, Taipei. There was no specific topic and no complicated agenda. Our main role was to prepare the space so that everyone could chat naturally.

Unlike some of our later events, which had more structured themes, this one felt more like a large gathering. Some people met up with friends they already knew, while others were joining a Sustalent Hub in-person event for the first time. People moved between tables, talking about work, career transitions, and their recent observations of the sustainability field.

It also felt like a large offline reunion. Many people who had only seen each other’s names or comments online suddenly appeared in the same room and started talking in person!

The atmosphere on site

We really liked the atmosphere that evening.

It was not a very formal business networking event, nor was it the kind of gathering where everyone had to take turns introducing themselves. Many people were chatting while eating, drinking, and moving between tables. The whole atmosphere was even more relaxed than we had expected.

Of course, the conversations were not only casual small talk.

Some people talked about the difficulties they had encountered while promoting sustainability projects within their companies. Some shared what they had seen in different industries through consulting work. Others talked about their expectations, uncertainties, or career questions as they entered the sustainability field.

There were also many exchanges between more experienced professionals and younger sustainability practitioners. Some shared their own journeys, while others came with questions and wanted to hear how people from different backgrounds viewed the field.

We did not record all of these conversations in detail, but they were very close to what Sustalent Hub had hoped to hold space for from the beginning: not only event information, job opportunities, or industry news, but also a chance for people to bring out the things they are facing at work and talk about them with others.

From the daytime workshop to the evening networking event

Earlier that same day, we also hosted an Impact Career Workshop.

The daytime session was more formal, with structure, content, and many slides. The evening Networking Event had a completely different atmosphere. It was freer, more relaxed, and felt more like gathering together after work.

Looking back now, these two events actually reflected two things that Sustalent Hub really wanted to do at the time.

One was to support people in organizing and reflecting on their career direction. The other was to create real opportunities for people in the sustainability field to meet each other. People working in sustainability are often helping companies, organizations, or society move toward longer-term goals. But our own careers and work situations also need space for discussion and support.

For us, that day — from the daytime workshop to the evening gathering — felt like the first time Sustalent Hub brought this idea into a more complete form.

Thank you to everyone who joined us

Thank you to every partner who came to the event on the evening of November 2.

This was Sustalent Hub’s first relatively large in-person networking event. To be honest, we were still exploring at the time. We were not sure whether this format was something people needed, or whether people would really start talking once they arrived.

But after that evening, we became a little more confident about it.

Sustalent Hub does not always have to host very formal events. Sometimes, simply bringing together a group of people who are working in sustainability, care about sustainability, or want to enter the field is already enough to spark many interesting conversations.

The three of us are not the most senior or most professional people in the sustainability field, but we are truly grateful that everyone is willing to help expand the impact of this community together.

Want to join Sustalent Hub’s upcoming events?

If you would like to meet more people in the sustainability field, feel free to join the Sustalent Hub community, follow us on Instagram, or keep an eye on the latest event updates in the community.

See you at our next event!