Leading Sustainable Change in AEC: Q&A with Sustainability Manager Maddie Woods

Sustainability isn’t a single checklist item, it’s a way of approaching the work with intention, from early planning through design and delivery.

In this conversation, Maddie Woods, Otak’s Sustainability Manager, reflects on her path into sustainability leadership, the role the built environment plays in shaping long-term outcomes, and what Otak is doing to make sustainability more actionable for project teams. Along the way, she shares practical, everyday ways we can all support progress without being overwhelmed by perfection.

Read along or skip ahead:

Maddie’s Career Journey

What originally sparked your interest in sustainability as a career path?

“I first became interested in environmentalism and sustainability in high school. My school offered an AP Environmental Science course where I learned about concepts like the greenhouse effect, biodiversity loss, and waste.

That inspired me to pursue Environmental Studies as my major for undergrad. I started out at St. Lawrence University and transferred to the University of Vermont, where there were more opportunities in this type of course work. Environmental studies is very broad, and I enjoyed classes that ranged from green building and policy to environmental economics, resource conservation, and community planning.

Growing up in Maine also inspired me. Our family valued time outside and being mindful of the impact we left. Upon graduation, I knew I wanted to work in a field that influenced the built environment and valued connection to nature and community.”

What path has your professional journey taken, and what led you to your role as Sustainability Manager at Otak?

“My career path has not been linear (unlike many of people in the AEC field with a more defined path). In college, I worked at a boutique recruiting firm in the agriculture industry where I was given the opportunity to build a book of business in renewable energy. I quickly learned that was not a long-term path for me and I am not cut out to be a recruiter (and built a deep appreciation for our amazing recruitment team).

Prior to Otak, I worked as a project coordinator at a design-build company focused on residential construction. What drew me to Otak was the opportunity to work at a company that supported my passion for the built environment (seeing projects come to life) and sustainability. I joined the GO (Green Otak) Committee early on, and I was able to help create a role for the first Sustainability Coordinator which grew into my role now as Sustainability Manager. Corporate Sustainability has evolved over time, and I’m grateful to work alongside others on the GO Committee to adapt our initiatives to a changing market.”

What skills have been the most valuable in your journey to leadership in sustainability?

“One of the most valuable skills has been a willingness to jump into something unfamiliar, with support from leadership to learn as I go. My passion inspired me to say yes when these opportunities came up. I also want to recognize that there have been several mentors or “cheerleaders” who have supported me along the way. Having someone who believes in your potential can sometimes be that extra inspiration. I hope to be able to pay that forward by supporting others in their own career aspirations.” 

Sustainability at Otak

What does sustainability mean within the context of our company and industry?

“If you look at global emissions by sector, over 70% come from energy, with about 17% from buildings and 16% from transportation. On top of that, some estimates suggest that up to three-quarters of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built. That fact has always stuck with me, and it represents a massive opportunity.

It means that now is our chance, as designers and engineers, to meaningfully influence the future rather than continue with business as usual. While the sustainability field has been calling for change for a long time, markets can be slow to adapt. What makes the AEC industry unique is that we sit at the beginning of the process where decisions about how infrastructure is designed and built are made (and our planners often have a hand in developing frameworks and policies to support this, too!).

If we approach our work with intention, we can use our skills to create lasting, positive impacts on our communities.”

What are some of the sustainability initiatives currently underway at Otak?

“The GO Committee has been working to launch a sustainability kickoff form for our design teams, and I’m excited about where we’ve landed. It’s taken a long time to get here, in part because sustainability, resilience, and especially performance tracking are complex challenges.

One of our key goals was to simplify. We wanted to create a tool that initiates conversations now, rather than waiting to launch something overly complex akin to a full third-party certification without the third-party review. While I want to dream big, I also believe we need to start with something approachable and build from there.

We’re initially rolling this out to our infrastructure teams (T&I, STR, WNR, etc.) in Q2, with plans to integrate architecture and planning in future iterations since those are distinct project types. I’m looking forward to how this evolves over time, both in how we refine the tool and in how we track, measure, and communicate project performance.”

How do you see sustainability shaping the future of our organization?

“To me, it’s a non-negotiable. Sustainability is becoming less of a buzzword and more of an expectation.

When I look at Otak’s portfolio of projects, much of the work we’re already doing reduces impact, improves community outcomes, and supports restoration. At the same time, the market continues to push the boundaries, but as a smaller organization it’s a challenge for us to be on the leading edge of these innovations. Being intentional now will help ensure that we don’t fall into the late adopter category down the road.”

What role do employees across the company play in advancing our sustainability goals?

“I believe everyone has a role in advancing our goals. That is one of the things I love about this field, it’s inherently inclusive. Everyone has an opportunity to make a difference both in their personal and professional lives.

It also isn’t limited to only top-down or bottom-up approaches. There is a need for both to make it successful, which underscores my feelings about the universal nature.”

