In his own words:
Matthew Hess graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022 with a dual degree in Economics and Environmental Studies. During his time at Pitt, he enjoyed the diverse topics within Pitt Sustainability, learning the intersectionality of science and policymaking in informing climate change. While his main goal during his undergraduate studies was to move into sustainability work post-graduation, he began his career experience with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). There, he gained hands-on experience interacting with customers, efficiently solving real-world problems, and learning how to work with data to help manage stakeholders.
After his time with BCG, he felt determined to return to the sustainability sector, recognizing the need for reduced emissions in large corporations. From his experience in BCG, Matt discovered CO2AI, BCG’s startup in carbon accounting and corporate sustainability. CO2 AI offers a platform for large companies to measure carbon comprehensively and implement decarbonization strategies across their entire organization. Matt’s current role as Customer Success Manager allows him to work with both data science teams calculating carbon footprint, as well as working with customer teams to implement decarbonization strategies and foster communication.
CO2AI works with some of the largest companies in the world, many of whom are aiming to reach ambitious net-zero goals. This incredible impact within CO2AI is what inspired Matt to pursue his current role. While most companies are currently focused on the measurement and accuracy portion of carbon tracking, Matt is excited for the upcoming implementation of new decarbonization strategies with the help of his company.
Though Matt’s career path did not start directly within the sustainability sector, his past career experiences allowed him to move towards a role that combines both his previous skills with his passion for sustainability, showing that there is always an opportunity for redirection.