Elizabeth Beall

A degree in Management has taken Elizabeth from work on Māori management strategies in the context of climate change to the United Nations and beyond.

My journey to deciding on a Master’s degree in Management was a circuitous one, starting from a career in environmental advocacy for a non-governmental organisation (NGO), followed by structuring technical assistance on climate change for the Inter-American Development Bank. Providing technical support on addressing climate change means helping clients think about ways they could change the plan or structure of a project to decrease emissions or build resilience. As I progressed working on topics such as deforestation, climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, and unable to pick just one area of focus for the long term, studying Management meant that I was building skills and expertise in how to think about and approach a wide variety of topics.

During my studies and the preparation of my thesis, which focused on Māori management strategies in the context of climate change, I enjoyed the combination of classroom learning about management theory on strategy and systems thinking with the ability to engage with real-world companies making day-to-day decisions.

My Master’s thesis provided me with skills in quantitative and qualitative research methods, an understanding of business ethics and strategy development, and an ability to approach problems using integrated systems thinking. As a result of focusing my thesis with Māori, I also developed skills in cross-cultural and participatory research methods, and learned a lot in terms of management styles, techniques, and engagement with people.

After leaving Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, I took a role with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy as a consultant providing research, analysis, and project management on topics ranging from bioenergy, food security, responsible investment, climate smart agriculture, and youth engagement. In my role with the UN, I worked with a wide variety of stakeholders ranging from governments, private sector, civil society organisations, and local communities. My experience at university prepared me to work with a diverse, and often contentious, range of views in order to develop collaborative and holistic strategies for sustainable development. Those skills have continued to propel me forward in my career as I’ve shifted to work in the private sector, helping corporates and investors on their course to net zero and with their wider sustainability/environmental, social, and governance goals. I am now a director at Finance Earth in London, an organisation that is focused on driving private-sector finance into nature recovery and nature-based solutions to climate change.

A degree in Management can provide you with the necessary skills and theoretical building blocks for any topic you choose. Trained managers who are able to navigate across sectors and break down silos are needed to solve the increasingly interlinked challenges before us.