What are some small actions individuals at work can take that make a big impact?

“I encourage everyone to keep thinking creatively and look out for opportunities to challenge the status quo. Not every project will be the best candidate, but that doesn’t mean we should stop asking the question. For our design teams, that means continuing to bring thoughtful, innovative solutions to the table to navigate each project or client’s unique challenges. For leaders and managers, it means creating a team environment where those ideas are encouraged, heard, and explored.

I recently attended a presentation where one speaker focused on change. Her point was this: on paper, we can build the best possible plan we want, but in reality, change is hard and it rarely unfolds exactly as expected. That doesn’t mean we should stop trying. If anything, it reinforces the importance of commitment and adaptability.”

Leadership and Being a Woman in Sustainability

As a woman in a leadership role in sustainability, what challenges or opportunities have you experienced?

“One challenge that I have worked to overcome is the belief that I needed to be an expert to be successful. As a self-proclaimed generalist working in a field of incredibly talented specialists, it can be easy to feel like specialized knowledge is key to credibility or success. What I’ve realized is that there is a place for both. Generalists bring big picture thinking and the ability to connect people across disciplines. That can be just as important as deep technical expertise.

Sustainability is a field that requires leadership from generalists and specialists alike. Seeing this has been a real opportunity to reframe what I can bring to the table, in sustainability and more broadly.

For anyone who can relate to the concept of being a fantastic generalist – I’d encourage you to read “Range” by David Epstein. He shares the idea that generalists often thrive in complex, evolving fields because they can draw connections across different spaces. Sustainability is a perfect example of this.”

How important is diverse thinking when solving environmental and sustainability challenges?

“Diverse thinking is essential to solving environmental challenges. Climate change impacts nearly every aspect of our lives, so understanding the connections between various disciplines is critical. These challenges are complex and solutions require diversity of thought and inclusive perspectives. Sustainability spans financial and natural resources, public health, political spheres and beyond.

This is why I believe it is important to be able to find a balance of specialization and rely on generalists to bring teams together. We need experts, like climate scientists, for research or technological advancement, but we also need leaders and advocates to connect the dots for a larger audience. Diverse thinking is often a driving force behind innovation. You’ll often find Chief Sustainability Officers working across departments within a company because this work cannot be siloed.”

Personal Perspective

How has your personal life influenced your passion for sustainability?

“Sustainability looks different for everyone but I don’t just put on my “sustainability hat” at work. For me, it’s evolved over time depending on where I live and what’s available to me. Right now, it means connecting with nature and my community. When I lived in a more urban area, it meant ditching my car for my bike or walking, taking transit, and taking advantage of the access to local resources like farmer’s markets and public spaces.

Growing up in Maine laid the groundwork for my connection to the environment. I spent a lot of time  camping, hiking, biking and being on the water. I would spend a month most summers at a camp with limited electricity doing activities like horseback riding, hiking, archery, swimming, and sailing.

Those experiences have shaped how I think about the world around me. They’ve created an appreciation for the resources we depend on.”

What sustainable habits do you practice in your own daily life?

“I’ll be the first to admit that I am nowhere near perfect in my daily life. I also don’t think perfection is the goal here. I try to approach it with an awareness and intentionality. Progress over perfection.

I still drive a gas car that I hope will last another 100,000 miles, and I have a long-ish commute. I enjoy traveling, including trips that require air travel. I eat meat regularly, but balance with a vegetarian meal as well.

Where I’ve chosen to live connects me with these practices day to day. I am fortunate to live on forested land in the mountains, where we primarily heat our home with wood that we source from our property. The process of cutting, bucking, and splitting wood each year also doubles as fire mitigation, which is an example of how sustainability and stewardship complement each other.

I also try to be intentional with my consumption. I enjoy repairing old items, buying second-hand and am selective about what I choose to purchase. In a time when consumption is at an all-time high and quality is declining, I really believe in quality over quantity and avoid “stuff for the sake of stuff”.”

Some other small habits that I practice:

• Composting at home and using the soil for our greenhouse
• Cooking meals at home
• Buying in bulk
• Using my library or libby for books / audiobooks
• Air drying clothing
• Traveling to places that connect me with nature and local culture

What is one simple sustainability habit you wish everyone would adopt?

“The biggest thing for me right now is mindful consumption. I cringe when I think about the volume of things like Amazon returns that just end up in a landfill. By buying less and supporting companies that make products that are built to last, we can signal with our dollar what we value.

On top of that, a lot of products are hard to recycle. Because of that, I also try to choose (as much as possible) natural materials. I know this isn’t always accessible to everyone, but I’ve that investing in a few high-quality items can outlive what would otherwise lead to two to three more items in the same timeframe. They just don’t make things like they used to!”

Sustainability is a long game built one thoughtful decision at a time. Thanks to Maddie for sharing her perspective, and for helping turn big ideas into practical steps our teams can use on real projects.