Michelle Waring was anything but green in the field of sustainability before enrolling in her first course.

She’d already spent most of her entire career in environmental advocacy and corporate responsibility, but to expand her knowledge in an ever-evolving industry, she returned to the classroom to earn a master’s degree from Harvard Extension School.

Hear from Michelle about her pursuit of career growth in the sustainability field.

Why I Returned to School After Over 20 Years to Earn a Master’s Degree from Harvard Extension School

More than 20 years ago when I was an undergrad, there weren’t really sustainability programs. It’s still a pretty emerging discipline. 

It’s not like I ever dreamed of going to school in my 40s; 10 years ago, I don’t think this is something I would have pursued. But most of my peers have second degrees, and it seemed very enriching for their careers. All of my knowledge was from on the job experience, and I thought it could be great to put some academic rigor into my background.

I chose Harvard Extension because other graduate sustainability programs didn’t have the diversity of coursework HES offered. The classes looked unique and interesting, and I really appreciated that it wasn’t focused solely on environmental studies or technical skills. I also loved the hybrid option — and to have a chance to be on campus. 

Another part of my decision was my company. I work at Toms of Maine, a subsidiary of Colgate Palmolive, which offers an education stipend, which was a huge help. The support from my employer and the encouragement from my family was the right recipe for me to pursue this now — and HES was the right place to do it. 

While this wasn’t something I ever saw myself doing, I’m now really excited to build my academic background in this space and immerse myself in the latest and greatest in corporate sustainability.

Learn more about Harvard Extension School’s sustainability offerings

Real-time Application: Putting Learning into Action Right Away 

Earning a master’s degree in the field of sustainability at Harvard Extension wasn’t about checking a box on my resume and then moving on. This isn’t a finish line, but an opportunity to continue learning.

For me, sustainability is a really interesting space because it’s in the cross-section of many disciplines, like marketing and technical expertise — all things that I was learning on the job, but I really wanted to get a deeper understanding in. 

I’m bringing all of these nuggets of knowledge and wisdom back to the office all of the time. Although I lead sustainability and social impact in my role, I am not the technical expert, so it’s been really helpful to better understand the technical side of our work so that I can better support our external consultants and optimize their work.

I came in wanting to get my master’s degree, but along the way I also earned a Corporate Sustainability and Innovation Graduate Certificate. 

The Learning Environment: Building Connections Online and Around the Globe

This sustainability graduate program has given me a new way of thinking that I didn’t know was possible when I started this journey. Yes, doors have opened up for me professionally — but also personally as well.  

I’ve met people in similar fields and adjacent fields who are really seasoned in their careers. The voices in the room, people from all different backgrounds — NGOs, corporate, government — all bringing their unique perspectives on the complexity of sustainability and global development s. The rich discussion that happens has been such a nice addition to the learning experience.

I’ve really appreciated the international element of this program, too. I connect with a lot of my fellow students from all over the world — many now friends. There’s definitely this social camaraderie that develops, whether through group work or chatting in WhatsApp outside of class. 

I was hesitant about online courses, but I found that at HES you are really engaged, even when you’re not in live classes. Instructors and teaching assistants are available for office hours if you have questions or need help.

Then it hit me. I felt the weight of what it means to be among these instructors and these students who truly are the best of the best, and feeling like I really am living up to that.

Enriching a Career, Setting an Example

Michelle shares how she applies classroom knowledge directly to her day-to-day job, finds encouragement in a supportive academic community, and shows her daughters what’s possible when you keep pushing yourself.

WhenI enrolled at Harvard Extension School,  I heard a speech at  Convocation about what it means to be a student here: that it’s not a lesser school at Harvard, that it actually is much bigger feat because so many of us at HES are juggling demanding careers while also taking care of families or other life things, while having a full course load pursuing a degree. 

Then it hit me. I felt the weight of what it means to be among these instructors and these students who truly are the best of the best, and feeling like I really am living up to that. I was in awe sitting in the Memorial Church in Harvard Yard, looking around, and recognizing that this is such a big experience. 

This graduate program showed me that I could push myself to do more than I ever thought. And then I think about my two daughters seeing their mom accomplishing all this and what a great example it is for them. It’s a gift to show my girls how, at any age, you can pursue anything and strive for something different. 

Years ago, when I was working at an environmental NGO, my daughter told her friends at school that I save the world from climate change. Even though I moved from an NGO to a for-profit, I really keep that spirit of what I do. Pursuing this education is about asking ourselves: how do we make life sustainable, livable, and thriving for future generations?

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