Driving change for the future: Amanda Thynell on her role as Head of Sustainability

The path to becoming a Head of Sustainability

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Amanda knew from an early age that she wanted to work in a business that makes a difference.
“Even at secondary school, I knew I wanted to work for a company that treats people and nature well and creates a win-win situation for everyone involved,” she says.
After obtaining dual degrees in business administration and environmental science, she went on to complete a master's degree in management with a focus on sustainability courses. This was a stepping stone to her current role.
“During my master's degree, I took several courses in sustainability and governance that provided insights that I could immediately apply. This quickly made me a valuable asset in the workplace, particularly in sustainability reporting, which was still relatively new to many in 2021. That's what made me a good fit for the role at Catena,’ says Amanda.

Taking the lead on sustainability work in a listed company

As Head of Sustainability, Amanda has a wide range of responsibilities, both strategic and operational.
“I drive sustainability work by coordinating efforts across regions to ensure the company is constantly improving in this area,” she explains.
The role involves dealing with complex issues and conflicting goals.
'The most challenging thing is always having to be well-informed in order to resolve conflicts constructively,' says Amanda.

The best thing about the job: making a difference

For Amanda, it is clear what makes her work meaningful.
“Being able to contribute to reducing real climate impact, as well as other important issues such as biodiversity, and developing colleagues and seeing them grow,” she says with enthusiasm.
She views sustainability work as an ongoing process of change, where every step counts.
“We are facing major societal challenges, not least the challenge of achieving a fossil-free society. I want to contribute to and be part of that development,’ she continues.

Future sustainability work is more than just reporting

When Amanda started as ESG controller in 2021, sustainability reporting was still new to many companies. "I was quickly given plenty of scope to develop ideas on how a large company can work with sustainability – a real dream," she says.
Today, sustainability issues are an integral part of the business strategy, but Amanda believes that the work must go even further.
“It’s not just about complying with laws and frameworks, but about creating real change,” she says.

Amanda's tips for students who want to work with sustainability

Amanda has several pieces of advice for anyone considering studying business administration with a focus on sustainability:
"Apply! It's fantastic to be able to delve into both specific issues such as reporting and broader issues such as organisational change," she says.
She also emphasises the importance of networking during your studies:
"Use your bachelor's or master's thesis to get into the companies you're curious about. I wrote my bachelor's thesis for IKEA Foods and my master's thesis for Volvo Cars – both gave me valuable insights and a broader network", says Amanda.
And finally:
"If you want to connect ecological and societal challenges and understand the role of business in this, SMIL (Social Science Environmental Studies Programme) and a master's degree in Management are a strong foundation," she says.