War in the Middle East, climate change, AI: These are just some of the major factors reshaping the sustainability landscape in 2026. In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we're asking: What does all this mean for careers in sustainability? To understand how recruiting is changing for sustainability roles at all levels, we talk to Kurt Harrison, who founded and co-leads the global sustainability practice at leadership advisory and search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. Despite recent headwinds, "sustainability is alive and well," Kurt says. "We're now more in the implementation and operationalization phase of sustainability, where it's not driving a ton of new hiring, but it is certainly a key component of any credible corporate strategy." We explore how the Chief Sustainability Officer role is evolving in an interview with Ellen Weinreb, founder of boutique search firm Weinreb Group. She tells us why the US has seen a drop in the number of executives holding the CSO title, how AI is impacting the job search, and what she's hearing in the recruiting process. "Companies are focused on adding value, and so they're looking for sustainability leaders who can demonstrate the value," Ellen says. And to understand the skillsets that sustainability professionals need to succeed in this changing environment, we talk to Tensie Whelan. Tensie was the Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, where she is now a senior advisor. She explains how the center trains university students from all backgrounds to navigate changing talent expectations in 2026. "One of the things that we're working on is engaging students and executives around how they can invest or drive sustainability at speed and scale through the understanding that, actually, this is part of business strategy that will drive better enterprise value," Tensie says. Further listening: Hear our previous podcast episodes about sustainability jobs and recruiting: What's ahead for green, climate and sustainability jobs | S&P Global How the global ESG recruiting landscape is changing | S&P Global The rise of the ESG controller in the sustainability talent landscape | S&P Global Listen to our interviews with CSOs across industries and geographies: CSO Insights by All Things Sustainable - YouTube Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.