Why Climate Jobs Aren't Enough Anymore
with the Co-founder and Executive Director of Work on Climate
If you’ve been part of this community for a while, you probably know Work On Climate. Maybe you’ve been in both communities from the start, navigating this transition together. We’ve grown alongside each other and, in many ways, have evolved from a similar mission: to support professionals building climate solutions or helping people find careers in this space.
Recently, Work on Climate announced that it’s pivoting from helping people find climate jobs to helping them become climate leaders. Rather than waiting for the right job posting, climate leaders are professionals who transform their industries from within. Co-founder and Executive Director Eugene Kirpichov joined Cody on the show to talk about this shift and introduce the concept of regenerative economics. Eugene argues that climate, democratic erosion, AI risks, and institutional breakdown are all symptoms of:
“…an economic system that lacks the ability to manage the health of systems it depends on.”
Work on Climate is now organizing place-based, sector-specific chapters (starting with food systems in the Bay Area) where professionals across entire value chains can collaborate to rewire how industries operate. As Eugene puts it:
“We need to stop seeing ourselves and seeing other professionals as a talent pool. We need to start seeing each other as power.”
This episode with Eugene was a long time coming, but the timing feels right as both of our communities continue to evolve. Listen to the full conversation to hear how this vision is taking shape and what it could mean for professionals looking to drive systemic change.
Listen on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Lean Back
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Check out the Job Openings space in the MCJ Collective Member Hub or the MCJ Job Board for more.
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Upcoming Events
♻️ Sustainability and Impact with Pinterest and Autodesk (2/09 at 9 a.m. PST): We’re relaunching MCJ’s Career Advancement Monthly Meetup with a free, virtual session focused on practical career advice and real-world insight. This month, sustainability leaders from Pinterest and Autodesk share how they’re advancing climate strategy across operations, products, and decision-making. It’s an interactive, welcoming conversation designed to help you learn, connect, and take your next career step. RSVP here