A Decade of Impact: Liz York
A Q&A led by Susan Bang
In this conversation, editor and interviewer Susan Bang sits down with Liz York to reflect on her sustainability journey ten years after her WSLA recognition. York shares how the award helped elevate her work, broaden her global reach, and connect her to a supportive network of women leaders shaping the future of sustainability.
Q. We hope that the WSLA community has been a meaningful part of your professional journey. We’d like to highlight that journey since you received your WSLA recognition a decade ago. How has the award influenced your work and leadership globally over the years?
I’ve always been passionate about helping young women succeed, but the WSLA Alumnae Group has given that commitment a formal structure. Each year, as we nominate and welcome new honorees, we have the opportunity to coach, mentor, and introduce these emerging leaders to the broader sustainability community. At the same time, those of us who are already part of WSLA benefit from the energy and insights they bring — it becomes a powerful exchange of mentorship and reverse mentorship that keeps the community vibrant and relevant.
Q. How has the award impacted your career since you joined the WSLA Alumnae Group?
Before receiving the WSLA Award, many leaders outside the sustainability field didn’t fully realize the scope of my work or the impact I was making. The recognition helped bridge that gap. Sustainability often functions as its own silo within an organization, and this award signaled to my employer and colleagues that I wasn’t just “off doing my own thing” — I was driving meaningful progress on behalf of the organization. The accolade reinforced that I was not only representing our organization but also shaping its reputation within the global sustainability community.
Q. How has WSLA supported your leadership?
Beyond the recognition, being connected to other women sustainability leaders has given me a network of mentors and colleagues that I can bounce ideas off of, gain support from, and collaborate with on projects. I see a friendly face in every room now, and they are often WLSA alumnae.
Q. What has being part of this unique community meant to you over the years?
During challenging moments — especially during the COVID period — the women of WSLA have been a source of strength, perspective, and support. These are leaders who bring both unwavering conviction about sustainability and genuine empathy for the real, human stories unfolding around us. They’ve helped me navigate transitions and connected me with opportunities and like‑minded leaders during times of rapid change.
Being a sustainability leader often feels like pushing a boulder uphill; the challenges are constant and complex. But our skill sets including resilience, systems thinking, and persistence, are exactly what moments like these demand. Being part of a network that not only embraces adversity but consistently overcomes it is inspiring. It reinforces the feeling that we’re all in this together.
Q. What would you say to emerging sustainability leaders who seek to pursue the accolade?
Think about what you uniquely and personally have to give and then strike off in that direction, engaging others along the way. Applying for the WSLA Award requires the support of people who know your work well, so think about who can speak to the impact you are having.
Also ask yourself: How do I bring people together to see a problem through a sustainability lens and move progress forward? True solutions come from integrating multiple perspectives, not just your own viewpoint. When you approach challenges this way, the outcomes aren’t only innovative — they’re genuinely sustainable.