Jill Benoit

How is your job related to climate and/or sustainability?

I work for LafargeHolcim and in my role as Regional Manager of Government Relations, I work with state governments to advocate for climate and sustainability policy on behalf of the company. Over the past several years, the sustainability and climate change topic has become top of mind for numerous legislators and many policies are quickly being introduced and passed to reduce the impacts of climate change. My job is to make sure those policies are in the best interest of the company as well as to educate legislators on the issues that are important to LafargeHolcim.

What training was particularly important to enabling your work?

I'm currently participating in the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) Advanced Certificate Program and I've completed the SGAC Professional Certificate Program. Here is a quick overview of the program -SGAC's Professional Certificate is the only program designed especially for state government affairs professionals. Trainings are designed to strengthen and engage SGR professionals with a core curriculum which exposes them to key competencies for state government affairs professionals.

What advice do you have for people looking for careers in climate and/or sustainability?

Find your niche and don't plan out your career too much. Be open to new opportunities and always challenge yourself to keep improving your knowledge and skill set so you stay relevant in today's workforce.