Why engineers see sustainability differently  I am completing a
few searches right now for sustainability professionals with
engineering backgrounds. It got me to thinking about what makes
an engineer a good sustainability professional.  Last year,
while researching chief sustainability officers, I noticed a
number of CSOs who come from engineering backgrounds. For
example, Albemarle CSO David Clary, Dow Chemical CSO David
Kepler, and Jarden Corp. CSO Jim Bennet are chemical engineers.
Owens-Corning’s Frank O’Brien-Bernini is a mechanical engineer
while YUM Brands’ Roger McClendon is an electrical and computer
engineer.  Why so many engineers in a role that primarily
involves communications and external affairs — with change
management, behavioral learning and constant innovation thrown
in for good measure? How does an intensive and concentrated
education track like engineering become a prerequisite for
sustainability chiefs?  Data, Data, Data  First, engineers tend
to be more methodical and detail-oriented.