Meet Jennifer Woofter, Founder and President

Hi there, I’m Jennifer.

I started Strategic Sustainability Consulting back in 2005 with a background in socially responsible investing and a masters degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability. While I didn’t have any consulting experience back then, what I did have was an amazing breadth of experience in how big companies were tackling issues of corporate social responsibility and a desire to help bring those concepts and strategies down to the realm of the everyday organization. Now, five years later, I’m one of the leading experts in corporate sustainability strategy.

My feeling is that you shouldn’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to make sustainability a key part of your business strategy. Because no matter your size or industry, when “going green” is a strategic part of your organization it will save you money, thrill your employees, and drive innovation. And the fact that it’s the right thing to do? That’s just icing on the cake.

What else should you know about me? I could not be more excited to work with my clients. I’m the person who runs the numbers of your carbon footprint six different ways to figure out what the data might be hiding, and who is thinking about your employee engagement program at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

I’m meticulous with budget and deadlines. I run a tight team. I am generous with praise and thoughtful with constructive criticism. I am a collaborator, and I will think of you more like a partner than a client. I can speak consultant jargon (optimized performance, anyone?) with the best of them, but am happiest when we can have a frank conversation about the obstacles your organization is facing with its sustainability goals.

If I get one more cover letter from a prospective employee that starts “I am passionate about sustainability” I might just throw up. It scares me that so many people in my industry are relying solely on their passion…this takes skills people! To work on my team you need to bring your A-Game—that means your enthusiasm AND your life cycle analysis methodology. Oh, and bring some snacks too.

I’m a published author on topics ranging from greening your organization to women’s rights in Somalia. I’ve been profiled in the Washington Post and quoted in everything from Entrepreneur magazine to Corporate Secretary. And yes, my mother keeps copies of all of them.

In an email mistakenly sent to me (it was meant for someone named Kevin, I think), a person on the SSC mailing list once called me a “shameless self-promoter but someone you need to know”. I’m okay with that description.

I adore public speaking, and am crazy-connected through the SSC Consultant Network, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Which is great, since if I don’t have the answer for you, I almost certainly know the person who does.

I love to travel, especially to exotic places where I can’t read the alphabet. I love camping, but hate bugs more. I have two dogs that like to spend time in my office, barking at inopportune moments and occasionally destroying things. Get to know me, and you’ll get to know them too.

That’s me in a nutshell. Want a more official version of my bio? Click here.