ESG career journey series: Stephanie Cárdenas

March 1, 2024

Nature loss is taking place right in front of our eyes. A first step is to understand how we’re part of those natural systems. We need humankind to thrive but thrive in a way that’s in harmony with the natural world.

—Stephanie Cárdenas, Audit & Assurance senior manager, Deloitte & Touche LLP
 

A champion of biodiversity

Throughout a career marked by strategic leadership and innovative thinking, Stephanie Cárdenas has advised companies on ways to transform their dependencies on nature and biodiversity in an effort to change potential risks to potential assets.

Diversity has been Stephanie’s watchword since her days in the hospitality industry, where she saw firsthand the toll of tourism on the natural environment. Wanting to become part of the possible solution, she worked on conservation projects in the Galapagos Islands. Eventually, she returned to school for a master’s degree in sustainability.

“My experience includes forestry and commodities. Take soy as an example. Much of the world’s soy comes from South America. But deforestation has changed soil quality and rainfall patterns, causing soy production to decline. That can have repercussions up and down the supply chain.”

The stakes for business

What many companies don’t realize, Stephanie says, is that they’re already working on nature-related issues. “They’re looking at water availability, climate change, biodiversity effects, and more. They often just need to put the pieces together and see what it all means for them as a business.”

She views her role as advising companies on ways to improve their relationship with nature in a strategic way. “I advise on ways to measure, manage, and track their nature-related impact, dependencies, risks, and opportunities. Along the way, I educate clients on different concepts around nature and what these can mean in a business context. From there, I can advise on their path forward.”

What typically motivates businesses to take action on nature? Frequently there are external factors like new regulations or investor demand, Stephanie says, but often, many drivers are specific to the industry. She ticks off some examples: “It could be an energy company coming to terms with how dependent they are on water. Or a financial institution realizing that a food company in their portfolio is at risk of lowering their yields due to soil depletion.” These can be breakthrough moments, she says. “All of a sudden, business leaders find themselves saying, ‘We may not be able to get more of this resource if we don't start taking care of where it's coming from.’ Nature is all about location.”

Climate as a part of nature

The good news, Stephanie says, is that nature tends to transcend the climate debate. “It generally brings people together,” she says. “But nature and climate aren’t separate. They’re interlinked, and if one gets worse, the other likely will as well. It’s a systems problem.”

Nature and climate aren’t separate. They’re interlinked, and if one gets worse, the other likely will as well.

Nature is also a nascent, fast-changing space in the sustainability corporate space. “We keep up with developments,” Stephanie says, “and advise on ways to navigate ambiguity to come up with potential options.” Technology—from geospatial tools to artificial intelligence—is an important piece of the puzzle. So is the variety of skills and experiences represented on Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance Sustainability and ESG Services team. “They’re wonderful human beings,” Stephanie says of her coworkers, “and they’re incredibly smart. It’s amazing to be able to learn from them.”

Constant learning is important to being successful in a role like Stephanie’s. “You have to stay curious,” she says. “You should be reading, every moment you can.” Learning also happens with teamwork. “My colleagues are from all over the country, and I connect with resources around the world,” Stephanie says. “They have different areas of experience, and the work we do lets me explore different businesses and industries.” The combination, she adds, “pushes me to develop my technical knowledge and advise our clients on their needs in a more holistic way.”

Forging a nature-positive journey

Her work also demands a personal connection with nature, Stephanie says. “I likely wouldn’t have the same credibility if I weren’t in it or thinking about it every day.” Stephanie continues to get her energy from the outdoors with activities like tennis, running, and spending time in nature on her daily walks or longer travel escapes.

At Deloitte, Stephanie is known primarily for her ability to shift mindsets and innovate around nature-positive practices.

Throughout the events of her life, nature’s fragility has hung in the background and shaped the journey to her current role. “I’ve traveled the world,” Stephanie says, “which has informed my commitment to protecting our common home.” Scientists have anticipated climate change for a long time, Stephanie says. “What’s surprising is how swiftly it’s happening. Nature loss is taking place right in front of our eyes.” She wants organizations to know that there are specific actions they can take to help stem the loss and support regeneration. “A first step is to understand how we’re part of those systems. We need humankind to thrive, but thrive in a way that’s in harmony with the natural world.”

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