What motivates you most in your role as Head of Sustainability at Solar Danmark?
"Sustainability is one of the big words when it comes to making a difference or having an impact in today's world. In general, I have always been driven by making a difference for my company while also contributing positively to society. What I love most is always learning and acquiring new skills which my area also provides in abundance."
When is your work most challenging?
"Sustainability has a lot to do with the planet as a whole, which sometimes makes it a challenge for the market and the individual company to see the effects of the work. The time frame is often years (if ever) when it comes to calculating the financial benefits for the company. The challenge is often to make people see the link between sustainability and financial performance, because they are increasingly linked."
When do you feel most uncertain in your working life?
"When I don’t see any possibilities for progress in my career and learning has stopped."
Which decision has had the greatest impact on your career – and why?
"Taking the first step towards leadership. I was very unsure if I could do a good job. But I have also come to believe, that the best leaders are the ones that are able to doubt themselves. Because managers that ‘know it all’ and never show insecurity can often be missing the ability to listen, which I think is necessary if you are to be a good leader."
"We should never stop learning!"
Beyond the polished CV and career milestones, working life is full of doubt, detours and dreams. In this article series, CBS Executive Education alumni offer an honest look into their working lives and reflect on their career highs and lows, ambitions and aspirations. In this interview, you’ll meet Denise Goldby, Head of Sustainability at Solar Danmark and a CBS HD & Executive MBA alumni.
By CBS Executive Education
“A good thing is that most of the time I tend to doubt myself, but in almost every situation I either have or can learn what it takes to succeed.”
Denise Goldby
Head of Sustainability at Solar Danmark
What do you do differently today compared to before you started at CBS?
"I have both taken the HD(O) and EMBA at CBS. You know when you take on such a challenge that you will have a lot of reading, learning and assignments to do. But what you don’t expect is how much you will learn about yourself and grow while doing it. Besides developing business competencies, I have certainly also developed my mindset for the better which is a daily benefit in business and privately."
What would you most like to learn next or become better at?
"Reading people in business even better. You can help yourself and others by knowing how to act in different situations and it can save a lot of time and effort. I also learned this from the many company visits during the EMBA."
What dreams in your working life have you not yet fulfilled?
"Hopefully a lot! One of my goals is to have a role with more strategic impact where I can contribute to the broader framework conditions in the industry. We should also always remember that the journey towards our targets is also exciting, and the goal is just one benefit of the journey."
What has your work taught you about yourself? Name one good thing and one bad thing?
"That in all situations I should stop and think before talking, and most importantly to listen and investigate before making any premature conclusions. A good thing is that most of the time I tend to doubt myself, but in almost every situation I either have or can learn what it takes to succeed."
What do you hope your working life will have given you in 10 years – beyond title and salary?
"A strong mindset and strong competencies that have enabled me to continue my leadership journey. We should never stop learning!"