Driving Organizational Change Across a Global Enterprise
The Challenge
Freeman's sustainability goals required more than operational improvements—they required organizational change. Across 72 offices on four continents, I was challenged to drive behavior change, build employee engagement, and align stakeholders around a shared culture of sustainability.
Employer
Freeman
Results
56% of employees reported adopting new sustainable habits as a result of sustainability initiatives
Built and managed a sustainability engagement network spanning 72 offices
Increased employee participation and accountability around sustainability programs by 42%
Strengthened organizational alignment around sustainability goals
Increased local ownership and leadership engagement across offices
Helped embed sustainability into company culture through sustained behavior change and employee ownership
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I approached sustainability as a change management and culture transformation challenge. Rather than relying on policy changes or top-down directives, I focused on building systems, leadership support, local ownership, and employee participation that would embed sustainability into everyday decision-making.
I also recognized that a traditional sustainability communications approach would not be effective. Instead of relying on guilt-based messaging or scientific arguments alone, I focused on creating a clear "what's in it for me" value proposition that made sustainability feel practical, relevant, and aligned with employees' everyday experiences.
To encourage participation, I intentionally designed programs and initiatives that were engaging, visible, and rewarding. By creating opportunities for recognition, local ownership, and shared experiences, sustainability became something employees wanted to be part of rather than something they felt pressured to support.
By creating structures for engagement, accountability, education, and measurement, I helped transform sustainability from a departmental initiative into a more visible and integrated part of company culture.
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Organizational Change Management
Culture Transformation
Organizational Development
Employee Engagement
Stakeholder Management
Program Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Strategic Planning
Leadership Development
Training & Facilitation
Community Building
Strategic Communications
Process Improvement
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Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
SharePoint
Survey & Reporting Tools
Microsoft Office Suite
What I Did
Established and led a network of Green Team leaders across 72 offices who served as local sustainability champions. These leaders became key partners in advancing sustainability initiatives, identifying opportunities for improvement, sharing best practices, and encouraging participation at the local level.
Developed resources, training materials, and communication tools that helped employees understand organizational goals, connect their individual actions to broader business outcomes, and identify practical opportunities to contribute. By making sustainability more accessible and actionable, I helped increase employee ownership and participation across the organization.
Partnered with facilities, operations, leadership, and office teams to align sustainability initiatives with business objectives, remove barriers to adoption, and increase accountability for results. This cross-functional collaboration helped integrate sustainability considerations into everyday operations and decision-making processes.
Created reporting frameworks that helped track participation, monitor progress, and provide visibility into organizational performance. These systems reinforced accountability, helped maintain momentum, and supported more informed decision-making across the organization.
Through leadership development, stakeholder alignment, local ownership, education, and ongoing reinforcement, I helped shift sustainability from a corporate initiative to a shared organizational value embraced across offices, departments, and leadership levels.