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I grew up in the US, and have always been very outdoorsy, and loved playing basketball with friends.
It really wasn’t until later, when I moved to Hong Kong to complete an undergraduate exchange in business administration, that I grew increasingly concerned about climate change and the environment. Hong Kong is great for outdoor hiking – and playing basketball – but on days when the air pollution is bad, it was really affecting my breathing.
I realized that something needed to change, and I wanted to be part of the solution – to pursue a career in sustainability.
Nope, we don’t make lifts…
I joined Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Business in early 2022. I’d previously worked for a sustainability consultancy, but I have to admit that when Schneider first contacted me for a job interview, I didn’t know a huge amount about the company. (Hint: we don’t make lifts!)
I learned that Schneider’s products, software and services help accelerate the energy transition and fight the climate crisis by allowing companies, infrastructure projects and households to use energy as efficiently as possible. I learned that Schneider is, among other ambitious targets, committed to decarbonizing the entirety of its value chain by 2050. And that it was named the most sustainable corporation in the world in 2021.
And so I jumped at the job offer when it came through.
Making a sustainable impact at scale
Not many people realize that Schneider Electric has a Sustainability Business, but we do really interesting work.
We take a “strategy + action” approach, and support clients with everything from measuring emissions and setting net-zero targets to optimizing energy management systems and procuring renewable energy. Just look, for example, at the work we’ve done with Walmart to accelerate renewable energy uptake among their suppliers.
What’s really exciting is the scale of the impact that we, as part of a large, multinational organization, can bring about. Working alongside clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Swire Properties and Kellogg, we already manage more than $30 billion in global energy spend every year and track close to 130 million metric tons of corporate carbon emissions.
In my role as Associate Principal in Hong Kong, I’m responsible for helping grow the business. That means client engagement and development, building capacity within our team, guiding project delivery and identifying new business opportunities. As a naturally competitive person (when I was a young girl, I wanted to be a professional basketball player!), I really thrive off the challenge of winning clients over and bringing in new opportunities for our team.
Flexibility, support, trust
I also love learning from the expertise of a global network of talented and supportive colleagues. 
The working culture at Schneider is incredibly welcoming, valuing diversity, equity and inclusion in all its forms. I have a baby boy, so it’s great to have a manager who trusts me to organize my own time. There’s also a hybrid working policy that allows for invaluable flexibility.
So, although I’m still relatively new to Schneider, I’m convinced I made the right decision in coming onboard. And if you’re interested in making a tangible, sustainable impact on the planet and society, I can hardly think of a better place to come work!
Great People make Schneider Electric a Great Company
Schneider’s sustainability business currently employs more than 2,500 people around the world — and we’re growing constantly. Interested?
Join Us where you can have a meaningful purpose in an inclusive and empowering environment.
Connect with Schneider Electric in our careers portal.
About the Author
Diana Chen is the Associate Principal of Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Business in Hong Kong. She advises and helps enterprises to deliver on climate change mitigation actions and decarbonization through consulting and digital solutions. She currently leads the development of the Sustainability Business in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Schneider Electric, Diana was the Sustainability Advisor at The Purpose Business, leading sustainability strategy development projects for companies spanning the real estate, finance, hospitality, retail and conglomerate industries.
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